Old shoes...

The Bravo had a bit of a technosulk yesterday, requiring Anita to drop it in at the local Kiplings.

So I had a choice: Anita's Seat Cupra or the Coupe?

No brainer, really, in spite of rude comments the coupe made about driving in the rain when I opened the garage door - it's not used to behaviour like that! I don't drive it so much these days - A trip to Joe or two, a trip to Carlisle, and maybe the odd dirty weekend trip in summer. Slamming it on the commute (a mere 110 mile round trip) was unkind, I know... but my word, it's like putting on an old pair of comfy shoes.

I get in that coupe and it just *fits*. All the smells and squeaks and groans are just as they should be, as is the sound of the motor spinning up past 7k and watching things get smaller in the mirror (these are things that just don't happen in the Bravo). And best of all, the trip home was mostly in daylight, so the car could be seen and appreciated by other road users.



(And it's going into storage next week while I move to Germany)

Neil

All the very best to you and Anita on the move Neil. I presume you have retired then?
Mainland Europe eh.

I know you both are going to have a great time.

It wouldn't be the same without the odd squeak or groan

Very happy for you and Anita with the big move although it's going to be a bit of a trip up to Robs for Xmas.

It's funny you should mention this Neil

Just before Christmas, my daily hack (a very leggy Alfa GT diesel) gave its first breakdown in my ownership - a gearchange cable popped off the selector mechanism, requiring its first ever trip home on the Truck of Shame

Until I could get a new cable end, I had to use the Coupe. Bear in mind that the Coupe had only four tanks of fuel in 2019 (and one of those was used by my son) and you'll see how much use it gets.

However, after the initial shock of how much noisier the Coupe is, I very quickly remembered why its such an enjoyable car to drive. The only downside is that the Toyo tyres that were way past their best a couple of years ago are now really poor - wheelspin in 4th gear in the dry.....

If only I could find somewhere to store it, I'd hang onto it...

I took my Coupé out for the first time in just under two years at the weekend. Only for an MOT so literally from the house to the garage… and then straight back, as it failed spectacularly.

The sense of occasion in this car though is absolutely off the scale! The noise, the poise, the feeling that it just wants to be unleashed at all times. It’s a real bulldog of a thing, I’ve missed it so much.

I cannot wait to get stuck into the next stage of my little project this year!

Jüst tö clarify - I'm nöt möving qüite yet - this wäs by wäy of being explörätöry.

In particular, meeting with the medical insurance people to find out whether we could join the existing government health schemes, or if we would have to pay prohibitive prices. Those fine folks with the bizarre ideas about leaving the EU have *really* stuffed things up for my retirement plans (apart from anything else, devaluing both my house and my pension by fifteen or twenty percent...).

<Cough> Er, anyway, now we've confirmed that we can get on the insurance, at a cost of only an arm and half a leg, the general plan is:

- coupe in storage, frees garage up
- twenty-five years of shit goes into garage in convenient boxes
- Now we can see the walls, the house gets tarted up
- Once it's a bit internally prettier, get the house on the market - beginning of March, if anyone wants a delightful pied a terre in sunny Hemel, wonderfully inconvenient for both Joe and the Carlisle xmas do
- When it sells, give my notice in at work and live in a hotel if necessary until we move in with the kids for a while.
- Possibly look for a left hand drive coupe. It won't be a patch on N707, but it might quell the craving!

What do you mean, not moving yet, you have a new "handle" already don't you?

Seepocke

sounds contagious

That's because it has a penis ten times longer than its body!

Ah so that's how you got your forum name then? Anita must be a happy lady

Or did he invent this ?

https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/technology-51133807

Now that's what I call diversification - the purveyors of the cherry bakewell turning into Italian car specialists Ask them how much for a coupe cambelt change while you're at it ..

The icing on the cake?

Well I can tell I'm in Berlin... yesterday I was in a greek restaurant eating a pizza and drinking beer

Is that called eclectic living Neal?

Really happy to hear that your both going to be able to obtain the retirement you have been planning for years.

Another upside is we can all go visit them Bob!

You're all welcome, with a little advance notice, but at present the house is either a house we can't afford, or a field we can't afford either. But we think we know *where* it will be, once I can prise the necessary paperwork out of the NHS to get insured with.

Spent the last three days tramping around various outflung bits of Berlin, trying to reconcile estate agent's terminology with what's actually there! (My favourite today: 150m2 house on 2700m2 land, completely failed to mention that it was (a) half a house, and (b) shared the land with seven other houses...

I have 2 favorite quotes from estate agents, Both in the UK and many years ago.

The first was an advert in a Bognor Regis newspaper which stated that the house was " within wanking distance of the train station" and another estate agents blurb of a Towcester house we were interested in which had a " bathroom with matching yellow shite " The poor typist got upset when I burst out laughing and explained why.

We are always hearing that the demand for property in and around Berlin is extremely high and with low mortgage rates, prices are very "solid". The days when Berlin was cheap have well and truly disappeared

And then, even with property basically selling itself, estate agents charge an arm and two legs when you buy through them!

The the government takes another 5% or so in "stamp" duty.

But good luck with the hunt. I'm sure you will find something nice.

Plenty of desirable and empty soviet era social housing for you to choose from in and around Leipziger Platz 9-10117 Berlin....comrade!


In fact the soviets just loved to build high rise flats for the "workers".. not sure there are many houses in Berlin Barnacle...but certainly some on the outskirts.

What beer there is though. Berliner Kindle....the very best.

Enjoy the shopping!

Regards

MM

This is not much help to you Neil but stumbled across this:

https://www.thelocal.de/20180827/be...ling-prices-but-are-they-really-to-blame

Similar situation for most capitals I'd have thought though..

That's a year and a half old, and I don't think it's gone anywhere. But yes, it's a lot more expensive than when we started looking!

Another stop to add to our trips around Europe.

Let's all go visit Neil!

Still in Hemel at the moment, Sam!