F60L reg.no. 51555

[Rod Salter]

I'm still here
After the council went away (they never been back, So what was all the panic?)

I started clearing up, dare I say it? Taking stuff to scrap
I did alright for a while then I disturbed that 'Old Black Dog' and I couldn't face the job anymore
I got through without meds by joining another group of people who like to dress in costumes, like gun powder, pieces of 158 grain lead and short shotguns
Being in a group once a month beats being on your own, talking to yourself
I've not fully lost the dog, but he's a fair way back following me now

I also picked up some part time work to supplement my radio collecting
Some of you may have seen some posts on other sites
I've re-organised my radio room, shelving, sorting
Attempting to get some of them going
Bought a couple of rare radios
I tell myself the radio collecting is complete, only bits and kit to gather

Covid put a halt to doing displays, and that in turn leads to thinking
“What have I got all this for?”

I've obtained some parts for the blitzes
And some military engines, generators and the like

The drought stopped and the grass grew fast to make up for all it hadn't
I've nearly got some of it back under control by spraying
The job was too big for any mower people

Some of you may know my old Hi-lux (ran on cooking oil) had a cab fire from an oil leak onto the exhaust
I started fitting a Lite Stout cab

Then big Nissan started random boiling, a new head only made it worse.
I parked it up, when a 2000 GU Patrol with a new reconditioned engine became available in a deceased estate, through the tax department who had seized his possessions
Attempts had been made to steal it, it cost a bundle for Nissan to reprogram the computer to recognise the Key
Only then did I learn what bad engines these ZD30 are
I fitted all the modifications
The engine took me 1700 Ks before it seized a piston in a cylinder
They had put a10 thou oversized piston down a bore that had only been bored 6 thou
Phunny they are out of business

The dog came closer again

I couldn't afford a shop rebuild, spent ages waiting for the right bits at a price I could afford to become available
I've put it together and have almost reached 10,000 ks touch wood

I've done a little towards finishing the house

I've got a load of batteries and another stripped out car shell, ready to go
Then there is a pile of white goods to get the motors out before they go, but I can't seem to find the 'oomph' to do them

The little chev truck has the chassis sandblasted and primed. The cab is in the shed with some of the rust cut out and repaired

I'm turning 70 this year
Other medical issues have slowed me too
Possibly a gluten intolerance, investigations continue, endoscopy next month
and maybe a flashing camera capsule, right through

Dentist for an abscess next week, extraction of a big one

When will I get back to the trucks?
It is hot here one day, windy the next and scattered showers about
I started setting up a place to put up a roof of sorts
every day I look at that project is seems to get more difficult
So maybe this autumn, who knows