tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-139877402011-11-23T20:10:31.434+02:00ADVENTURES WITH OLIVIAMichellehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09669869159446275381noreply@blogger.comBlogger1781100tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-13987740.post-71871129002452188712011-03-16T22:31:00.000+02:002011-03-16T22:31:45.908+02:00

It's still very much summer here - no telltale drip of rain on the accelerator foot yet, and the firewall is a FIREwall after a mere half-hour's drive.  Aircon?  Nope.  Just these in the doors to make the feet breezy: So yes, driving Olivia isn't exactly the coolest of experiences. And yet.... it very much IS. When your daily drive is a Series III that first saw daylight in 1976, you

Michellehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09669869159446275381noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-13987740.post-41330511689986946362011-02-22T23:44:00.000+02:002011-02-22T23:44:02.164+02:00

I suspect Olivia doesn't like to be all fixed (my first car the Mini had the same problem years ago).  Just yesterday we replaced a hub gasket that had disintegrated to the point where we couldn't actually find much of it when removed!  There's no more oil spatters on the rim, no leaks on the hub - the engine's going well, the brakes work, all's right with the world! Or so one would think... I

Michellehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09669869159446275381noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-13987740.post-3010715279718912962011-02-07T22:54:00.000+02:002011-02-07T22:54:22.164+02:00

Olivia's been giving a few rather serious problems lately.  She started jerking occasionally a week ago, and it simply went downhill from there. I did a once-over early in the week, but couldn't see anything wrong. Thursday was the final straw.  She wouldn't go with any power in a straight line without excessive revving, and that caused jerks and jumps to the point where she'd randomly stall.

Michellehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09669869159446275381noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-13987740.post-37812289203828103992011-01-25T22:29:00.000+02:002011-01-25T22:29:07.852+02:00

Nothing in Olivia is ever fast.  Here's how to use up an entire day in and around Cape Town. We have a nifty little device called an FM Protector - it's not only a tracking device, but also does some pretty fancy telling of information like whether you've hit something or not :-)  With Olivia's speedo still awaiting re-installation (scratch that - we have a "new" one that's waiting to go in

Michellehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09669869159446275381noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-13987740.post-19710650955828392262011-01-18T23:30:00.000+02:002011-01-18T23:30:46.974+02:00

They say those who refuse to learn from history will be destined to repeat it... Today I did so - and also came close to making history! You see, I almost set Olivia on fire. Post-engine-swap, we discovered Olivia's big spare back battery (truck size) was kaput, and it's come out leaving a battery box with insulated terminals lying loose, ready to pop in a new one.  While we were at it, we

Michellehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09669869159446275381noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-13987740.post-33819045606877492312010-12-24T00:24:00.000+02:002010-12-24T00:24:08.431+02:00

It being the silly season, the police are currently out in force with random roadblocks popping up everywhere - quickly moving on before the word spreads where they are. Thus it was I was toodling home from the mall this week and a bloke with a reflective vest jumped out into the road to wave me over.  Along with a few other vehicles. Normally we as drivers try to avoid police stopping us.  We

Michellehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09669869159446275381noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-13987740.post-62321904681444635582010-11-30T18:15:00.000+02:002010-11-30T18:15:24.457+02:00

Olivia has decided it's time she did some social networking.  She's now on Facebook.  You're welcome to ask for her friendship - but I can't guarantee she'll add you! :-)  She has, however, friended a couple of other Landies, and they seem to be swapping hints and tips to sort out their humans...

Michellehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09669869159446275381noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-13987740.post-1755475406047087532010-11-13T00:07:00.000+02:002010-11-13T00:07:28.033+02:00

Olivia's back on the road! Yay! Details to follow, but she's finally home... and Favourite Man convinced me that this should be the first order of business: One quick trip to the beauty salon later and she's clean & shiny.  As far as I know, this is her first paid-for "spa treatment" other than a thorough hosing down with pressurized cold water before we started work on her three years ago.  

Michellehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09669869159446275381noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-13987740.post-81071208283089445922010-07-06T13:36:00.000+02:002010-07-06T13:36:11.609+02:00

When I first started this blog, it was intended to track quite the daring adventure. Me and the kid, chucking in life as we knew it and heading off on roads unknown in an old Landy until we ran out of either road or cash. Such beeeeg dreams :-) (Hey, there are many who have done it, it's not impossible) But looky here - niggling thoughts in similar veins have been tapping me on the shoulder

Michellehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09669869159446275381noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-13987740.post-31914609573602903842010-01-25T22:59:00.001+02:002010-01-25T23:00:42.721+02:00

Olivia's in hospital - REAL hospital not the home-care kind. She's gone in to have her old tired 2.6 engine replaced with a better 2.6! In theory it should be an easy swap...Let's hope so.

Michellehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09669869159446275381noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-13987740.post-13197778689235316792009-10-16T21:40:00.002+02:002009-10-16T21:51:15.459+02:00

(Olivia's still sitting waiting for her new heart/brain still.. it's been quiet here..)I am not a soccer mom.You see them driving their Discoveries and Range Rovers and Defenders every day, picking up the kids from school, taking them to their after-hours activities, going shopping, meeting the girls for coffee while the boys are out earning a living and paying off the cars/houses/holidays. Land

Michellehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09669869159446275381noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-13987740.post-67058578580658629192009-08-14T21:59:00.004+02:002009-08-14T22:09:40.658+02:00

And it's back to off again. Off the road, that is.I spent most of this past week "replacing the head gasket" - which, oddly enough, was in very good condition still. Gave the innards a good clean, put it all back together according to the manual - and then the trouble started.First, both batteries decided they didn't have anough vooma to start her. So we tow-started. Or attempted to.

Michellehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09669869159446275381noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-13987740.post-50066428298080300122009-08-08T18:18:00.003+02:002009-08-08T18:20:41.827+02:00

The September issue of Landy Wave Monthly is online here.Find the previous issues at our website.

Michellehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09669869159446275381noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-13987740.post-14557337692482254072009-07-22T21:22:00.006+02:002009-07-22T21:45:09.193+02:00

It's been an absolute age since I updated this blog, but Olivia's been very busy. She's the workhorse that makes it up mountains to sort out high sites, the loader of e-waste, and transporter of large things like ladders.All this with a sick mind. Or rather a problem with her head - gasket. She's taken to drinking oil along with her horrific petrol habit, then spewing oil and water out when

Michellehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09669869159446275381noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-13987740.post-48931739689704684082009-05-18T17:27:00.001+02:002009-05-18T17:29:42.914+02:00

Michellehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09669869159446275381noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-13987740.post-44767665882361817092009-04-27T21:22:00.004+02:002009-04-27T21:30:25.530+02:00

It's been a while since I updated Olivia's blog. Here's the latest.Today, while the rest of the country was lazing around with Freedom Day, Favourite Man and I put in a bit of work on Olivia. We sorted out new engine mounts with a bit of difficulty - one needed some engineering as only Favourite Man can do, but turned out perfect with an excellent fit all round. We attacked the final electrics

Michellehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09669869159446275381noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-13987740.post-54124540885748282942009-03-15T12:57:00.002+02:002009-03-15T13:00:44.525+02:00

Olivia has a new accessory! :-)It will soon be supporting a couple of long bits of metal on a trip up to our high site. That front receiver is a very useful bit of kit indeed.

Michellehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09669869159446275381noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-13987740.post-88506232831180234422009-01-29T11:38:00.003+02:002009-01-29T12:10:45.769+02:00

I'm really worried about Olivia.In July last year Favourite Man took his Discovery II to Ferobrake around the corner from us in Strand to have the discs skimmed prior to fitting new shoes. When he arrived at the appointed day and time, he was told the mechanic was sick and he'd have to go to their branch in Cape Town. Which he did. Only to be turned away for some arb reason.After Olivia's

Michellehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09669869159446275381noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-13987740.post-68880765395676239992008-11-26T10:52:00.003+02:002008-11-26T12:23:09.863+02:00

Olivia's new / replacement fender has arrived. Complete with ex-army light bits. Nope, we're not going to leave it that colour - but work starts soon!

Michellehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09669869159446275381noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-13987740.post-80291310474320448032008-10-20T11:39:00.003+02:002008-10-20T12:21:48.943+02:00

Life with Land Rovers is very much a love/hate relationship.When they're going well we love them to bits. When they're giving problems we want to kick their tyres and take a hammer to the offending parts.Actually... the word "relationship" is kinda the root of the problem. We start to see these hunks of metal as "people".Take Olivia for example. She's my girl, part of the family, and yup - the

Michellehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09669869159446275381noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-13987740.post-71115216813137145812008-10-16T09:14:00.003+02:002008-10-16T09:21:54.309+02:00

After Olivia's minor altercation with a lamppost thanks to horrific driving on the part of an old tannie who crossed her path (literally), the red-tape battle began. There was not a whole lot of real damage - not a single light broke in the accident - yet insurance wanted to write her off, stating that repair costs far exceeded the value of the vehicle. Well Favourite Man was able to cut that

Michellehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09669869159446275381noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-13987740.post-63883331354673492422008-10-07T07:57:00.003+02:002008-10-07T07:59:45.431+02:00

...I miss my Olivia.She's still sitting quietly at the panelbeater. I'm still waiting for word from insurance. I know she hasn't moved, as I've geofenced the area and told her Protector unit to SMS me if she starts/moves/leaves/enters/stops in that area. Her battery is still fine, as is the unit's - so I can keep an eye on her.But I miss her.

Michellehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09669869159446275381noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-13987740.post-47066408374890206972008-10-01T10:59:00.002+02:002008-10-01T11:01:50.046+02:00

Michellehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09669869159446275381noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-13987740.post-2822496920153186502008-09-23T13:08:00.003+02:002008-09-23T13:20:21.121+02:00

Roughly once a week I take a trip down a very bad road to drop off some stuff. They're fixing the road, but this is Africa - in the months that I've been doing this, they've done about 500 metres of road and are now 100 metres away from my destination. On the other side of it. Which means I still get to travel the dodgy road.It is, quite frankly, the worst tar road I've been on. It starts out

Michellehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09669869159446275381noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-13987740.post-9329871110047254112008-09-19T10:54:00.003+02:002008-09-19T11:15:40.517+02:00

I know I'm the eternal optimist, but sometimes I take it way too far.Like the last post here about Olivia's wonderful fuel consumption. I've been down that road before, and should have known better. The chick is a serious heavy drinker and no amount of rehab is going to cure that it seems!The wonderful fuel consumption led to a sudden dying - yup, tank empty, fuel gauge sticking. And then it

Michellehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09669869159446275381noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-13987740.post-26863680659412951312008-09-08T20:46:00.003+02:002008-09-08T20:52:11.381+02:00

It's raining like crazy here in the Cape - and Olivia loves it!She really struggles against wind, which doesn't help matters when facing a gale-force one, but give her a tailwind or none at all, stick a bit of rain about, and she's happy as... well a Landy in a mudhole!Case in point, today's commute. I did indeed battle against the wind all the way to work, but used surprisingly little petrol

Michellehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09669869159446275381noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-13987740.post-20058049777526170622008-09-01T08:02:00.005+02:002008-09-01T08:21:24.597+02:00

Two years ago Olivia arrived on my doorstep! Wow... it's been indescribable. I've learnt huge amounts, conquered hills (literally and figuratively), and gained courage to "go beyond".Yet I still keep hitting new milestones, learning new things.Yesterday was another. It was the first time I've driven Olivia with something attached to her tow hitch! We had a quick run into Cape Town planned to

Michellehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09669869159446275381noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-13987740.post-57381245637476996342008-08-29T09:29:00.001+02:002008-08-29T09:31:10.830+02:00

It keeps falling over on my Landy! :-)

Michellehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09669869159446275381noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-13987740.post-67835547152262667032008-08-26T13:53:00.002+02:002008-08-27T09:04:20.095+02:00

Winter in the Cape is characterized by cold, rain and traffic jams. The Capetonians turn into idiot drivers as soon as a few drops fall from the sky.On Monday I had a run in Olivia through to one of our e-waste processors, loaded down with the insides of monitors. In the rain. Over horrific roads. And back through Stellenbosch rush hour.Being the Cape, and specifically the winelands, folk are

Michellehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09669869159446275381noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-13987740.post-64926969945900993892008-08-19T09:04:00.002+02:002008-08-19T09:17:37.299+02:00

Driving to work in Olivia this morning, I realized that you have to have faith to travel in a Land Rover. Especially one you work on yourself...A while back we had a go at sorting out the back axles. New oil seals were needed, and the bearings were checked at the same time. This of course involved taking the wheels off, plonking the beast on axle stands, and then putting the wheels back on

Michellehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09669869159446275381noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-13987740.post-68378361248322161812008-08-10T21:26:00.001+02:002008-08-10T21:29:31.984+02:00

Michellehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09669869159446275381noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-13987740.post-39487533619489282222008-08-08T13:44:00.003+02:002008-08-08T14:09:22.110+02:00

This morning Favourite Man checked Olivia's oil before I left for work, reporting back "if you ever wanted to take a photo of oil at a perfect level, that dipstick is it right now".Yay! That's quite the achievement for an old Landy. Instead of emptying a couple litres into her belly every day, she's doing OK on the oil consumption at last.Months ago I put diesel oil instead of petrol oil into

Michellehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09669869159446275381noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-13987740.post-82816242615289797612008-08-04T13:04:00.001+02:002008-08-04T13:04:58.349+02:00

(from a forward, just a bit of inspiration for the day)When you've acquired a taste for dust,The scent of our first rain,You're hooked for life on AfricaAnd you'll not be right againTill you can watch the setting moonAnd hear the jackals barkAnd know that they're around you,Waiting in the dark.When you long to see the elephants.Or to hear the coucal's song,When the moonrise sets your blood on

Michellehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09669869159446275381noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-13987740.post-80606586914303273202008-07-31T11:00:00.003+02:002008-07-31T11:17:11.704+02:00

Winter in the Cape is a wet one. The general trend is a drifting rain for days - or a couple of hard-hitting cold fronts that rattle the doors and pound the windows.Today it's a bit of both. And I drove Olivia to work.She reminded me she loves me by pouring the contents of the gutter down my jacket as soon as I opened the driver's door, then continued to do so with a steady dripping stream as I

Michellehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09669869159446275381noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-13987740.post-57463162005443665172008-07-29T08:47:00.004+02:002008-07-29T09:08:08.942+02:00

Olivia's on the move this morning.Favourite Man is taking her and a trailer in to Cape Town to collect e-waste for me, with the kid in tow. Although there are only 4 stops on the list, it's probably going to take most of today, and a couple stops at the petrol stations.Lucky for me, she's fitted with an FM Protector unit, so I can sit at my desk and watch her progress. Nope, she's not flying in

Michellehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09669869159446275381noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-13987740.post-75594825978270212562008-07-22T14:57:00.001+02:002008-07-22T14:59:05.864+02:00

One reason I love Landy people is because they inevitably come with a sense of humour. Proving yet again you can sell anything on e-bay .. :-)

Michellehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09669869159446275381noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-13987740.post-8850964695250177822008-07-22T13:02:00.004+02:002008-07-22T13:31:17.111+02:00

Olivia recently acquired a WorldSpace satellite/digital radio, which Favourite Man fitted expertly last weekend.During Olivia's rennovation, we'd hooked the unit up to the newly-installed wiring to check that it worked, and picked up reception loud and clear. This time around we've struggled to get more than a bar or two, no matter where we place the antenna.Now there are many theories as to why

Michellehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09669869159446275381noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-13987740.post-1118193993724034262008-07-16T09:57:00.003+02:002008-07-16T10:04:06.920+02:00

Olivia's been doing weird stuff recently. I'll be just beginning the commute when her revvs will suddenly increase and get stuck there - scary-high with engine screaming. It doesn't happen often, but...This morning it couldn't have come at a worse time. My side windows were misted up in icy morning darkness, the windscreen wasn't much better, I was approaching a traffic circle, and had cars

Michellehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09669869159446275381noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-13987740.post-47669258398872187912008-07-13T22:03:00.004+02:002008-07-13T22:13:10.079+02:00

You may remember a while back we had a bit of a "Surprise" when Olivia's bonnet flew open while travelling.Well, Favourite Man - being handy and all that - made Olivia a pair of hood sticks to make sure that doesn't happen again. We fitted them a while ago and they've worked most excellently.As you can see, they're strong and metal and stick up through the bonnet - held closed with an R-clip.A

Michellehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09669869159446275381noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-13987740.post-66210079796941084222008-07-03T10:20:00.002+02:002008-07-03T11:16:18.671+02:00

It had to happen. The Landy Chick has a new blog - solely for her Land Rover addiction. :-) Comments and submissions are welcome.This blog remains property of Olivia though.

Michellehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09669869159446275381noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-13987740.post-66430514649353658092008-07-02T08:22:00.002+02:002008-07-02T08:35:06.304+02:00

You know you drive a Land Rover when you travel with a 5 litre container of engine oil behind the driver's seat... (not to mention 5 ammo boxes of assorted tools, parts, recovery gear and manuals)In recent weeks Favourite Man has been panicked by Olivia's oil consumption. She was emptying out the supply at an awful rate, leaving the dipstick levels way too low after a simple day's driving.Last

Michellehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09669869159446275381noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-13987740.post-43501365463547649992008-06-26T11:20:00.003+02:002008-06-26T11:31:41.066+02:00

Last night saw Favourite Man and I out and about in Olivia after sunset. We had a shopping run and an airport-distance run to accomplish, so a good deal of pottering in the dark.At which time I discovered a problem. A very serious problem.You see, Olivia has LIGHTS. And not just lights or Lights, but LIGHTS. 16 of the blerry things on her front alone, and then there's the ones in her

Michellehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09669869159446275381noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-13987740.post-8206093661062714362008-06-25T15:50:00.003+02:002008-06-25T15:54:17.917+02:00

I had a bit of a close call this morning, driving to work in the dark.Being a slowpoke, Olivia tends to stick to the "yellow line lane" uphill and let the speedier commuters past. This morning she was doing just that in the early morning blackness, when I suddenly noticed a HUGE pothole that had opened up overnight - right in the middle of the lane I was traveling!I was very very lucky that

Michellehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09669869159446275381noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-13987740.post-48415302782212547232008-06-19T09:59:00.002+02:002008-06-19T10:22:44.180+02:00

You get dry runs - and then you get wet runs. Being Olivia, and being winter, today Favourite Man is on a Wet Run.It's a typical Cape winter day - howling northwest wind, rain on and off (when it's on, it's ON), not a hint of sunshine to be seen anywhere. Driving a solid, square block of metal with some wind-catching aerials and a roofrack is not easy - add in a topside load and it's going to

Michellehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09669869159446275381noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-13987740.post-31134825028529869482008-06-10T08:49:00.003+02:002008-06-10T09:05:04.370+02:00

Right children, pay attention. Now - what is the title of this blog? Good! "Going Everywhere - Slowly"!Which is a general trend in a 30-year-old Landy with her original engine. But hey, it's faster than walking.Still... Rising fuel costs and this Treehugger post have me pondering today.Remember I briefly said something about the "death of adventure" in my last post? That cost of travel is

Michellehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09669869159446275381noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-13987740.post-49164747264109212532008-06-08T22:06:00.004+02:002008-06-08T22:11:49.470+02:00

Nope, Olivia hasn't gone to the Great Landy Gathering In The Sky. She's still around, she's still going strong - better than ever.There's a post languishing in drafts about her new shocks/dampers and steering damper. She's gained a few new stickers. She has new tyres and she's working hard up the mountainside!But our lives have rushed on with work every day - and it's been a while since she

Michellehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09669869159446275381noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-13987740.post-42774084414989169022008-05-12T15:33:00.002+02:002008-05-12T15:40:58.305+02:00

I threw fuel into the Disco 2's tank for the first time this morning since the above R10 a litre hike in price, and it was both amusing and confusing.The price is given in hundreds of cents, but it should be in just over a thousand. So when you put in R20, you end up seeing a charge for R2 on the pump!If only....This could, of course, work for both good and evil. If you go cash in hand and say

Michellehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09669869159446275381noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-13987740.post-30937698635819064482008-05-08T08:30:00.002+02:002008-05-08T08:56:38.134+02:00

Olivia is taking a break.She was the daily drive commutemobile for an entire month, completely fulfilling my quest to turn her into such that started the whole Work In Progress thing at the beginning of last year. She's been tootling along, generally happily - a very big difference from me being too scared to get into her!But now she's taking a break. I'm back in the more fuel-efficient

Michellehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09669869159446275381noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-13987740.post-44575575488648068332008-05-02T16:56:00.004+02:002008-05-02T17:08:22.230+02:00

Olivia has been earning her keep the past few days. On Tuesday she drove Cape Town flat - including picking up e-waste for Virgin Earth and seeing a few blokes for Cape Connect.Today she did what she was made for - trundling slowly up a mountain in low range to take us to a Cape Connect mast site which requires clearing. She toted water, 3 humans, food, supplies, equipment and a faulty chainsaw

Michellehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09669869159446275381noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-13987740.post-26794086200079102862008-04-25T12:12:00.003+02:002008-04-25T13:07:07.153+02:00

Olivia is pretty impressive for a 31 year old truck.This morning early we had to do a quick dash up a mountain (all in a day's work) in heavy mist before work. Last time I handed over the steering wheel to Favourite Man as soon as we hit the dirt. This time I went up the easier bit until the first very steep slope before exiting the driver's seat. And Olivia just kept going and going and

Michellehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09669869159446275381noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-13987740.post-66953642367502815762008-04-24T13:13:00.003+02:002008-04-24T13:24:55.136+02:00

A few months ago I gave Olivia an oil change. By mistake I put oil meant for diesel engines in her, instead of the petrol engine oil. Total and utter blonde day! But, as it was a rather large financial investment's worth of oil, we thought we'd go with it and see what happened. Meantime, a thread on the Land Rover UK Forums mentioned diesel oil and petrol engines, so of course my virtual ears

Michellehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09669869159446275381noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-13987740.post-39689851310424635702008-04-23T09:41:00.003+02:002008-04-23T10:19:24.279+02:00

Your need to beat me to the next traffic light with a roar of engines does not encourage an increase in speed on my part. We'll all get there at the same time anyway and I'm not putting foot to conform to your ideas of the speed limit.Likewise, should you choose to travel in the slow lane, do not attempt to move me to the yellow line by flashing your lights, gesturing or otherwise being rude.

Michellehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09669869159446275381noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-13987740.post-38499120685251834552008-04-22T09:52:00.004+02:002008-04-22T10:20:55.834+02:00

Olivia is not your average smooth rider. She's a Leafer, and her reconditioned leaf springs are bouncy.I've noticed it lately on a particular section or two of road where there are the smallest corrugations or uneven bits in the surface. If you hit them at the right speed - which is generally the reasonably-slow speed Olivia's going - you generate a "wave" effect. As you bounce up and down,

Michellehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09669869159446275381noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-13987740.post-58949031939200949252008-04-21T10:46:00.001+02:002008-04-21T11:36:35.729+02:00

I wouldn't...

Michellehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09669869159446275381noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-13987740.post-8818739444345448102008-04-18T14:15:00.003+02:002008-04-18T14:22:50.314+02:00

I know the facts, but now and then I'm still gobsmacked that in this day and age women are still shunted to the side of the campfire. Take the manly world of 4x4 ownership, for instance. OK - I'm not your average Land Rover driving woman. For one thing, I drive a difficult bitch of a beast that is constantly threatening mutiny. For another, I don't particularly mind getting my hands dirty or

Michellehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09669869159446275381noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-13987740.post-44514009937041665502008-04-18T10:13:00.003+02:002008-04-18T10:24:31.734+02:00

Olivia is not the cleanest of vehicles at the moment. She's been up a mountain twice in the last two weeks, a very dusty dirty mountain, in a manner which generated a coating of brown everywhere.Add in early morning dewiness on the windscreen and bodywork, and she does not look at all good!But there's a dilemma raging over this one.Landies should look like they're doing Important Things,

Michellehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09669869159446275381noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-13987740.post-88079472113000303032008-04-17T09:09:00.000+02:002008-04-17T09:10:21.875+02:00

Favourite Man has been published! One of the awesome things he made for Olivia the Landy is featured in this month's Land Rover Monthly magazine, with the photos he took of the process. Quite co-incidentally, the final page faces an ad for a commercial cubby box that looks completely inefficient next to his strong and sturdy one. :-)I'm so proud of him I could burst. Go FaveMan!(cross-posted

Michellehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09669869159446275381noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-13987740.post-44864962839713095832008-04-16T10:27:00.002+02:002008-04-16T10:35:42.739+02:00

There I was, happily chugging through town on the way to work with a grin on my face, when Olivia sighed. I pulled over and revved her, and she was OK. A half-kilometre down the road she sighed again. This time I headed down a side street to check things out, as I don't fancy being stuck in the middle of commute traffic on a road with no shoulder space and taxis speeding by!Well, in the

Michellehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09669869159446275381noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-13987740.post-13028400481950401212008-04-14T11:50:00.004+02:002008-04-14T11:57:44.200+02:00

I've mentioned how night driving Olivia keeps me on my toes and on edge... but what I haven't mentioned is the day-to-day frights she likes to give me.Take this morning, for instance. I was in to work a bit later than usual after having some business to take care of elsewhere, and as I arrived and parked I noticed something dripping out of the wheel arches and off the rock sliders onto my

Michellehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09669869159446275381noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-13987740.post-85616741231800236392008-04-13T21:03:00.003+02:002008-04-13T21:12:00.729+02:00

Just like her human, Olivia is not fond of getting up and going to work in the dark. But the seasons are changing so rapidly lately that she's had to put on her lights when she leaves, and sometimes even gets to use her fog lights!Of course, with the onset of colder weather, she's not only trying to be difficult by starting with effort - but she decided it's time for the fan/heater switch to

Michellehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09669869159446275381noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-13987740.post-38692382369563185362008-04-09T12:38:00.003+02:002008-04-09T12:56:07.328+02:00

A post on one of my email forums recently has lodged itself in the "adventure" braincell in my head and started to use up a significant portion of my imagination's RAM.There's a few blokes heading off on a 4x4 trip to Botswana, which is nothing new. Guys go places every weekend! But these guys are going to "find the Lost City of the Kalahari" as mentioned in 1883, sought for by Allan Paton, and

Michellehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09669869159446275381noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-13987740.post-60076485363802242092008-04-05T12:55:00.004+02:002008-04-07T13:02:15.279+02:00

The Landy Wave is a strange thing - and it fascinates non-Landy drivers to no end.You see, if you drive a Landy, you are required to wave at other Landy drivers on the road. This can be done enthusiastically with big grins (as when two Series drivers cross paths), sedately and sophisticatedly (as when two men greet each other with the "man nod" - a dropping of the chin without too much smiling),

Michellehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09669869159446275381noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-13987740.post-35183253430494580832008-04-03T14:13:00.003+02:002008-04-03T14:30:19.466+02:00

One of the things that attracted me to old Land Rover ownership was that this is the quintessential African vehicle - that it's been used throughout the continent and you'll always find spares for it.Or at least that's the theory. Reality is you spend ages trying to source stuff!Wouldn't it be nice if you could get Land Rover parts online? If you didn't have to phone the world and find a trusty

Michellehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09669869159446275381noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-13987740.post-16682683340125702182008-04-03T10:33:00.001+02:002008-04-03T10:36:09.135+02:00

Olivia is looking SO good these days. This was taken on a bit of a road-trip this past weekend, way out at Rooiels (which turned out to be a nasty, nasty place).She also got a little bit of "hill descent" in... :-)

Michellehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09669869159446275381noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-13987740.post-76115981584745279032008-04-01T09:04:00.003+02:002008-04-01T10:08:49.439+02:00

Every now and then Olivia likes to surprise us. Just to check that we're paying attention, you know.On Saturday evening we toddled off to Gordons Bay along the N2 in the face of a stiff wind. When suddenly the bonnet flew up! Big fright all round, and a quick pull-over to close it, then a slow drive to a safe side road to fix it. Good thing the toolbox always goes with us.The bonnet closure

Michellehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09669869159446275381noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-13987740.post-21474021507309857862008-03-28T12:55:00.003+02:002008-03-28T13:30:04.782+02:00

It's been a week of waiting. Favourite Man's Discovery II is in dire need of a back brakes system sort-out, so we needed to:1. Find Brake Pads2. Have discs skimmed3. Find the screw that attaches the hub to everything else - which for some very strange reason had fallen out or gone missing on one wheel!Well we got stuck at point #3. You'd think Land Rover dealers would keep stock of that

Michellehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09669869159446275381noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-13987740.post-7471778922840143362008-03-15T17:20:00.001+02:002008-03-15T17:21:38.398+02:00

Michellehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09669869159446275381noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-13987740.post-16984418567397669692008-03-14T08:27:00.004+02:002008-03-14T08:49:45.252+02:00

Olivia has a new gadget. OK, not terribly new - it's been installed for 2 weeks already, but it's taken some sorting out to get placement etc right.I work for a company that does fleet management - they develop and sell computerized units that sit in a vehicle and measure anything and everything that can be measured. Of course when new products come out, staff are required to do a bit of

Michellehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09669869159446275381noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-13987740.post-58896391702275492942008-03-10T13:17:00.002+02:002008-03-10T14:56:34.645+02:00

Last Wednesday the price of petrol went up by the steepest jump yet. 61c a litre. We're now paying over R8 for a litre of lead-replacement juice, and on a beast like Olivia that makes travel very very expensive.Commuting too.I had decided I'd take my chances and fill up on the way home from work just before the price went up. By the time I got to work Olivia was running low - and in spite of

Michellehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09669869159446275381noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-13987740.post-78874851730005833472008-03-04T08:47:00.003+02:002008-03-04T20:47:38.849+02:00

Olivia is developing a very bad habit. As Friday approaches, she starts seeking attention. Things begin to collapse in anticipation of an extra two full days during which she can demand mollycoddling.Last weekend it was the fuel filter that inexplicably attempted to drop off.This weekend it was brakes.Come Thursday, the brakes started to come and go. There was metallic screeching every time

Michellehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09669869159446275381noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-13987740.post-89983115807274026832008-02-25T08:53:00.003+02:002008-02-25T13:09:15.971+02:00

On Friday night Favourite Man and I headed off in Olivia to take the kid to the church youth group. Barely out of the gate we both smelt petrol, and the kid stated "we've sprung a leak!". Oh dear...We pulled off the road very quickly to find petrol gushing out of the engine bay - way too close to the engine block for comfort - emptying out in a river from the fuel filter. Well we organized a

Michellehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09669869159446275381noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-13987740.post-89716402638480489792008-02-17T21:48:00.002+02:002008-02-17T22:02:12.644+02:00

Well there's good news and bad news.The bad news - the carb came out for the FIFTH time this weekend. I was so not lus to take it out, but it had to be done. This time I set it by the book. Unfortunately I also got badly munched when the driver's door slammed on my finger in the wind... which put an end to car work for the day.But she's starting better and running smoother.The good news -

Michellehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09669869159446275381noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-13987740.post-79126242085370153122008-02-13T11:24:00.004+02:002008-02-13T11:53:17.864+02:00

This weekend's trip to Cape Town reminded me again what a very cool truck I'm driving.If I'm in the Disco 2, it's just another vehicle on the road. No-one waves at you, no-one notices you go by.Completely different story in Olivia!She potters along, so traffic tends to build up behind her on narrow roads. You'd think this would irritate the masses, but we found the opposite. Those

Michellehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09669869159446275381noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-13987740.post-15301949132422494552008-02-11T10:41:00.000+02:002008-02-11T10:44:12.773+02:00

Well, duning in a very small way. Here's what Olivia got up to this weekend:

Michellehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09669869159446275381noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-13987740.post-19879348905907090952008-02-08T08:18:00.000+02:002008-02-08T11:29:51.459+02:00

There are so many things I wish I knew when it comes to working on Olivia:* I wish I knew exactly how to set that carb. I'm fiddling in the dark (sometimes literally), going by feel and ear - but if I've actually got it right? Dunno.* I wish I knew something about ignition timing. Or that bottom-of-the-flywheel timing. I read, I watched - but I still don't get it.* I wish I knew how every

Michellehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09669869159446275381noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-13987740.post-17829463583333089292008-02-05T22:34:00.000+02:002008-02-05T22:43:06.197+02:00

Remember I mentioned a while back that Olivia's sills/rocksliders had "secret weapons" - a little surprise in them that you don't usually find in such things?Check this out! LED bolts that shine when the running lights and roofrack LEDs are on too! Yet another of Favourite Man's awesome innovations.If you can't see us coming now, you're VERY blind! :-)

Michellehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09669869159446275381noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-13987740.post-21382146201078548952008-01-31T09:50:00.000+02:002008-01-31T10:37:46.024+02:00

I mentioned yesterday that the carb came out for a gasket renewal. It really should have been a 10-minute job to remove it, stick in the gasket and get it re-attached. Most of the time is usually spent on tuning the thing, setting the idle speed and mix.However, life with a Landy is never simple.That 10-minute job took 2 days (part-time)!First, there were issues with o-rings. The one on the

Michellehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09669869159446275381noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-13987740.post-9737159766477846882008-01-30T08:33:00.000+02:002008-01-30T08:43:10.317+02:00

The carb is out for the THIRD time on Olivia. The first one was an expert "showing me how it's done" (and breaking it). The second was fixing and adjusting everything properly thereafter. And now the third shot.We struggled to find one of the carb gaskets here in South Africa and had to order them from the UK over December. Of course the Xmas post took a while to arrive, but it's here now -

Michellehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09669869159446275381noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-13987740.post-8923388069107873512008-01-29T15:23:00.000+02:002008-01-29T15:35:48.705+02:00

Olivia's had some pretty huge changes in recent months. Many of them are subtle - if you didn't take a good hard look before, you wouldn't know the difference now - but they're there.However, today there's a very big change. She's going topless. Her rooftop tent has been sold.And why? Well for many reasons. But the main one is that it's time for something new, something that works with the

Michellehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09669869159446275381noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-13987740.post-30378563970008752332008-01-23T09:10:00.000+02:002008-01-23T11:41:29.799+02:00

A funny thing's happened since I started working on Olivia nearly a year ago. I've started to think I'm omnipotent. Well, mechanically omnipotent that is (stop laughing, Favourite Man...).A year ago I trembled at the thought of what was in that engine, and had never weilded an angle grinder nor half the amount of spanners that have been through my hands since. And it's given me a bit of

Michellehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09669869159446275381noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-13987740.post-45154189051563146252008-01-03T12:46:00.000+02:002008-01-14T09:43:46.694+02:00

... that Olivia's roofrack comes with a camera tripod mount? Brilliant stuff - and I'm getting over my fear of heights / rocking.rolling too! :-)

Michellehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09669869159446275381noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-13987740.post-74349449107504562272007-12-29T16:41:00.000+02:002007-12-29T16:44:20.177+02:00

Yup, got the tent up! It was the first thing to be removed when I started this whole renovation process many months ago. It hasn't been opened since - but now it's re-mounted. Repositioned, with new support bars, completely sorted.And the kid got first go at spending a night in it (with some strong-arming persuasion and bribery). My turn's coming....

Michellehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09669869159446275381noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-13987740.post-34438838769553076082007-12-18T11:11:00.000+02:002007-12-18T13:19:34.161+02:00

Sitting looking at Olivia recently, Favourite Man and I started to list the things we've sorted/fixed/added/taken away on Olivia. And it's absolutely incredible what we've achieved in 4 or so months!I'm going to try list the things completed thus far here, though trawling my Picasa albums (here and here) might give a better indication of jobs we've done. Starting at the front:Bumper

Michellehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09669869159446275381noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-13987740.post-15907404981622041942007-12-18T11:08:00.000+02:002007-12-18T11:10:36.634+02:00

This amazing pic courtesy Favourite Man, who definitely has an eye for the perfect shot

Michellehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09669869159446275381noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-13987740.post-73275735643607741782007-12-05T15:04:00.000+02:002007-12-05T15:07:01.515+02:00

The Land Rover Monthly magazine, January 2008 edition is out. Olivia has a 2-page spread around p 160...! Wow. She's famous!

Michellehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09669869159446275381noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-13987740.post-85826695603407230922007-11-28T10:53:00.000+02:002007-11-28T11:08:46.222+02:00

This is the vehicle I'm driving today. A UK-registered 300TDi that's seen some hard adventure action.Nope, I haven't traded in the O-beast. She's sitting at home, carb-less thanks to an experiment in reconditioning by the owner of the above vehicle last night, which left her unable to go anywhere until certain things are fixed.... So today I'm driving his truck while he's overnighting in Cape

Michellehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09669869159446275381noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-13987740.post-43691400665319996352007-11-23T13:09:00.000+02:002007-11-23T13:17:13.598+02:00

Nope not the movie(s). The ongoing saga of fixing up Olivia. We signed off the big jobs last week and have had to redefine what to do with our spare time ever since! Well, sorta...You see - this is a Land Rover. An old Land Rover - and something is always falling apart, failing, unexpectedly giving up or springing a leak. Leaks were the Big Thing this week - namely the discovery that the

Michellehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09669869159446275381noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-13987740.post-89253403735962771622007-11-23T10:35:00.000+02:002007-11-24T12:24:10.199+02:00

There's a new button to the right of this blog - a MoneyBookers "tip jar". Planning Olivia's adventures is turning into an expensive business and I've realized I can't do it alone. If you'd like to contribute to keeping the adventures coming, leave her a tip! The more tips, the more adventures - and the more you'll have to read right here... :-) You can send your tip in any currency, from

Michellehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09669869159446275381noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-13987740.post-82761077676808485472007-11-16T08:53:00.000+02:002007-11-16T09:01:15.740+02:00

Yes, it's true - Olivia is back on the road! We completed the final big jobs last night, took her for a celebratory test drive to a rather wind-swept beach, checked the spotlight focus, and this morning I drove her to work.She's heavier, she's WAY cooler, she's pimped out properly, and she starts immediately. She's a very different truck. There are still a few small jobs awaiting attention,

Michellehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09669869159446275381noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-13987740.post-64037880296542783972007-11-07T13:17:00.000+02:002007-11-07T13:21:04.076+02:00

Olivia's coming together very quickly! Last night the renewed roofrack went on. Every day we're another step closer to being back on the road... and making one helluva impression in the process.

Michellehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09669869159446275381noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-13987740.post-27831632838614737372007-10-19T08:49:00.000+02:002007-10-19T08:57:30.721+02:00

August 29. That's the last time I drove Olivia (doorless / to work). Nearly 2 months.I've nearly forgotten what it's like to drive her - how she feels, how she responds, the instinctive turning circle calculations required on entering or exiting a parking space. I've nearly forgotten the noise, the heat radiating through the firewall, the feel of every bump in the road, the sensation of being

Michellehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09669869159446275381noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-13987740.post-75293009068494555532007-10-15T10:54:00.000+02:002007-10-15T11:32:37.904+02:00

I'm feeling a little bit nostalgic today.Last week Olivia's old windscreen went to the scrap metal recylcers. It was so shot full of rust that there was no chance of rescuing it or reselling it. The new windscreen doesn't have a unusually thick middle bit, nor does it flap down. It's not army green inside and blue outside, it doesn't leak. There are no handles at odd places to move things,

Michellehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09669869159446275381noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-13987740.post-28888519829610144532007-10-12T12:25:00.000+02:002007-10-12T12:50:19.519+02:00

...will be bog-basic, old and battered, a short-wheel-base beast that I've rescued from neglect and taken home to love. It will look like it's about to fall apart, but the engine will be completely sorted and ticking over beautifully. It will probably have a dashboard filled with water bottles, bits of string, an odd bolt or two and tree-rings of dust from the places I've been lately. I might

Michellehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09669869159446275381noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-13987740.post-50641306987974591552007-10-04T10:33:00.000+02:002007-10-04T10:36:40.744+02:00

Hey, at least she has a windscreen now! :-)

Michellehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09669869159446275381noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-13987740.post-56832969302938497932007-10-02T13:30:00.000+02:002007-10-02T13:30:27.186+02:00

Since I posted the thing below, I've been mulling the whole "I'm A Girl" attitude. It runs a lot deeper than merely not being able to turn a wheel nut.But here's the thing. I didn't start this project to give up simply because I'm a girl. I've battled through challenges in the past, and I aim to do so again. I'm not your average chick. Yes, it will take longer as I have to figure things out

Michellehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09669869159446275381noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-13987740.post-27364024450332608102007-09-26T15:22:00.000+02:002007-09-26T16:12:38.912+02:00

I've been a single mom for nearly 15 years. During that time I've learnt that there is generally no-one else around to:a) open jarsb) lift heavy thingsc) change light bulbsetc.So I've ended up learning how to do it all myself or it doesn't get done at all - and taking pride in the fact that I can. I like feeling the muscles working, surprising the general public with what I can accomplish, and

Michellehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09669869159446275381noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-13987740.post-68150642534256207232007-09-19T12:29:00.000+02:002007-09-19T12:31:24.493+02:00

There's been a lot of work going on with Olivia lately! But I haven't had a chance to blog it - instead I've taken all the photos I've posted to one forum, detailing her re-do, and stuck them here. Descriptions to be added eventually.

Michellehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09669869159446275381noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-13987740.post-90484228462489377332007-09-04T08:56:00.000+02:002007-09-04T08:59:19.236+02:00

Just when I thought she couldn't get any more stripped, here's what Olivia currently looks like. The new windscreen goes in soon, but until then she's not going anywhere. We were considering just taking out the remaining door at the back, then hitting the highway to see what speed is required to make her fly! :-)

Michellehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09669869159446275381noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-13987740.post-82742008297024263882007-08-29T11:13:00.000+02:002007-08-29T11:56:25.639+02:00

If I thought Olivia was stripped before, I was wrong. Here's how I drove to work today, VERY securely strapped in...! My 5-door model is currently a 1-door :-)

Michellehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09669869159446275381noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-13987740.post-26395349724987585822007-08-22T13:14:00.000+02:002007-08-22T14:07:05.870+02:00

Olivia is bare. There isn't a rivet, bolt, nut, piece of rubber, silicone or cable tie left unless it's holding something essential. The roof lining is out. The chequer plate is off (except for 3 pieces now modified and permanently back on - see below). Windows that were covered for years saw daylight - some of them came out completely. There's no grill, no bumper, no roofrack, no spare

Michellehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09669869159446275381noreply@blogger.com0