Straw

Again not a good day - Angie told me the oil level warning lamp on her car was lightning up, not surprising given her mad dashes over the last two weeks. While checking and filling it thought I ought to do mine as well. Was horrified to see the dipstick showing empty although I hadn't seen any lights. Went to fill it too and because the oil cap was stiff, removed the plastic engine covering only to see one of the cylinders coated in oil. Having filled it, started the engine and sure enough, it was blowing air and oil.

Phoned local garage and sent the owner video & photo material. If his remote diagnosis is correct it's the end of the line for the Jeep. That is going to cause a big issue. Angie's is also on its last legs. I couldn't care less what 4 wheels I drive but we do need one that can tow at very least 1,500kg and better 2,000kg. My Welsh made, Ifor Williams horse trailer weighs 950kg empty so two horses @ 400-500kg takes us to this limit. 4WD isn't necessary either but try to find a car without it that pulls two tonnes.

A coincidental part solution came up just two days ago - Angie learnt that her father had been planning to sell his car as neither he or his wife drive anymore. So today when she drove over to visit him, she asked and he immediately said take it, we'll do the detail later. It's a small Mercedes A, I suspect around 10 years old and quite suitable for our everyday needs (apart from the trailer)

Sepp was on reasonable form but grumpiness continues combined now with a great deal of seemingly confused state of mind. He isn't quite with us or at least only at times. Bit upsetting as it's yet another by-product with which no one reckoned. Only hope it has something to do with withdrawal effects from all the stuff that has been pumped into him.

I haven't yet had a full report as Angie came home just as I was setting off on foot with Luna for the evening walk and she was only stopping to get her sports bag before going to do her fitness class and sauna in Ottobeuren.

Perhaps tomorrow we will both visit him and collect the loan car.

Blip is of Farmer Franz who phoned at lunchtime to say he would be bringing over two bales of straw that we had ordered. Quite big bales at 2.60m length. Luckily he could load them both on to our extra long pallet lift trolley that takes two Euro-Pallets lengthwise and I can then manoeuvre them inside the stable which is too low for the tractor to get in. Should suffice for the winter. 

I wonder if the UK will be allowed to use EU Pallets after 29th April 2019? By the way smokers, remember to hoard up on cigarettes. After Brexit Day, packets with EU warnings are no longer allowed! Today yet again a plethora of GOV.UK emails on Brexit landed. Includes one that will regulate tobacco and e-cigarettes. From 30th April you will have pictures on the packets using photos from the Australian Government collection - honest! As if the UK hasn't got free and easy access to millions of photos in their NHS records of lungs, amputated feet and goodness knows what else. And of course, some Dept will now need to be created to deal with all the registration.

Where is all this nonsense going to end? And if anybody ever again mentions a "Brexit Bonus" they ought to be strung up on a tractor front loader and dumped off Beachy Head.