Robert Charles SCEATS's Journal

After my previous abortive attempt to pick up my refurbished Midget and drive to Spain, I am now just 5 days to the "off" for my 2nd attempt. Surely it's got to hang together this time ? I've done everything I can to cover all contingencies, breakdown cover for both UK and Europe. Co-pilot on board, overnight stop fixed and a total of around 1300 Kms (840 miles) to drive. It would be a bonus if the weather also decides to be on side.
My engineer, Graham, is due to take "Arlette" out on a final shake-down. All fingers crossed that no gremlins rear their heads. This time next week (Sunday 8th May, God willing, we will traversing the roads of France.
Next report - when we've made it, I hope !

After an abortive attempt to collect Arlette in late March then drive her to Spain, my 2nd attempt arrangements are now in place. A repeat of the previously proposed route - Colchester - Basingstoke - Portsmouth to catch the boat to Bilbao, is out !.The plan now is fly to the UK on Friday 6th May, collect the car from near Woodbridge, Suffolk,then back to my friend Vernon's at Colchester to pack for an early off on Sunday the 8th to catch the 09.10 DFDS ferry from Dover to Calais .Following disembarcation at 11.40 local, aim to,drive approx. 400 miles before making an overnight stop, probably around Dijon, France. God willing we will crack the rest to Barcelona on Monday. The good news is that I now have Dave as my co-pilot, an old pal of some 52 years now, which should prove to be bags of fun and hopefully, a very pleasurable experience. Dave in actual fact, was going to host me overnight for my transit stop at Basingstoke under the original plan so that it would only have been a short drive to Portsmouth to catch the 08.45 sailing. I just pray this time that nothing goes pear shaped and "falls apart at the seams" again !

The best laid plans of mice & men as they say ! Having arrived at Graham's (my engineer) on the morning of Saturday 26 March for the grand unveiling, following completion of the restoration works and prior to setting off for Spain, we duly went into his garage for the ceremony. Covers off and she looked superb. Fired her up, she sounded great with the twin SS exhaust and we rolled her out. Then disaster struck ! My mobile bleeped. Bad news ! It was a text message from Brittany Ferries advising me that all sailings, inc mine from Portsmouth to Bilbao on Tuesday 29th, had been cancelled due to exceedingly bad weather. The best they could offer was in 8 days time. Hopeless ! I had to return to Spain for my grandsons christening the following Sunday, i.e in 8 days time !. God, I was seething. The thick end of 2 years I had been waiting for this, now it was blown out of the water ! I was in no mood to take her for a spin through fear of a lack of concentration so thought it much wiser to roll her back in the garage, replace the covers and grab the next available flight back to Spain and that was on the Tuesday so I had 3 days to stew. All I had for my troubles was a set of pics showing "Arlette" in all her splendour.
I am now plotting another attempt to cross the water and will post an update when all the beads are in a row

After a 20 month mechanical and partial bodywork restoration, today (17 March), "Arlette" had 2 new rear tyres fitted then flew through her MoT(technical inspection) passing with NO advisories.
I am delighted, not only for myself but even more so for Graham my engineer because to me, this stands as testimony to the incredible amount of high quality work he has put in, of his own free will in his spare time to extremely exacting standards. Second best is unacceptable to Graham, pure and simple, He is the middle son of my closest pal of some 45 years now and has done all of this, labour cost free, out of sheer enthusiasm. I count myself as one lucky guy.
In 7 days time, I shall be on my way to collect her, a dream come true.

Inside 2 weeks before I go to collect "Arlette" after a 20 month total sort out. I go on 25th March and on the 26th, take to the road for the first time since November 2014. You can imagine I'm more than a little pumped up at the prospect right now.
She just needs her MoT (technical inspection), after which the pancake air filters will be added, and to have the boot rack and badge bar fitted.. Then finally it's take her off SORN (Statutory Off Road Notice), pay the UK road tax, fire her up, select gear, release the handbrake, and hit the throttle !

Before I took her to Graham's (Arlette's saviour), following collection from Penzance, once I had her based at my mother's house in Colchester, it wasn't long before I noticed fuel dripping from the tank. So, referring to the MG Owners Club recommended MG engineers I checked her in with Roger Chapman at Maldon Road Garage, Colchester.
At my request, he obtained a new corrosion resistant tank from MGOC, fitted this and at the same time I treated her to a new set of number plates to replace the existing scruffy examples in order to spruce her up a bit. . This little exercise proved to be just the start of a major re-vamp, details of which are recorded in earlier postings. When Graham got hold of her, the action started for real !