Service!

 No use shouting that unless you are in a restaurant - and probably not there unless you want to incur the wrath of the maitre D.

The Dacia is trundling along nicely. She has over 163,000 miles on the clock and is heading towards her next service. It will be due around 165,500. 

But the engine management light came on about 1,000 miles ago, and initially I thought that I would have to bring the service forward. Everything is still functioning as it should, power is not reduced (yes, I know it's only a Dacia!) and fuel economy is still around 60mpg. So, I'm working on the assumption (assume nothing!) that it is probably a dirty filter somewhere that is in need if attention.

That's the problem with modern cars. If a warning light comes on and the computer throws a panic, the car stops and won't go - no matter how much pleading you apply. Whereas, back in the day, with my Morris Traveller, there were no warning lights, no know-it-all computers, you could usually hear what was happening - noisy tappets, rattling big ends, dodgy plug leads, timing a bit off - but it kept running until you got round to fixing it, or it died in a big way.

Those were the days!

Spring stuff

Pen and ink, by me

 Now we have exited the wettest winter on record here in Devon and Cornwall, spring is beginning to make an appearance. Some early tulips came and went, wild garlic arrived - and was promptly removed and put into home made pesto - and the trees have all acquired that lovely, spring green tinge. This chartreuse green will disappear as the leaves mature and the darker, summer greens take over.

The hydrangea, too, is making the effort with buds hiding among the new leaves. They deserve their own portrait.

Image: Hydrangea in ink. (c) 2026 by me

So much more

The world of motoring - unless you are lucky enough to be driving the 'more interesting' kind of vehicle - is pretty bland these days.

Ink and watercolour - by me

Most cars are the same shape, same colour, same performance - and have so many driver aids it's not surprising that drivers don't know how to drive anymore. Some call this blandness 'vanilla', but I rather like vanilla, especially in ice cream. 

So, I will fill this space with some other stuff while I wait for interesting car-stuff to happen, which means there will be so much more to entertain you. 

Let's lift a glass to celebrate ...

Pot holes ...

 Now there's a word to get you all going!

Yep, there are loads of 'em, and after the winter we've had it's hardly surprising. I won't enter into the 'councils aren't doing enough'-'why aren't they all filled immediately after I call'-'it's disgusting, the country is falling apart' conversations, but I do have suggestions.

I find the ride is more comfortable, and less damage is done to the wheels and suspension if you don't drive in to them. 

Sounds obvious, really, but having been a passenger with some friends, recently, apparently not.

First, don't follow too close behind other vehicles, keep at least the 'two seconds' gap. This will allow you to observe the road ahead and plan your route around many potholes.

Second, along with the first, keep your speed down. Again allowing you more time to observe and avoid.

Third, concentrate on your driving and observe the road ahead. Together with 1 and 2, it will help. On roads you use often - remember where you last saw them, unless your memory is failing.

Fourth, take extra care at night. Main beam is useful, as long as you can manage to find the dip switch when required, which seems to be an issue on newer cars.

Let's face it, most of you are not interested in driving you just want to get from A to B with the least effort, as fast as you can. No amount of advice will help you, you will just whinge when you bend your rims, and blame anyone except your own incompetence. I appreciate many of you have been further de-skilled by buying cars that do it all for you, but hey ho, that's progress. The standards of your driving can only get worse ... unless you do something about it.

Happy potholing!