A bit of history

On a recent Time Team program they were down by The Thames on the Isle of Dogs looking at the launch site of Brunels ship, the SS Great Eastern. The ship was a massive 700ft long and was built in an area thats now over looked by Canary Wharf. The attempt to side launch the ship wasn't very successful due to subsidence beneath the timbers of the dock. All thats left now is a section the timber work between the blocks of flats and a small piece right on the banks of the river. Its something I've been meaning to find an excuse to go and see and with a job in the City it was only a couple of miles away. It was a little smaller than I had expected but very interesting to walk around as snow gently fell on me!

Windy miller

One month, two windmill photos! Whilst on route to a customers site I had a bit of time to kill and aimed for the Wimbledon Common (I didn't see any Wombles)as there is a nice little carpark in the middle in the shadow of the windmill. Built in 1817 its now converted to a museum and is something a little unusual to see when only a few miles from the capital.

First motorsport of the year

The end of January for the last three years has marked the beginning of my motorsport year. Brooklands in Surrey is the site of the first purpose built race circuit in the world. Constructed in 1907 its a vast 3 mile oval. The outbreak of World War II ended racing and the place was turned over to the war effort. The museum is situated in the buildings around the remains of the track and today was the Vintage Sportscar Club's Winter Trials, a chance for pre 1930s cars to compete in various test. On a cold sunday I found myself with Brookslands virgin Malcolm at the top of a 1:4 test hill as one of the first cars of the day crawled up. It was a struggle but then again the 1919 Grafton Cyclecar only has a 250cc engine and no reverse so he was pushing it around parts of the tests. I have a month to wait until my next race event. Bring it on.

The fleet

January marks an expensive time for us, though a series of unfortunate coincidences the air cooled duo in our lives are both due MOTs, servicing and insurance in the same month. The Passat had the good decency to wait until October to need this! So after a couple of weekends of worrying both are back at home, both have 12 months MOT and insurance (tax isn't due until later for the Beetle and the Camper is free!) This morning after a trip to Danny Fox to collect Roobarb it was time for musical vehicles. The work van went round the corner, the Passat out the front, the Beetle on to next doors double drive while they were out and the Camper into the road in front. With garage door open the 38 year old Volkswagen rumbled in onto the wood laminate floor (a left over from the previous owners office he built in the garage) then it was a matter or reversing the process until everything was tidy. Our New Years resolution is to get more use out of the Beetle than the 80 miles and one day we got last year.

Playground fun

There are plus points to being on the road at 6:30am on a friday. Following a fairly easy day on site and some admin there was an early finish. Home by 3pm, blue skies and sunshine and a daughter in need of some fresh air there was only one thing to do. Head to the park. We all walked, with tiny size 4G feet it took a while to cover the couple of hundred yards! But once in she was away, running round the area trying to get on everything including the springy horse.

Window shopping

With the elevated section of the M4 partially closed getting into London is tricky, but shooting down the M3 and in via Twickenham seemed to work today. The added bonus was a quick look in the window of Coys showroom. Aston Martins rubbed wheels with Bentleys and Ferraris and standing guard outside was this stunning Porsche 912.

Gearing up

I've been a bit bad recently, following a free service my trusty MTB has been sat idle in the garage doing nothing, no rain and mild winter means I should be out on it all the time at weekends. Lack of time means I'm not. I took my first short cycle of the year last weekend, it was only a couple of miles but everything is looking good so once I find a few free hours the muddy tracks will be hit. With the Beetle out for its MOT the garage is empty so I'm using the space to bolt on a few new bits I got for Christmas. The new tiny pump and the cycle computer are on, the bright pink squeezy horn has gone on the shelf!