Easter Run 2003 Monday the 21st April was the day of our Easter Run, so with our picnic hampers and umbrellas at the ready we all meet up at the Green Man where the route maps where given out by Robin who had come up with an excellent route through many country villages ending up at our first stop at Clare Castle Country Park for a picnic and a stroll around the grounds.  With the sun beating down on us we choose a spot near the river to have our picnic (no SPAM sandwiches though !!) and after a walk around the park it was felt that we should drive a little up the road to Cavendish, and partake in a little light refreshment on the village green in front of the Five Bells, also it's a great place to show of our cars, although as you can see below, RED is defiantly the "in colour" Behind these three members cars is an MGF in ….. that's right RED. After we were all refreshed we drove to the historic town of Lavenham for a bit of sightseeing, and with a pot of coffee in the market square we rounded off an excellent run.  You have all heard of the "RAC" & "AA" plus many other roadside knights, well I have managed to capture on film our own knight of the road……. GT Man with his extensive tool kit !  Can you recognize him with his dark glasses on,………….
Dairy for 2003:
Charity Fun Day
 The Story of Two Young at Heart's If I must be honest, I suppose it was my fault. I have always had this thing about running boards and beautiful flowing wings. I thought the Bentleys were the ultimate in sweeping back elegance. Then again it could still be Ron's fault, it usually is in the end. He has this thing about all old transport. When we come right down to it that's where it all began… Ron obtained a little book that listed all the transport museums, so the next thing was, I found we were planning our caravan holidays that surprise, surprise included at least two museums in the area. We visited military, naval, steam, air, bus, tractor, as well as every car museum in England. Oh! I forgot the Bovington Tank Museum, how could I forget that one. It was quite a warm day when we went there, so having a fluff covered dog we couldn't leave him in the car, so there I was in the car park with the tail gate open for the dog while Ron went “for a look round”. Five hours later he thought he might have seen it all. I did say “might” for he has been back there again since. Last year he retired. He thought he needed a hobby (another one) and he fancied getting a small old car to play around with, he was thinking along the lines of an A35, nothing too ambitious, so off we go again visiting car museums (well that was his excuse). In his late teens he almost bought an MG TD but, the insurance was prohibitive, so he settled for a Hillman Imp; he called himself a “boy racer”. So it was not surprising his thought once more turned towards an MG. I must say I was delighted, I had this mental picture of a little version of my beloved Bentley. Ron mentioned an MG Midget and showed me a picture. Hmm not bad. Then we went to Gaydon and I saw an MG TF and it had running boards and swept back wings. “Oh yes” I thought. So the hunt was on. First Ron joined the MG Owners Club in the hope that this would be the best way to find our car, and he was right. Only the second magazine to come through had one advertised, just the one we wanted. We couldn't believe it, Ron had told me they were very rare and we may have a long wait.
This TF was in Shoreham near Worthing. We rang the owner to find out if he still had it. He had so we went there the very next day. We couldn't take it home that day because we didn't have insurance, so we made arrangements to collect it on the Friday, weather permitting we said. The present owner admitted to never having had it out in the rain or after dark. (He didn't know how to turn the headlights on!!!). Friday dawned bright and sunny so off we went, setting out about 9.00am. We arrived in bright sunshine and completed the deal as quickly as possible. With Ron cautiously re-learning how to drive a 50-year old car without too many crunches from the gearbox, and me guarding his tail in our Vectra we set off. We stopped for a short break and a sandwich around 12.15 and to our dismay 10 minutes later we felt the first drops of rain. Quickly we got under way again hoping it wouldn't come to much, and at first we thought we would be lucky. The MG had the hood up, but Ron hadn't put the windows in, mainly for better visibility. We got (nervously) through the Dartford Tunnel, but then the rain got progressively harder, and harder. We were almost home before the only hailstorm of the year so far hit us….. Did you know hailstones can find their way under the hood and onto the dash? Did you also know that passing lorry wheels can send a backwash of water above the low-cut door? Ron had to manually turn the windscreen wiper faster than the motor could to try and clear the screen. When Ron got out of the car at home he was soaked through to his skin and very cold, but his main concern was to get our precious MG into the garage as soon as possible to dry off. There it sat dripping wet just like Ron. I felt very sad for both of them. However they soon dried out and have suffered no ill effects.
 We have since named her TiFny |