Sssssss........bastids!

There you go....that's what my little Mini looks like. Rather I should say that's what she did look like as there are changes afoot.... she'll still be the same colour, but better so to speak.

I'm showing this piccie as sort of an experiment (my first illustration .. Eeeep!).... and also because Vanessa is one of the most important things in my life. This may seem "sad" of me, but I'm very keen on preserving things that are past, I detest the throwaway society we live in nowadays and all its associated uncaring attitudes towards repairing broken or faulty machinery/cars/bicycles and so on.

Anyway, back to Vanessa. She is a 1979 Clubman Automatic, and for a start that makes her somewhat of an oddity, I've never seen another Auto "Clubbie" and it would seem not many other people have either. When I first obtained her the previous owner had tried driving her through a gap.... nothing wrong you'd think - 'cept the gap was about 3' 6" and a Mini is 4' 6" wide! Since then I've spent about ten years getting her back on the road, rebuilding and repairing her and in some areas modifying the crumbling remnants of parts that were after all getting on for thirty years old. The unusual appearance of the outside, is meant to reflect the days of the Minis swansong in motorsport. A time when almost all of the benefits offered by what was an innovative design were being superceded by cars from other manufacturers and the brainchild of Alec Issigonis was no longer the "giant killer" it had been. She is also a tribute to the women who campaigned these little cars , many of whom continued in motorsport but unfortunately with little recognition.

So, you can see I have a deep and caring relationship with my car (told you I was sad ;-) ) so it really makes me fume when she gets damaged - which is what has happened.

Around this area (a Council Estate) the youths have recently been riding "MiniMotos" - a form of toy motorbike. This is bad enough as they tend to ride these machines on the playing field and the exhausts of these bikes are not very quiet. These idiots also have impromptu races around some of the streets further spreading the noise pollution which often goes on into the night as well as the risk of causing or having an accident. Now these youths seem to have little or no means of financial support - goodness knows how they got these bikes - and in order it seems to further their "Grand Prix de Estate" , they've taken to raiding cars for fuel .... including mine.

They've broken the locking fuel cap without getting it off and damaged thhe filler neck , so now I'll have to carry on what they've started and then replace the cap. On top of this they've also had a go at my friend's Mini (Xena - Rust Princess) breaking that cap and also trying to get into the car (there are two obviously empty fuel cans inside - no lids ) damaging both door locks and the boot lock for some reason.

It was suggested by a neighbour that I call the Police. The last time I did that to report the finding of a stolen motor scooter, they never came. That was also used for the shennanigins on the field so I called the Police again (several times) they still didn't come, and much to my dismay the scooter is now destroyed - R.I.P. 1966 Lambretta.

I'm sorry for the rant people.... but I'm soooo angry!



I'd string piano wire up if I could get away with it......