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Friday, September 30, 2011
Royal wedding motoring blunder
Similarly to all my friends and family, I eagerly tuned in to watch the royal wedding earlier this year.
Just like the majority of everyone else watching, I thought the whole thing was magnificent, from Kate Middleton’s dress to Princess’ Beatrice and Eugenie’s hats (well, they were more mystifying than magnificent, but definitely worth seeing!)
When the Duke and Duchess of Cambridge left Buckingham Palace in Prince Charles’ classic old Aston Martin they seemed to be the epitome of cool. Not only did they have the highest profile wedding of the decade, but they got to drive through the closed off streets of London in an enviable car too.
However, it appears that the newlyweds perhaps weren’t as sophisticated as they seemed. According to the Sun’s royal photographer, Arthur Edwards, Prince William forgot take off the handbrake!
Edwards has recalled a conversation he had with Prince Charles following the wedding. He asked Prince Charles whether he minded giving his son the keys to the car which had been actually been a birthday present from his mother for his 21st birthday.
Prince Charles reportedly responded that he didn’t mind. However, when Edwards asked about some damage which seemed to have happen to the vintage car, Prince Charles said to him that it was because Prince William had neglected to take the handbrake off.
I know it was a busy day, but Prince William must have really lost himself in amongst all the excitement if he forgot one of the most basic motoring rules. Mind you, I don’t think it has ruined my memory of the big day and I certainly won’t stop daydreaming about waking up as Kate Middleton one day!
Just like the majority of everyone else watching, I thought the whole thing was magnificent, from Kate Middleton’s dress to Princess’ Beatrice and Eugenie’s hats (well, they were more mystifying than magnificent, but definitely worth seeing!)
When the Duke and Duchess of Cambridge left Buckingham Palace in Prince Charles’ classic old Aston Martin they seemed to be the epitome of cool. Not only did they have the highest profile wedding of the decade, but they got to drive through the closed off streets of London in an enviable car too.
However, it appears that the newlyweds perhaps weren’t as sophisticated as they seemed. According to the Sun’s royal photographer, Arthur Edwards, Prince William forgot take off the handbrake!
Edwards has recalled a conversation he had with Prince Charles following the wedding. He asked Prince Charles whether he minded giving his son the keys to the car which had been actually been a birthday present from his mother for his 21st birthday.
Prince Charles reportedly responded that he didn’t mind. However, when Edwards asked about some damage which seemed to have happen to the vintage car, Prince Charles said to him that it was because Prince William had neglected to take the handbrake off.
I know it was a busy day, but Prince William must have really lost himself in amongst all the excitement if he forgot one of the most basic motoring rules. Mind you, I don’t think it has ruined my memory of the big day and I certainly won’t stop daydreaming about waking up as Kate Middleton one day!
Photo © paul-simpson.org via Flickr, under Creative Commons Licence
Labels: Aston Martin, car, drive, handbrake, motoring, Royal Wedding, vintage
Tuesday, September 27, 2011
Now, where’s that engine?
Does your dad know best when it comes to advice about cars?
A recent survey by tyre retailer ATS Euromaster suggests that one in four motorists, and it doesn’t say how old they are or whether they are male or female drivers, will turn to dad for advice if they have a motoring problem.
Hmmm! Lucky you if you’ve got such a dad.
I remember a time when my dad had taken me and my little sister on a trip to visit our granny in Yeovil. He was going through his hippy phase and had bought a rusty old VW Camper van for his travels.
We just about got to granny’s alright, but when he went to start the van for a day trip it just wouldn’t get going.
I’ll never forget it…Me and my granny stood at the kitchen window – washing up, naturally; we would never spy on dad – and watched as he set about the repairs.
First of all it took him ten minutes to realise the engine was at the back. He had struggled and struggled to get the grill off the front of the van, when he suddenly deduced that there just wasn’t enough room there for an engine anyway.
Yet, once he actually found the engine-bay, it was even funnier watching him attempt to fix it.
It went something like this:
Ha ha!
So if you’ve got a dad who knows what he’s doing when it comes to car repairs, car insurance, route planning and all things driving related, I suggest you cherish him, because you never know when you’ll need him.
A recent survey by tyre retailer ATS Euromaster suggests that one in four motorists, and it doesn’t say how old they are or whether they are male or female drivers, will turn to dad for advice if they have a motoring problem.
Hmmm! Lucky you if you’ve got such a dad.I remember a time when my dad had taken me and my little sister on a trip to visit our granny in Yeovil. He was going through his hippy phase and had bought a rusty old VW Camper van for his travels.
We just about got to granny’s alright, but when he went to start the van for a day trip it just wouldn’t get going.
I’ll never forget it…Me and my granny stood at the kitchen window – washing up, naturally; we would never spy on dad – and watched as he set about the repairs.
First of all it took him ten minutes to realise the engine was at the back. He had struggled and struggled to get the grill off the front of the van, when he suddenly deduced that there just wasn’t enough room there for an engine anyway.
Yet, once he actually found the engine-bay, it was even funnier watching him attempt to fix it.
It went something like this:
- Stare intently at engine
- Wiggle something vaguely attached to engine
- Stand back, scratch head
- Attempt to start engine
- No sign of life…Repeat steps one to four
Ha ha!
So if you’ve got a dad who knows what he’s doing when it comes to car repairs, car insurance, route planning and all things driving related, I suggest you cherish him, because you never know when you’ll need him.
Image © minkymonkeymoo via Flickr, under Creative Commons Licence
Labels: car insurance, female drivers
Friday, September 23, 2011
I don’t need my budgerigar insured to drive my car and I don’t want to see FB updates from people I don’t know
I am a fan of Facebook – I love that I can easily keep in touch with old friends, my nieces and nephews at University and even the latest goings on of my favourite bands and companies.
But, when something you love and rely upon changes overnight it can be a cause of great irritation.
I mean, if your motor cover provider changed the terms of your women’s car insurance overnight so that only your pet budgerigar was insured to drive your vehicle, you’d be pretty hacked off, wouldn’t you.
So, when you log in to find your whole Facebook page altered so that you can’t see some things and you can see posts you don’t necessarily want to see, then it’s enough to make you want to throw the book at Facebook.
At first I thought it was just me who hated the changes when I posted an early morning status update, but then, as the evening wore on, my friends joined in the chorus of: “What’s happened to Facebook?”
So, the moral is: if it ain’t broke, don’t fix it! And if your women’s car insurance is cheap, don’t let your budgie drive your car.
But, when something you love and rely upon changes overnight it can be a cause of great irritation.I mean, if your motor cover provider changed the terms of your women’s car insurance overnight so that only your pet budgerigar was insured to drive your vehicle, you’d be pretty hacked off, wouldn’t you.
So, when you log in to find your whole Facebook page altered so that you can’t see some things and you can see posts you don’t necessarily want to see, then it’s enough to make you want to throw the book at Facebook.
At first I thought it was just me who hated the changes when I posted an early morning status update, but then, as the evening wore on, my friends joined in the chorus of: “What’s happened to Facebook?”
So, the moral is: if it ain’t broke, don’t fix it! And if your women’s car insurance is cheap, don’t let your budgie drive your car.
Image © oliverj819 via Flickr, under Creative Commons Licence
Labels: vehicle, womens car insurance motor cover
Tuesday, September 20, 2011
Vintage chic versus modern car comfort
The Goodwood Revival meeting has been and gone for another year and I have had to put away my vintage tweed suit, seamed stockings and fake-forties Mary Jane shoes. I’ve taken the Victory Roll out of my hair and I am back to my 21st century self.
So, why won’t my boyfriend give up the vintage car and go back to modern luxury of a solid top coupe with heating and a stereo system?
I don’t mind roughing it for a weekend but his classic sports car is quickly becoming a firm feature in his, no in our life, and yes I know it was built in 1955 darling, but Rock and Roll skirts do nothing for my figure.
He won’t even tell me how much the car insurance is on it, but if all the polishing, leather seat cleaning and the amount of time he spends under its bonnet is anything to go by he probably doesn’t scrimp on cover.
Anyway, I’m glad to say, I’m back in my lovely little Fiat 500 which has all modern comforts, while also harking back to classic styling of the original 1957 models and as I watch the early autumn rain fall heavily onto the car park outside my office I am thinking of my boyfriend, struggling to get his old-fashioned soft-top roof up.
So, why won’t my boyfriend give up the vintage car and go back to modern luxury of a solid top coupe with heating and a stereo system?
I don’t mind roughing it for a weekend but his classic sports car is quickly becoming a firm feature in his, no in our life, and yes I know it was built in 1955 darling, but Rock and Roll skirts do nothing for my figure.
He won’t even tell me how much the car insurance is on it, but if all the polishing, leather seat cleaning and the amount of time he spends under its bonnet is anything to go by he probably doesn’t scrimp on cover.
Anyway, I’m glad to say, I’m back in my lovely little Fiat 500 which has all modern comforts, while also harking back to classic styling of the original 1957 models and as I watch the early autumn rain fall heavily onto the car park outside my office I am thinking of my boyfriend, struggling to get his old-fashioned soft-top roof up.
Image © DeusXFlorida via Flickr under Creative Commons Licence
Labels: car insurance, classic sports car, Fiat 500, Goodwood Revival
Friday, September 16, 2011
Bride builds her dream car
Brides usually have vast lists of tasks to complete in preparation for their wedding day.
However, not many women have added building a replica of a Porshe 356 (created by Ferdinand Porshe and manufactured between 1948 and 1956) onto their to-do list.
A 26-year-old Royal Navy engineering officer from Wiltshire did exactly that. Having spent £200 on the wreckage of an old VW Beetle she intended to convert it into the classic Porshe.
When her boyfriend proposed to her, she worked her socks off to complete the transformation so that she could have the car ready for her wedding day.
After six years of hard work, the car was finally finished and ready for the wedding day.
The finished vehicle features a white leather interior with a mahogany finish and can reach speeds of more than 100mph. Despite spending £4,000 building it, the newlywed certainly won’t have made a loss if she chooses to sell since the car is now worth an estimated £25,000!
However, it doesn’t seem as though she has any intentions to sell the replica at any point in the near future. Her father described the car to be her “pride and joy.”
A rather proud father drove her to the wedding ceremony in the car and her new husband later used the car to drive the two of them to their reception.
She said, “It was a close-run thing getting the car finished in the end, but after six years it was well worth it.”
Photo © Myrrien via Flickr, under Creative Commons Licence
However, not many women have added building a replica of a Porshe 356 (created by Ferdinand Porshe and manufactured between 1948 and 1956) onto their to-do list.
A 26-year-old Royal Navy engineering officer from Wiltshire did exactly that. Having spent £200 on the wreckage of an old VW Beetle she intended to convert it into the classic Porshe.
When her boyfriend proposed to her, she worked her socks off to complete the transformation so that she could have the car ready for her wedding day.After six years of hard work, the car was finally finished and ready for the wedding day.
The finished vehicle features a white leather interior with a mahogany finish and can reach speeds of more than 100mph. Despite spending £4,000 building it, the newlywed certainly won’t have made a loss if she chooses to sell since the car is now worth an estimated £25,000!
However, it doesn’t seem as though she has any intentions to sell the replica at any point in the near future. Her father described the car to be her “pride and joy.”
A rather proud father drove her to the wedding ceremony in the car and her new husband later used the car to drive the two of them to their reception.
She said, “It was a close-run thing getting the car finished in the end, but after six years it was well worth it.”
Photo © Myrrien via Flickr, under Creative Commons Licence
Monday, September 12, 2011
A St Tropez jam
When you think “St Tropez,” you probably think of tans and holidays.
You probably don’t think of the town of Ste Maxime 10 miles away from St Tropez, which has been struggling with the effects of its neighbour’s popularity for about 30 years.
Now, you might think that the problem Ste Maxime has is jealousy, but in fact it’s the huge traffic jams caused by floods of people trying to get to St Tropez (which has no train station or motorway link to it).
Reportedly, for every 100 vehicles that enter the town, about 70 of them are only passing through to make their way to tan central.
Vincent Morisse, the mayor of the municipality, states, “It creates really monstrous jams.
“And it's not just tourists who are affected, but locals. Firms have difficulty making deliveries and it takes an hour and a quarter to get to the hospital; not to mention the pollution. It is catastrophic.
"For 30 years the road authorities haven't lifted a finger on this road. And in this period the traffic has increased tenfold, not to mention the fact that the population of Ste Maxime has gone from 7,000 to 12,000 inhabitants."
Now, and quite rightly so (we feel), the inhabitants have had enough. They are demanding that a bypass is built to take the traffic around them, so that their roads become less congested.
We wish them luck! And next time you get a St Tropez tan, or if you are lucky enough to go on holiday there, think of the town of Ste Maxime which gets all of the traffic and few of the tourists.
You probably don’t think of the town of Ste Maxime 10 miles away from St Tropez, which has been struggling with the effects of its neighbour’s popularity for about 30 years.
Now, you might think that the problem Ste Maxime has is jealousy, but in fact it’s the huge traffic jams caused by floods of people trying to get to St Tropez (which has no train station or motorway link to it). Reportedly, for every 100 vehicles that enter the town, about 70 of them are only passing through to make their way to tan central.
Vincent Morisse, the mayor of the municipality, states, “It creates really monstrous jams.
“And it's not just tourists who are affected, but locals. Firms have difficulty making deliveries and it takes an hour and a quarter to get to the hospital; not to mention the pollution. It is catastrophic.
"For 30 years the road authorities haven't lifted a finger on this road. And in this period the traffic has increased tenfold, not to mention the fact that the population of Ste Maxime has gone from 7,000 to 12,000 inhabitants."
Now, and quite rightly so (we feel), the inhabitants have had enough. They are demanding that a bypass is built to take the traffic around them, so that their roads become less congested.
We wish them luck! And next time you get a St Tropez tan, or if you are lucky enough to go on holiday there, think of the town of Ste Maxime which gets all of the traffic and few of the tourists.
Photo © Marc Veraart via Flickr, under Creative Commons Licence
Labels: bypass, congested, holiday, motorway, pollution, road, St Tropez, Ste Maxime, tan, tourists, traffic jams, vehicles
Tuesday, September 6, 2011
Directions by Jeremy Clarkson
Driving can be stressful, so what you don’t need is a sat nav which gives you instructions in Jeremy Clarkson’s voice.
If you choose to use this new voice, being released by TomTom in October, your GPS navigation system will order you – amongst other panic inducing phrases – to “Turn right. Turn RIGHT. You missed it! For the love of . . . !”
“It’s not a gentle sat nav voice, put it like that,” stated Mr Clarkson.
Road users who are easily panicked by the tone of voice used by the famous Top Gear presenter may wish to switch to the new Stig sat nav voice.
Jeremy Clarkson explains, “You can put it in Stig mode, apparently, which is when nothing happens. It doesn’t speak to you at all.
“So you can either have Stig or me and personally I would use the Stig most.”
There are reports that TomTom has been in contact with Jeremy’s co-presenters, in a bid to add their voices to its sat nav instruction repertoire, however Mr Clarkson doesn’t seem to think they’d work very well.
“Hammond, well that wouldn’t work because he hasn’t got the patience.
“James May genuinely doesn’t have a sense of direction.”
We love getting new voices on our sat navs and we’ll try any voice at least once. Let’s see how long we last when getting ordered about by infamous Clarkson.
If you choose to use this new voice, being released by TomTom in October, your GPS navigation system will order you – amongst other panic inducing phrases – to “Turn right. Turn RIGHT. You missed it! For the love of . . . !” “It’s not a gentle sat nav voice, put it like that,” stated Mr Clarkson.
Road users who are easily panicked by the tone of voice used by the famous Top Gear presenter may wish to switch to the new Stig sat nav voice.
Jeremy Clarkson explains, “You can put it in Stig mode, apparently, which is when nothing happens. It doesn’t speak to you at all.
“So you can either have Stig or me and personally I would use the Stig most.”
There are reports that TomTom has been in contact with Jeremy’s co-presenters, in a bid to add their voices to its sat nav instruction repertoire, however Mr Clarkson doesn’t seem to think they’d work very well.
“Hammond, well that wouldn’t work because he hasn’t got the patience.
“James May genuinely doesn’t have a sense of direction.”
We love getting new voices on our sat navs and we’ll try any voice at least once. Let’s see how long we last when getting ordered about by infamous Clarkson.
Image © HamsterRun via photobucket
Labels: driving, GPS, Jeremy Clarkson, sat nav, Stig, TomTom
Thursday, September 1, 2011
Paris Hilton’s taxi payment
You may already know what you want to be “when you’re older”, and you might be lucky enough to have already started your dream career.
However, if you haven’t you may want to consider becoming a taxi driver and following Paris Hilton about wherever she travels.
The famous heiress to the chain of Hilton hotels was recently seen in Paris giving her taxi driver a rather large amount of money for dropping her of at the shops.
It was $100 (about £60) to be precise, and she didn’t wait to get given the change back either...not that it would have been very easy to do since she didn’t bother converting her cash into Euros for that particular trip.
It seems as though, if you give Paris Hilton a lift enough times you may be able to afford to buy a fancier car, or perhaps even employ a chauffeur.
After all, if Paris Hilton’s Paris visit is anything to go by, driving yourself places, and paying people in the correct currency, is so last year.
However, if you haven’t you may want to consider becoming a taxi driver and following Paris Hilton about wherever she travels.
The famous heiress to the chain of Hilton hotels was recently seen in Paris giving her taxi driver a rather large amount of money for dropping her of at the shops.
It was $100 (about £60) to be precise, and she didn’t wait to get given the change back either...not that it would have been very easy to do since she didn’t bother converting her cash into Euros for that particular trip.
It seems as though, if you give Paris Hilton a lift enough times you may be able to afford to buy a fancier car, or perhaps even employ a chauffeur.
After all, if Paris Hilton’s Paris visit is anything to go by, driving yourself places, and paying people in the correct currency, is so last year.
Image © Oldmaison via Flickr, under Creative Commons Licence
Labels: car, career, cash, chauffeur, driver, money, Paris Hilton, taxi, travel