Author: doctor

Got to the first destination after a fairly long but not too arduous day.

Amazon have been busy delivering various bits and pieces needed for the holiday and to help prepare of the holiday.

• Breathalysers – France passed a law a while back requiring that drivers are able to present the police, if asked, for an unused breathalyser. Currently they can’t fine you if you don’t have one though. It’s all a bit nuts. I’m assuming this is so that you couldn’t use “I didn’t know I was over the limit.” as a defence in court. From the point of view of someone of doesn’t drink, though, I find this insulting and patronising.
• Various network bits – BMW release new navigation maps every 6 months or so. The dealers charge about £150 to install them. Fortunately there is software available on line, if you know where to look, and you can purchase a suitable OBD II to ethernet cable off eBay. I don’t have a Windows laptop though so I had to run a cable from garage to the games PC in the dining room. Fortunately I’m not short of cable or connectors.
• Car cleaning – Some bird dropping wipes and insect removal spray. Inevitably when we go away the car finishes up covered in all sorts of rubbish. Acids and alkalis both can damage the paintwork and coatings so we try to keep it clean as much as possible.
• Touch up paint – the edge of the driver’s door is a little chipped due to the garage wall so it’s about time it was fixed. There are another couple of areas which could benefit too.

Also, after a bit of pressure BMW have kindly supplied a litre of oil to top up the engine. As part of the service cover we took out they offer free oil top ups between services but only when the car says so. I argued that if this happens mid-France then we’re a bit stuck. They gave in.
Mike has been at home using up leave so has been doing a variety of little jobs – arranging the car insurance, fitting water-proof mains sockets and switches to the garage, checking phone/car integration, creating all the holiday documentation required and updating the music in the car. Boring but necessary

The B&Bs are booked and the blog is set up. That’s a start right? Priorities sorted and all that.