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

[CitroJim]

I wonder what the specific heat capacity of a Christmas cake is?

Three hours out of the oven and it's still far too warn to wrap and tin

It's more like a storage heater than a cake...

[myglaren]

I remember a friend shopping at Makro finding a 2l tub of brandy cream, reduced in price as it only had a few days left on its' use-by date. He showed it to his wife, who asked "What are you going to eat that with?". His response got hoots of laughter out of all of us there. "With a spoon!".

I used to work with an American bloke who told us that when his family were on the road they would have to stop at every McD's to feed his sister. He thought that McD's was appalling.

I was prepared to hate them but we went into one in Denmark, on our way to Munich and I was very surprised.
It was 3am and deserted but the staff were friendly, helpful and alert, the food was fine, fresh bread baked on the premises, a delicious side salad (free and eat all you want) very good coffee and very low prices. 5*

They opened one here (South Shields to be precise) in about 1983 and my second daughter would have her birthday there.
I was expecting the same treatment and boy was I disappointed.
Crap food, crap service and stupid prices. Never again. -5*

[Northern_Mike]

I remember a friend shopping at Makro finding a 2l tub of brandy cream, reduced in price as it only had a few days left on its' use-by date. He showed it to his wife, who asked "What are you going to eat that with?". His response got hoots of laughter out of all of us there. "With a spoon!".

I used to work with an American bloke who told us that when his family were on the road they would have to stop at every McD's to feed his sister.

My American brother-in-law was just like this when he moved to the UK two years ago. Hardly ate anything else, and his 7 year old son much the same.

McDonald's in Brazil was actually very good. They'd had to change the product there as the locals have that much access to good meat they simply won't buy crap.

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[Hell Razor5543]

As my Great Aunt is from the Argentine (well, she was born in Uruguay, but that is a complicated story), when she and her children go back they comment on how good the meat is. Bob has cultivated his local butcher (in Sussex), and he always gets good meat from them. Ailsa has found that Martindales (on the Isle of Wight) know what they are doing, to the point that half the pubs and restaurants order from them.

[CitroJim]

Yesterday evening was interesting. In celebration of World Karate Day we performed 100 katas one after the other. We achieved our target in less than 90 minutes. We performed 100 Heian Nidan katas and if anyone is interesting in exactly what they are, look for videos on youtube.

All I know is it proved just how fit I am. Others were collapsing after the 100 but I was still good to do a lot more. A few gave up before the 100 were done...

This morning I had my 'MOT' at the doctors and I passed it with no advisories whatsoever except a word to say keep doing what you’re doing because it's working

This afternoon I turned my attention to the V6. I'd noticed last week that I had a ting LHM weep from the HP Pump that was causing a very tiny drip. Luckily this was a weep from where the suction pipe is attached to the pump. It was my own fault as I tried to reuse the original clip which was past it's best.

So I popped a new jubilee clip on and all seems well.

Being such a lovely afternoon, I thought I'd get the back box replaced. I pulled the old one off and found the end of the centre section was rusted out too... No worries, I had a spare and fitted it. Then I unpacked the backbox I'd had in stock here for ages and found one of the hangers had broken off at the weld so I was unable to fit it.

I now remember why I hate doing exhausts. I'm not doing any more with it now as it needs welding and I'm not good enough to do that so next week I'll send the car to my favourite local garage to have the work done... They can have the worry of it!

I just hope the backbox I have waiting at dad's is OK and not broken at the hangers...

[CitroJim]

The V6 has a nice new exhaust fitted and my goodness isn't it quiet

My local garage charged me the princely sum of £35 for fitting it. They called me down to show me the supplied clips wouldn't fit and had to use different ones...

The mechanic also asked if I knew the tailpipes were "on the p*ss.." I said yes and that all of them we've seen are like that...

Dug the Activa out of hibernation today, not used it for three weeks and it was an utter joy to drive...

I'll be using the Activa now for a few weekends until the weather closes in and then the V6 will be in service again. I reckon in the dead of winter and going on the C1's heater performance the V6 will see a bit of winter use...

[myglaren]

I'll be using the Activa now for a few weekends until the weather closes in and then the V6 will be in service again. I reckon in the dead of winter and going on the C1's heater performance the V6 will see a bit of winter use...

Bung an extra heater in the C1 Jim.

[CitroJim]

That's a good idea Steve

[lexi]

What? no welder Jim? Race cones on trailer bearings today. Run a bead of weld on and watch 'em fall out.

Mind you £35 quid is not a bad trade for rolling around the ground.

[CitroJim]

What? no welder Jim?

It's one of those things I just can't get proficient at Lexi so I no longer try. I know my limits so if welding is needed it's handed off to those who can...

I've still got a good stick welder that'll do the bearing trick though. My welding is OK for jobs like that...

[CitroJim]

Most odd...

On Sunday I noticed my V6 alternator was covered in LHM again

I took the day off today as it's been so lovely mainly to get the V6 finally sorted out on what may be the last fine day of the year perhaps. It's been a lovely day too...

I looked over the pump and found the leak still seemed to be from the suction pipe. I did this by wrapping a white tissue around the end of the pipe and saw some LHM.

I nipped up the Jubilee clip a bit more and cleaned up well and gave it a good 20 mile test. Result, a dry pump and alternator

I can only think I was a bit easy on the clip and the alternator may have just been spitting out some LHM caught inside it...

Time will tell

The V6 is a joy with its new exhaust.. Those Polish systems may have wonky tailpipes but they're lovely and quiet and seem to have no effect on performance...

I know it was worth £35 to have it fitted

[Mandrake]

Glad to hear that you're happy with the muffler Jim - wonky tail pipes not withstanding...

Mine is getting really noisy now as its leaking in a couple places on the seam underneath the muffler, so I'm tempted to try to swap it over before the winter sets in for good.

Either that or wait until I have a garage (still waiting patiently for news about the move ) and do it then. I'm worried that maybe I should have bought the centre silencer too in case the end of the pipe is badly rusted like yours - and I won't know for sure until I try to take the old one off!

[KP]

If its rusted Simon, cut both mating faces off and just sleeve one of them. It should be a nice tight fit then with some Gun Gum and not even need a clamp

[Mandrake]

If its rusted Simon, cut both mating faces off and just sleeve one of them. It should be a nice tight fit then with some Gun Gum and not even need a clamp

I've actually still got the spare flanges left over from the previous polish exhaust I put on the old V6 - I think those flanges will mate up with the flange on the rear muffler so worst case the rusty bit on the end of the centre pipe could be cut off and one of the flanges welded on!

Assuming the centre pipe flange is indeed rusty. It may not be but I won't know until I can look closely at it.

[KP]

Just cut it and not bothering welding it Simon, half the job then