CitroJim's AX, C3 Picasso, Cycling and Running Tales

[KP]

They are so front end heavy you'd be looking for its arse bobbing about in the floods!

[CitroJim]

what for the welding on yours for mot? Wont that be a cause for failure if she needs closing up?

It could be Paul, I really need a specialist to take a look as I have no experience whatsoever of what rust is OK and what isn't in the eyes of an MOT tester.

If I present it and it fails it'll just have to wait until you and I can get it sorted. Don't forget that despite me working solidly right up to Christmas now there's always Tuesdays and Wednesdays if you ever want to come over with your welder under your arm! Those days are, as they say these days, ring-fenced..

I got hold of a cross trainer yesterday and thanks to Xac it's now happily installed in the conservatory. By a stroke of serendipity he was passing where it was an could pick it up on his way. Thanks Xac, very appreciated and good to see you yesterday

Not sure what's making the trainer cross though. All I know is it's a fearsome beast..

[CitroJim]

I'm still here, still going strong and all is looking good. No news on any of the cars..

Working this evening and all Saturday again...

[CitroJim]

Finally, I can report hat I've done something to the cars today. It was such a lovely day it would have been rude not to...

It was only an oil and filter change on both the V6s but it's a good job done ready for the winter.

I note my Xantia V6 has a very small oil weep at the back of the engine making the sump and engine mount a bit damp but it's not cam boxes. I didn't investigate too deeply today as time to play cars was limited; I had a pumpkin cake to bake and decorate...

I also took the Activa out for perhaps it's last trip of the year before coming off the road for the winter. It's been parked up nice and dry now.

On the personal front, all remains good. Looks what I'm doing is working

[Trainman]

Good to know you've Ben able to do something and are well for being able to do it.

KEEP UP THE GOOD WORK

[KP]

Keep it up Jim and stay positive

On a side note do you sorn the activa or just do 6months tax considering how much a years tax is?

[CitroJim]

Thanks both, I'll be definitely be keeping it up

Will, this time I'm going to have to SORN as the insurance runs out the end of this month but the tax runs through to April and I understand it's illegal now to have a taxed but uninsured car?

I'll e looking for some 'laid-up' insurance whilst it's SORN'd too. I believe Adrian Flux does something like that.

[KP]

I can help with that if you want Jim

And yes of a car is taxed but not insured you can be fined. Not sure if the reverse is true though.

[Chris570]

I can help with that if you want Jim

And yes of a car is taxed but not insured you can be fined. Not sure if the reverse is true though.

Hope not, the Activa has been insured since July '12 with no tax

[citroenxm]

NO Its fine in the ORDER of service: Insurance FIRST, to get an MOT, then Tax.. But a car is perfectly legal being SORN with insurance running on it!

[Northern_Mike]

Thanks both, I'll be definitely be keeping it up

Will, this time I'm going to have to SORN as the insurance runs out the end of this month but the tax runs through to April and I understand it's illegal now to have a taxed but uninsured car?

I'll e looking for some 'laid-up' insurance whilst it's SORN'd too. I believe Adrian Flux does something like that.

I'd be willing to bet that "laid up"insurance isn't a great deal cheaper. Anyway, if it's taxed until April why not insure it then you can use it in case the weather isn't so bad? Seems a shame to waste £110 or so of tax unless you are refunding it.

[Northern_Mike]

I can help with that if you want Jim

And yes of a car is taxed but not insured you can be fined. Not sure if the reverse is true though.

Hope not, the Activa has been insured since July '12 with no tax

Long as it's SORN'd every year, no problem at all.

[CitroJim]

Thanks, now understood Excellent....

I can help with that if you want Jim

Tell me more Will

[KP]

Pm or text me sometime Jim as I'm currently on my travels back to rip off land!

[CitroJim]

Pm or text me sometime Jim as I'm currently on my travels back to rip off land!

Thanks Will, As it is, it's likely superseded by a decision I've been mulling for a while now and that's to reduce down to just two cars. I can't justify three any longer on cost and time grounds and after much deliberation it's the XM that has to go. The two Xantias I've had a long time and those are the ones that are staying and in truth the cars I'm most attached to.

As is say, the decision has been made after weeks, nay months, of agonising and finally, for better or worse, that decision is now finally made.

On the time front I just don't have the time now to devote to cars or the forums as much as I'd like. I'm gradually moving into other things and those are taking much time.

Money wise, I'll shortly have two daughters at University... I also have no intention of returning to work full-time even though my improving health is likely to permit it in the not too-distant future.

That the XM has rust made the decision a little easier as that aspect of the XM is causing me considerable stress and worry about seeing it fixed and through the next MOT. As soon as something causes me stress then basically now, that's it. It goes. It's possibly not a biggie but it is to me. I don't really 'do' bodywork and can't really see it as a skill I'm ever likely to become proficient in. Being heavily allergic to all kinds of solvent-based paints and coatings doesn't help either!

Anyway, I'm open to sensible offers for the XM. If it doesn't sell through here I'll be dropping it on the 'bay..

It's just been serviced and bar the rust it's pretty much spot-on in all other respects.

It'll be a shame to see the XM go as it's a lovely car and maybe one day if I can find a truly rust-free example I may once again have one.

On the personal front, all remains good and yesterday I did a job that's been waiting for me to be well enough for perhaps two years or more. I've go all three of my old clocks working again That took a bit of work and I still need to do a bit more. The two grandfather clocks are currently strung with strimmer line in place to the proper cat-gut so I must now go and find a source of the proper stuff as I'm told the strimmer line is abrasive and wears the winding barrels.