Diary of a Country Lad - VW V6 4Motion & Citroen C4
Discussion
coopedup said:
Please keep the updates coming Whatty, I love your writing style and they always bring a smile to my face, which I need at the moment with bloody flu!!!
Anyway all the best to you and yours for the hols...
Hey, Mr Coopedup. Good to hear from you. Anyway all the best to you and yours for the hols...
Seasonal Greetings to you too.
Sorry to hear you're down with the flu. I enjoyed a bit of the old hack and wheeze a week back.
Back in the States I used to save up my winter flu allowance for the 24/25/26 of December in order to share it with my Out-laws.
Saturday December 20th.
Whatty Jr has trashed my old 2CV.
Took a good look at the damage.
Sad to say its had it.
Shame. Back in 1991 my real one got me to parts of France that 602cc really shouldn't have.
Sadly no pics of me on the Massif Central in the heat of summer driving like a maniac to make a Calais ferry crossing.
Nor one of me refitting the two molten spark plugs thats had worked themselves free from expanding cylinder heads.
Foot down and flat out for 8 hours in 90f heat will do that I guess.
In truth the 1:18th version was better built than the 1:1 but its not child proof. What is?
Whatty Jr. might still be a toddler but he has to learn such behaviour will not be tolerated.
Sent him packing to think about about things.
Spare the rod and all that.....
And before you, Mr Coopedup, or anyone else thinks that I'd let my son wander off alone up our long driveway, relax.
We still don't have a driveway. Yet to unpack a thing.
Home Sweet Home.
Still could be worse.
Better here.
Than there.
Not that my old neighbour Mike would deck his hall in such a fashion.
Too busy fighting for the People's Front for Judea. The Naughty Boy.
Cheers, Whatty.
ecotec said:
Hi Watty
I saw that picture and thought you'd had an unfortunate xmas incident, good to see its not the mongrel!
Fortunately not my current ride Mr Ecotec. I saw that picture and thought you'd had an unfortunate xmas incident, good to see its not the mongrel!
Some nut in New Jersey rammed my Brazilian assembled lemon.
Hated that car, always in the shop.
Or getting me into trouble.
If memory serves me correctly. On I-287 North. Nr Wanaque.
Bit over the 65 limit. By about 53%
UK Driving Licence for the Monopoly Stay out of Court WIN.....
Wish I could find the one from Vermont ......
Statute of limitations and all that.
Cheers, Whatty.
Edited by Whatty on Tuesday 23 December 08:59
Christmas Eve. 2014
Norfolk.
Dear Whatty Jr.
Well here we are, the night before Christmas.
I'm here.
Well, looking over there at least.
And you're somewhere down there.
Directly below the new World Trade Center. NYC
And bit over to the right. Small town New Jersey.
The reason you're there and I'm here is very simple.
Logistics and Work.
(Sorry folks - its not a wailing paternal weep fest type post. Better luck over at Mumsnet or your local CSA office)
Back in July with boxes packed and time to kill I embarked on writing up 10 years worth of American motoring for future reading. Just in case........
A bit of nonsense that amused some and kept me busy while we prepared to ship out to the UK. Well back to the UK in my case.
I wrote it under the alias 'Whatty' The nickname of your long since departed paternal Great Grandfather - E.C.W
E.C.W or the original 'Whatty' was a bit of PH'er in his own right. Actually make that a proper pioneer PH'er.
'Whatty' Back row centre. Nice tan.
Somewhere in Iran.
A Motor Engineer by trade he left dear old Blighty in the early 30's to become transport manager for the Anglo-Persian Oil Company.
He enjoyed living in luxurious surroundings such as this....
:Note sunflower thief:
While ensuring that these local boys......
(Bloke in centre. Nice socks!)
Kept these doggies rolling.
Up hill and down dale.
Superleggera? Stelvio?
Jog on Mr. Clarkson. Easy life.
Obviously being 'Management' the company car fleet was also under his supervision.
Any dusty black colour you like and no diesels.
But it wasn't all work and no play.
Come 1939 he promptly nipped home to join up.
And get hitched. Before shipping out again.
Presumably had some leave in 1940.
But missed out being present at your Grandpop's arrival in March, 1941.
C/o of the Royal Army Service Corps he saw quite a lot of Egypt and North Africa.
And fixed a load of badly built Fiat trucks so that some bloke called 'Monty' could go fox hunting in the desert.
By all accounts he was pretty handy with the spanners.
Got a 'Thank You' card from Monty's boss.
And he then promptly enjoyed a bit more spannering in khaki while out in India.
Come 1945 and he's back in the oil fields with the now re-titled Anglo-Iranian Oil Company.
Iran now looking a bit more 'industrial'.
And when not hard at work 'Whatty' found time for a bit of fun motoring.
Well, what else do you do at the weekend when you live in the arse end of nowhere?
Shame, no pictures of his Buicks or Chevrolets came to light while I rummaged in the attic.
Found this bit of light reading.
Catchy title.
Published in 1949. Lots of technical stuff.
2nd edition.
No 3rd edition. 1951
Iran gets a bit shirty with its Western 'guests'.
Whatty's bosses in London pull the plug.
Refinery closed. Oil tankers push off.
Evacuate staff. Except Whatty & 20 co-workers.
Who volunteer to coughsabotagecough the company assets.
Much pulling of sump plugs while plugging of well heads.
In typical British Colonial fashion, lips are stiffened.
And bags packed. Exit Whatty & Co. stage left. Sharpish.
Tankards engraved to celebrate the Sixty Six pounders.
Time flies.
Turkey to stuff.
Norfolk.
Dear Whatty Jr.
Well here we are, the night before Christmas.
I'm here.
Well, looking over there at least.
And you're somewhere down there.
Directly below the new World Trade Center. NYC
And bit over to the right. Small town New Jersey.
The reason you're there and I'm here is very simple.
Logistics and Work.
(Sorry folks - its not a wailing paternal weep fest type post. Better luck over at Mumsnet or your local CSA office)
Back in July with boxes packed and time to kill I embarked on writing up 10 years worth of American motoring for future reading. Just in case........
A bit of nonsense that amused some and kept me busy while we prepared to ship out to the UK. Well back to the UK in my case.
I wrote it under the alias 'Whatty' The nickname of your long since departed paternal Great Grandfather - E.C.W
E.C.W or the original 'Whatty' was a bit of PH'er in his own right. Actually make that a proper pioneer PH'er.
'Whatty' Back row centre. Nice tan.
Somewhere in Iran.
A Motor Engineer by trade he left dear old Blighty in the early 30's to become transport manager for the Anglo-Persian Oil Company.
He enjoyed living in luxurious surroundings such as this....
:Note sunflower thief:
While ensuring that these local boys......
(Bloke in centre. Nice socks!)
Kept these doggies rolling.
Up hill and down dale.
Superleggera? Stelvio?
Jog on Mr. Clarkson. Easy life.
Obviously being 'Management' the company car fleet was also under his supervision.
Any dusty black colour you like and no diesels.
But it wasn't all work and no play.
Come 1939 he promptly nipped home to join up.
And get hitched. Before shipping out again.
Presumably had some leave in 1940.
But missed out being present at your Grandpop's arrival in March, 1941.
C/o of the Royal Army Service Corps he saw quite a lot of Egypt and North Africa.
And fixed a load of badly built Fiat trucks so that some bloke called 'Monty' could go fox hunting in the desert.
By all accounts he was pretty handy with the spanners.
Got a 'Thank You' card from Monty's boss.
And he then promptly enjoyed a bit more spannering in khaki while out in India.
Come 1945 and he's back in the oil fields with the now re-titled Anglo-Iranian Oil Company.
Iran now looking a bit more 'industrial'.
And when not hard at work 'Whatty' found time for a bit of fun motoring.
Well, what else do you do at the weekend when you live in the arse end of nowhere?
Shame, no pictures of his Buicks or Chevrolets came to light while I rummaged in the attic.
Found this bit of light reading.
Catchy title.
Published in 1949. Lots of technical stuff.
2nd edition.
No 3rd edition. 1951
Iran gets a bit shirty with its Western 'guests'.
Whatty's bosses in London pull the plug.
Refinery closed. Oil tankers push off.
Evacuate staff. Except Whatty & 20 co-workers.
Who volunteer to coughsabotagecough the company assets.
Much pulling of sump plugs while plugging of well heads.
In typical British Colonial fashion, lips are stiffened.
And bags packed. Exit Whatty & Co. stage left. Sharpish.
Tankards engraved to celebrate the Sixty Six pounders.
Time flies.
Turkey to stuff.
Right, turkey stuffed.
An hour to fill before appointment with pub.
Back to the continuing adventures of Whatty.
1953.
Another decade, another oil company.
Iraq Petroleum Company.
Kirkuk, Iraq.
All's well that ends well?
Company accommodation provided.
Multiple addresses. Kirkuk, Tikrit, Basrah, Baghdad
And in addition to nice digs, the social life isn't bad either.
Well hello there.
Thats a long way to travel only to get knocked out in the first round.
Assume the courts were clay not grass.
My granny would have been in Maroon I s'pose.
A golden age for air travel.
Tikrit International Airport.
195X?
And if the non existent air traffic control system was to break down.
You can always take the Nairn Desert bus.
Baghdad - Damascus - Beirut.
Obv. read Right to Left.
In Arabic.
And if you were holidaying at 'home'
You could nip down to the local baths in Baghdad.
No running or jumping kids.
The Baba Club. Baghdad.
Saddams local lido.
Still there according to son of 'Whatty' and Google Earth.
No time for a pic. The Feathers are calling. Possibly the Green Dragon.
And the original Mr. & Mrs. 'Whatty' also saw a bit of time in Syria.
That posting was a bit hairy as well.
What goes around comes around eh?
Come the late 60's with a supply of adventure stories for me, his first newly arrived grandson, he retired.
From the Corporate World.
D'Arcy Exploration, AIOC, IPC, BP.
Early Christmas presents for my little man.
These old Persian boys. Been traveling for the last 60 years.
Hauled from the Middle East to the U.K to the Eastern U.S Seaboard and then home to East Anglia.
And the original Whatty's journal.
'Whatty's Rules to Work By.'
1. Learn your trade.
2. Work hard. Play nicely.
3. Keep your head down.
4. Try and f
k off when the shooting starts.
5. Don't whine or complain. We've got it easy.
Cheers, Whatty
PS. Apologies to any passing PHer's for the lack of car content.
PPS. Happy Christmas to you all.
An hour to fill before appointment with pub.
Back to the continuing adventures of Whatty.
1953.
Another decade, another oil company.
Iraq Petroleum Company.
Kirkuk, Iraq.
All's well that ends well?
Company accommodation provided.
Multiple addresses. Kirkuk, Tikrit, Basrah, Baghdad
And in addition to nice digs, the social life isn't bad either.
Well hello there.
Thats a long way to travel only to get knocked out in the first round.
Assume the courts were clay not grass.
My granny would have been in Maroon I s'pose.
A golden age for air travel.
Tikrit International Airport.
195X?
And if the non existent air traffic control system was to break down.
You can always take the Nairn Desert bus.
Baghdad - Damascus - Beirut.
Obv. read Right to Left.
In Arabic.
And if you were holidaying at 'home'
You could nip down to the local baths in Baghdad.
No running or jumping kids.
The Baba Club. Baghdad.
Saddams local lido.
Still there according to son of 'Whatty' and Google Earth.
No time for a pic. The Feathers are calling. Possibly the Green Dragon.
And the original Mr. & Mrs. 'Whatty' also saw a bit of time in Syria.
That posting was a bit hairy as well.
What goes around comes around eh?
Come the late 60's with a supply of adventure stories for me, his first newly arrived grandson, he retired.
From the Corporate World.
D'Arcy Exploration, AIOC, IPC, BP.
Early Christmas presents for my little man.
These old Persian boys. Been traveling for the last 60 years.
Hauled from the Middle East to the U.K to the Eastern U.S Seaboard and then home to East Anglia.
And the original Whatty's journal.
'Whatty's Rules to Work By.'
1. Learn your trade.
2. Work hard. Play nicely.
3. Keep your head down.
4. Try and f
k off when the shooting starts.5. Don't whine or complain. We've got it easy.
Cheers, Whatty
PS. Apologies to any passing PHer's for the lack of car content.
PPS. Happy Christmas to you all.
ManOpener said:
Merry Christmas Whatty.
One of my favourite threads on here, the blend of cars, history and humour is riveting.
Boxing Day ( December 26th to those not normally from round here )One of my favourite threads on here, the blend of cars, history and humour is riveting.
Edited by ManOpener on Thursday 25th December 23:24
Norfolk
Thank you very much for your kind words Mr (Ms?) ManOpener.
I do question the value of my ramblings amidst other posts here compared to those of a more practical leaning.
And as you brought up the topic of riveting.
My current Pro-Am tool du jour is .... well f
ked really.
But being as this is PH, we don't just rush out and splash the cash on a new digital whip in the Curry's Sales.
Half an hour, some improvisation and a tin of white satin paint later....
Phew.. back in the user generated content business.
Which is good news, cos an afternoon with these guys wears thin, pretty quickly.
Not that I don't like a bit of a Carry On slapstick.
Or a bit of visual humour.
Car content alert.
Mk 2 Jaguar.
And comedy boobage.
c/o VIZ™
Nifty penmanship in mono not your thing?
You can't beat a bit of the old 4 colour razzle dazzle.
Especially when it pushes the boundaries of taste.....
A very PH feel to it as well......
Being a genuine and often vocal Daughter of the American Revolution Ms. Whatty will also appreciate this one.
c/o VIZ™
'I say!"
Sorry Charles (H.R.H not Hawtrey) but your daughter-in-law is a neighbour and thus fair game.
Right, back to looking at pressies from the past.
I do like a good old Old Car book.
G.Hill smokin' a Fezza at Goodwood.
c/o Spidermans Brother & Haynes Publishing™
And this year some other lucky bro' got a penholder c/o RR/Bentley.
V. apt for the little mofo.
Its V8 and all.
BRG I was and no mistake Guv'nor.
Time check:
17:15 hours.
Right I'm orf.
Better the back bar at the Queen Vic than the rear seat of a Crown Vic.
Or cold turkey.
Cheers, Whatty.
Sunday December 28th
Norfolk
Dear Ms. Whatty
Thanks for your email.
Tried to call, left a voicemail.
Bloody time difference. Sunday Brunch time I guess?
Glad to hear you're both on the mend.
Feeling a bit odd myself. Skin complaint.
Might be itchy car key syndrome.
I know, I know.
"No new old cars prior to new old shed move in"
As per your instructions I walked Whatty dog early.
He does love the hedgerow urinals here.
Put a bit of creative effort into my breakfast.
Avoided the classified car ads in the Sunday papers.
Check out these vanity plate prices. I mean really?
Bookmarked future reading.
Hmmm... R32, Z3M,
Having walked one dog I decided the other one needed a bath.
Cold showers & old cars: great for curing new car desire.
Went to church. Bad idea.
In the sin bin. Forgot lack of parking.
V6 warble not appreciated by local parishioners.
Have you heard the one about the agnostic dyslexic?
Scouted locations for that other gig I mentioned.
Used the Mongrel as a stand in.
This won't work.
Light industrial?
Better. But still not quite the thing.
Semi-rustic.
Barn-to run
Sorry Boss.
Getting there?
AWD was a good thing.
Client might have ingress/egress issues.
Colours will work.
Not liking borrowed Leica.
Private Road.
Resisted the temptation.
Well it is Sunday.
Went to the Old Volks home.
Love thy neighbour and all that.
And home again.
One day that comedy plate will be mine.
Brother Breadvan tried to lead me into temptation.
Before leaving to go out on the piste. ( I ran out of helmet gags)
White Pork: you know its my weak spot.
No little piggies for me. This year.
Teatime: Thanks for the XXXXXX & the YYYYYY.
These were very tasty as well.
Catch you later.
Forget Skype. Norfolk, the land Verizon FiOS forgot.
Whatty xx
PS.
Just what do I do with this lil' rascal?
12 months MOT, FSH, 127K miles
Silver Mark IVs everywhere.
Edited to add PPS.
Scotty Whatty Dog gone missing.
Don't panic I'm sure he'll turn up.
Norfolk
Dear Ms. Whatty
Thanks for your email.
Tried to call, left a voicemail.
Bloody time difference. Sunday Brunch time I guess?
Glad to hear you're both on the mend.
Feeling a bit odd myself. Skin complaint.
Might be itchy car key syndrome.
I know, I know.
"No new old cars prior to new old shed move in"
As per your instructions I walked Whatty dog early.
He does love the hedgerow urinals here.
Put a bit of creative effort into my breakfast.
Avoided the classified car ads in the Sunday papers.
Check out these vanity plate prices. I mean really?
Bookmarked future reading.
Hmmm... R32, Z3M,
Having walked one dog I decided the other one needed a bath.
Cold showers & old cars: great for curing new car desire.
Went to church. Bad idea.
In the sin bin. Forgot lack of parking.
V6 warble not appreciated by local parishioners.
Have you heard the one about the agnostic dyslexic?
Scouted locations for that other gig I mentioned.
Used the Mongrel as a stand in.
This won't work.
Light industrial?
Better. But still not quite the thing.
Semi-rustic.
Barn-to run
Sorry Boss.
Getting there?
AWD was a good thing.
Client might have ingress/egress issues.
Colours will work.
Not liking borrowed Leica.
Private Road.
Resisted the temptation.
Well it is Sunday.
Went to the Old Volks home.
Love thy neighbour and all that.
And home again.
One day that comedy plate will be mine.
Brother Breadvan tried to lead me into temptation.
Before leaving to go out on the piste. ( I ran out of helmet gags)
White Pork: you know its my weak spot.
No little piggies for me. This year.
Teatime: Thanks for the XXXXXX & the YYYYYY.
These were very tasty as well.
Catch you later.
Forget Skype. Norfolk, the land Verizon FiOS forgot.
Whatty xx
PS.
Just what do I do with this lil' rascal?
12 months MOT, FSH, 127K miles
Silver Mark IVs everywhere.
Edited to add PPS.
Scotty Whatty Dog gone missing.
Don't panic I'm sure he'll turn up.
Edited by Whatty on Monday 29th December 07:11
coopedup said:
Scotty Whatty dog missing 
is he back yet...
Regret to say he is still MIA Mr.Coopedup. is he back yet...Feeling better?
Been out and about looking for him.
Whatty Dog #1 is not a happy bunny.
No lunch for me today MWStewart.
This is serious
Has anyone seen this dog?
Scottish Terrier
Age 4. Likes Bagels and De Niro movies.
Yank accent.
Last seen in the NR18 area.
Edited to post the right dog pic.
Sorry. Bit emotional.
Edited by Whatty on Monday 29th December 12:33
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