There’s No Point in Trying To Pretend

That my car needs little work.

After two great weekends of Mini shows I have discovered that my baby needs even more work than I originally thought.

I regularly get complemented on how nice my Mini looks, well kept, shiny and unique – it has a purple interior.

On the way to the LL Rally (about 15 miles from home) the temperature gauge rose a little. Nothing to worry about. I stopped at the show, switched the engine off and there was steam coming from the radiator pressure relief vent. Bugger. After a bucket load of rain, lightning and thunder overhead we got back into the car, soaked but happy ish (I love thunder!) and drove home. Unsurprisingly the same thing happened. Bugger.

I was going to look at the problem but fell asleep on the sofa and woke up 5 hours later, hungry and in the dark. Bugger.

We had arranged to go to the Haynes Mini Show on Sunday morning so I didn’t have time to even look at the Mini. We jumped in the Mini and went to the show. Organised by the Old Skool Mini Club (yes, I know they can’t spell…) it was a great day. The sun came out, we went round the test track and got home at around 7.30pm. Another evening past (we were knackered!) and I still hadn’t looked at the Mini.

I went to take the car to work this morning, got in, put the key in the ignition and turned it. Nothing. Then I turned it again. Still nothing. Then as you do when the battery is flat I tried to start the car in some whimpering hope that the car would start even though I knew damned fine it wouldn’t. Bugger, bugger and thrice bugger. Grab the bike keys and go to work.

I have this evening put a multi-meter on the battery. 2.04 volts. Hmm. Ok, that went on charge. I went to look at the bodywork (it’s shiny) and noticed something that didn’t look right. Down on my knees I found rust. I didn’t need to poke at all, I could see carpet. Passenger footwell carpet to be precise. Rust in the floor has rotted the already crappy metal aprroximately four inches long and the end of my finger wide. Bugger! At this point I was not (and still not!) happy. I found another hole further back in the sill.

Deep breath and check the driver’s side. Oh for f***s sake! Exactly the same on the driver’s side. So, the list of things wrong with my car has extended to:

 
I have to have the car running ready for August 19th as we’re supposed to be taking it to Mini In The Park. Oh yeah one I missed from the list:

 
BUGGER BUGGER BUGGER BUGGER BUGGER BUGGER BUGGER BUGGER BUGGER BUGGER BUGGER BUGGER BUGGER BUGGER BUGGER BUGGER BUGGER BUGGER BUGGER BUGGER!