THE RABBIT AND THE GRANDPA

No this isn't the title of a storybook for children, it's actually the names of our two new cars.

Meet Roger Rabbit. He's Andrew's car. He is a 2.5litre, 2 door silver Volkswagen Rabbit. He's pretty fast for a little car and handles well. So far Andrew's really enjoyed driving him on the desert roads.

                             

Then there's my car; Victor Volvo aka the Grandpa. He's older, a bit slower and shows signs of wear and year but he's reliable. He's a 2.4litre 5 door V50 wagon. We plan to drive him all around the West coast, he is our road trip car so there's lots of space for Macintosh and all our stuff. It's big enough to pick up visitors from the airport and all their copious amounts of luggage.

So there we go the rabbit and the Grandpa! Can't wait to start having adventures in them, once I've mastered driving on the wrong side of the road that is! 

H 

For those of you that are desperate to see the house pictures we are working on that. We don't have internet right now so we are posting via 3G and our phones. It's not ideal for posting photos from our camera. Andrew is working on getting internet sorted so we should be up and running soon... I hope!

WE'RE IN!

                               

Today we moved into our new house! It all went smoothly. The furniture arrived and looks good.  We haven't got our stuff  from England yet but that's on it's way hopefully. We managed to check out of the hotel without any problems. We have begun to unpack our bags but we didn't get very far as Andrew's car was ready to be picked up from the garage so we dashed off to get that done too.

 So what you are seeing now is our rented house and our lovely new car (although it's a used car really but new to us!) I will give you a house your and more details on the car when I can. Now though I'm off to sit on our sofa! 

H 

EXPLORING THE DESERT

The past two days have been filled with admin jobs and house hunting with a little bit of exploring thrown in. We have had to explore lots from the car as you really can't walk anywhere! The town looked small on google maps but when you are actually here you realise how spread out everything is. We are slowly getting the hang of the crazy grid system of roads but I'm just grateful that Andrew is driving for now as I'm not sure its that simple.

So far we are totally amazed by the area. Its completely different to what we have ever seen before, well minus the fact its as flat as a pancake. Well that is until you reach the huge mountain range. I really struggle to describe what it looks like so here are a few pictures to show you what its like. There's no building pictures yet as we have just been driving around between the towns and the base. Will show you more when we can!

H

SAYING GOODBYE TO HUGO

Hugo was our faithful car. He had been with us from the very beginning of our married life. We bought him in the June before our wedding after Andrew's preious rust bucket finally gave way. We pitched up to the garage to get him and Andrew had typically forgotten his driving licence so I had to test drive the car, with Andrew, my dad and the garage bod in the car. I was so happy with this arrangement....NOT! Once we finally bought him I had to look after Hugo for the first week. It was blissful being able to drive around wherever and whenever I wanted. 

Hugo has taken us to so many places; moving us to our first home, holidays in the Lake and Peak districts, weddings of friends spread throughout the country, picking up Macintosh for the first time and many more. 

We will miss you Hugo, we intended to have you forever. Enjoy your new owners and get them safely to all destinations please!

H 

                 

GOODBYE TO MY OLD FRIEND

A year ago I was adamant that this would never happen but with the posting abroad I just had to make this call.

I wonder how many people are attached to their cars; we talked about it at work the other day, how many of the guys had named their car. Well all my cars have had names but the name of my first car I didnt choose, to be honest I would have called it somthing completely different but the previous owner's name for the little Austin Mini Mayfair 1983 just stuck. This is Primrose, my first car (oh and Macintosh).

I think Primrose was the pattern for every car I owned after it. Primrose was a cool car, slightly lower than the normal mini because the suspension was a bit flat, retro interior with brown carpet everywhere. When people say dashboard, I say shelf. When people say 'just go straight on', I say 'I am going straight on' (the car crabbed alot). When people say 'how much fuel have you got', I say 'havent a clue! We should be able to make it though (yes the Lloyds know that wasn't always true)

You see it was the coolest car in the world never completely works but that doesn't matter, you don't need fancy stuff in you car to have fun:

Heating - no chance - sit on you hands, they will soon warm up.

Radio - no way - listern to the engine, it makes some intresting sounds.

Lights - sometimes - depends if it was raining or not.

Crazy adventures - ALWAYS!!!!

The mini also featured in a not so famous russian mobster heist movie filmed in various locations around Dunstable, various homemade music videos, rally safaris into deepest Shropshire trying to get lost so that Penman and myself could have fun trying to work out where we were. Even if we had no adventures planned whilst driving then Primrose often helped by just breaking down.

If ever a first car became a best friend, it was this one. But as time went on Primrose got older, I lacked time, money and most importantly a garage to fix her. So with the posting to America came the realisation and persuasion from Han that she must go to a warmer, more enclosed home that wasn't a flowerbed.

Farewell Primose, you will be missed.
A

               

A SUNNY STROLL

This week amongst sorting out the never ending pile of admin stuff, me and couple of the guys tried out a short walk that I'd been recomended by friends at church. It was a wooden walkway following along Turkey Creek just outside Valparaiso Town. It was short but a perfect place for a slow amble and next time I think I need to take a book because there was plenty of spots just to sit and read, may even jump in if the weather stays warm!

My other job this week was to research cars that we could buy when we get to California. The problem is Hannah and I seem to differ on what we see as practical! When my first suggestion was a 1950s MG TD for sale in LA that was brought over by a US Serviceman just after WW2, she definitely m realised I wasn't on the same page when it came to car buying.lol.

Well, we shall see, but I think need a car propped up in the garden else I might feel homesick. I promise I won't acumulate too many tools ('too many' will be my call Iwould like to add)

A