On the Road Again!

Morrison's supermarket locally today.  Christmas is nearly four months away FFS.

Okay. Evening. 

An update! The old Dell that we have struggled with for a long time still holds the iTunes library.   Because it still has a DVD player we can rip CD's, that we have bought straight into iTunes. We can also download anything we have bought from Amazon Music into iTunes.   I have then simply copied the folders to a few (over the years) of cheap and cheerful MP3 players, such as the Zaqe I have been using. So it was a bit disappointing that it's not charging from the mains, but connecting it to the old Dell and it connected and charged. iTunes opened automatically. Then we had the dance where whatever you do, it wants the password added...!!  Sync the iPod?  Password.  Go to library to consolidate the library? Password.  Oh. Then a laptop we have been using for 12 years? Not authorised.  Password again.   Each time Apple needed to send an authorisation SMS to my phone before continuing. Eventually it worked and synced the iPod to th...

The iPod came back today.  I saw on the Ring doorbell it had been delivered.  Once home i extracted it from the packaging. It was well packed in cardboard and  bubble wrap  Switching on took me to the front panel showing my name for it. The battery was about ¾ full.  To test I plugged the new Bluetooth transmitter into the jack plug socket and paired to my wireless headphones. So far so good. Navigated to music menu. Chose AC/DC. Great sound from player and headphones.  Then decided to charge the battery to 100% or full. Nothing. I tried two different original Apple cable. Nothing. I tried a combination of the two cables and several 13amp USB plugs. Still nothing. Very disappointed with the repair. I have emailed them as they could have checked it was working properly when they put a new battery in. I'll not name them yet but its not very good.

I didn't get any comments on my moan about "foreign" beers that are actually brewed in UK by one of a few large international brewing conglomerates. Does no one give a sh*t about being sold a lie? Anyway, at Aldi in the UK you can buy beer brewed in France. It's possible and without breaking the bank. It's only 3.4% ABV but it tastes very crisp.

In the week since we got back from Canterbury and after the jump start from the Green Flag technician, the bloody van has started regularly. The technician at Fairways Garage in Dymchurch couldn't find a problem.  They had got a battery in stock for me that wasn't needed. He suggested that we give it some longer drives and start it every day or two if not planning to go away. Yes. The bugger has started every time.  Of course. It's now trust. Can we trust it if we go away. I did buy the NOCO jump charger as a backup. We have it booked into a Fiat specialist next week so that they can check it out on the diagnostic system. We have to get to Sittingbourne as early as possible, so they can get started, as it's basically first arrive, first started. Probably need to be away from home about 7.30am. The only other annoying thing is that it's ruined a weekend away at a Motor Caravanners Club rally. We can't afford the risk. So with another trip to France on the horizon...

Today was pretty much the last chance to get some miles under the Strom's tyres for the August Kilometerfresser. As it's the 30th August and the 5th Sunday in the month. It was an extra Meldrews Sunday. We decided on H's Café at Kent Motorcycles. I've not been for quite a few years. It's changed a little. The biggest is that the original owner of the bike shop retired and it was bought out by a large group.  They have decided not to open on a Sunday.  Seems madness. Hundreds of bikers only have the weekend to ride to a bike shop... and spend money! Anyway, my journey out was the quick way via Hawkinge. A brief holdup whilst up front people were shooing a sheep out of the road. The roads had dried after the overnight rain and riding was a pleasure. Bacon and chat with Meldrews friends and then away home. I took the longer way home via Dover and past the castle. From the road off the A2 past the Duke of York School the view of the Castle is stu...