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Is the body in good condition?
Sunday 16th March 2014
Are you enjoying the sunny weather? I have to keep reminding myself it is only March, as the temperatures edge towards 20 degrees. But the downside of all this is that the multitude of tasks screaming for attention in the garden are nudging the jobs required on the cars off the top of my 'to do' list. The consequence of this is that I spent two days last week hacking at an overgrown laurel hedge instead of working on the New Zealand car. My hands are now cut and scarred and my back may never recover from the trauma of wrestling with the unruly undergrowth.
I did take a little time out from my extreme horticultural exploits to undertake some preparatory work, in anticipation of a scheduled oil change on the New Zealand car. Whilst the car was residing on the other side of the world, somebody fitted an adapter enabling an oil filter to be installed. Whilst I wholeheartedly approve of this upgrade, I now have the problem of finding a replacement filter body as the antipodean unit is clogged with sludge. So, Thursday found me at our local car parts shop asking the friendly shopkeeper to track down a suitable filter. Whilst waiting, I fell into conversation with another car enthusiast who was telling me about the weird and wonderful vehicles he has owned over the years. He was waxing lyrical about an Austin hearse which he once owned and I couldn't resist the temptation of enquiring whether the body was in good condition. Sadly, the joke sailed way over his head and he continued his monologue without even a hint of a smile crossing his lips. Surely he must have heard that one before! Perhaps he had heard it so many times that he chose to ignore my humorous little gem. Oh well; some fell on stony ground!