Diary of an Ordinary Van

[mealic]

what about the "locking problem"?

[Vee4]

What about the "locking problem"?

I don't think I'm getting anywhere with that, because the dealer won't start a warranty claim unless they can see the problem. Needless to say, it doesn't happen when they are looking at it. I have been complaining of it since June.

I asked for suggestions on the main Forum: Mk7 elusive central locking problem

[ake]

I would reccommend contacting Ford customer care, they should be able to authorise the repair

[Vee4]

I would recommend contacting Ford customer care

I was thinking of that, just hadn't got round to it yet. Is there a particular phone number for Transits, and do I need any information to hand other than the registration number?

[ake]

All you should need is the reg number, phone number is 0845 8411111

My friend had a similar issue which was promptly sorted after one call to customer care

[Vee4]

All you should need is the reg number, phone number is 0845 8411111

Thanks for that. I'll give it a try and report back - I'll do that in the Mk7 section so that other members can follow if they so desire.

[Vee4]

A Tranquil Sea

There's a full Moon tonight and the sky over the UK is mostly clear. Sea if you can spot the See of Tranquility, and raise a glass to Neil Armstrong.



Why do I have such a thing about the full Moon, you ask? Probably because I spend so much time driving the Ordinary Van in the moonlight. I must be a lunatic.

Cue song: Walking on the Moon by The Police (1979).

[Vee4]

Where did those three years go?

I've been just too busy to get organised, but now is the time to wend your way to Transit Towers (take the exit by the big blue oval) and join in the celebration for Three Years of Ordinaryness.



Regular readers will recall that Transit Towers was transformed into a replica of New York's Greenwich Village in the late fifties and early sixties. That will make it possible to utilise the talents of the various artists who frequented the Village in that seminal time, without having to rebuild the set every time there's a party.

The festivities will be in the replica Gerdes Folk City, but don't worry, there will be a proper tea urn and a good selection of biscuits, including fig rolls and Garibaldi biscuits. All parking meters will be set to 'Free Parking'.

The musical turn will be Larkin Poe:



Rebecca and Megan Lovell are Larkin Poe and the backing band (Rick Lollar on electric guitar, Chad Melton on drums, & Robby Handley on bass) is excellent. And no, it's not Country or Bluegrass although those influences are present. Check them out in this Biscuits and Jam session (can you see what they did there?).



Those are southern USA biscuits of course, but very tasty, and recipes are on the site.

The comedy turn will be the Jinsy team, taking time out from writing the second series to do some of their sketches and funny songs:



With luck, Bob Dylan will revisit one of his debut venues to celebrate 50 years since the release of his eponymous first studio album, Bob Dylan, in 1962. Perhaps he'll favour us with a song from his new album, Tempest.

Anyway, I'm supposed to be doing my accounts - more unpaid tax collecting. I'll leave you to enjoy the show. No sugar in mine ...

[ake]

Happy 3rd date of registration

[derv23]

Ah Larkin Poe, a cracking band. I seen them recently for the first time at the Hebridean Celtic Festivel in Mid July.
It was in Lew Catle grounds in Stornoway. Great harmonies from lovely sister's,

[derv23]

Was in the Scottish borders at the start of August watching the meteor shower, well i saw three!
Parked upon a monster hill. But wow, worth it !

[Vee4]

Ah Larkin Poe, a cracking band. Great harmonies from lovely sisters.

Good to see that someone is paying attention!

The Ordinary Van is back on the road after being laid up while the accounts were done.

[Altransit]

The Ordinary Van is back on the road after being laid up while the accounts were done.

Good to hear My accountant is still chasing me for mine, but I did manage to get the VAT done in time

[Vee4]

Moon Dust

The Moon was full last weekend, and as usual, the Ordinary Van was out in the moonlight. I've been reading Moondust by Andrew Smith in which he sets out to find the surviving Apollo Moonwalkers. When written, there were nine. Now there are eight.

Some Moon dust:


I don't know why they took this thing:


They could have borrowed one of the Transits:

[Vee4]

Quickclear season again

It's become traditional in the Diary to reflect on the change of season with the help of a few lines from one of the poets. Keats' ode To Autumn featured in 2010.

While out for a run through the freshly ploughed fields, either on foot or in the Ordinary Van, these lines from A.E.Housman often come to mind:

‘Is my team ploughing,
That I was used to drive
And hear the harness jingle
When I was man alive?’

Ay, the horses trample,
The harness jingles now;
No change though you lie under
The land you used to plough.

Full text here ...


Housman - wondering if he will need a new battery in his Transit this winter.

It's probably the same for most Forum members, but I find I'm putting in more hours with less money to show for the effort, hence the paucity of Diary entries in recent months. The Ordinary Van has been always been willin' which is good because there's no slack left in the system for breakdowns!

So much to write, so little time ...