A Gentleman and a DB6

I've always thought that what makes classic cars such an enjoyable environment to be part of is some of the fantastic people that belongs to it. Mind you, it is unfortunately not always the case but when a great car is driven by a nice person the joy is exponentially bigger.

On my way home from work I spotted an astonishingly restored DB6 just out of the workshop peacefully resting on a driveway. This town is compulsive about strangers taking pictures outside the usual touristic spots and I know way too well how tricky it can be. I decided to take out my camera nevertheless and moreover I decided not to hide it when a distinguished gentleman came out of the front door and stepped towards the car. To my surprise he didn't get nervous and on the contrary he politely asked if I was done with the picture, he simply didn't want to ruin the shot. I told him straight away that I would have loved the picture to be in my blog minus the licence plate and he happily agreed. We then had a little conversation and I asked if it was a '66. To my surprise he answered "I guess you're right, I can't remember right now. We restored a couple of these, you know". A quick and friendly chat followed and I have to say he obviously didn't look like a mechanic. He didn't say more about who he was and why "they restored a couple of these" and I decided not to ask. We parted in a friendly matter and I left with a smile on my face. Three days later I'm still wondering who he was and I'm still happy I didn't ask.

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Not Your Average Flower

We have this amazing bromeliad in our shade house.

It is quite large and has very spiky leaves so it is well away from the path.  When it flowers it sends out these amazing flower spikes with little spiky berries on them.

 The berries start off green with red spikes on the end of each berry.  Then they turn black and keep the red spike on the end of each one.
I have never seen one like it and have no idea what it is called

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Meat Chickens - An Update

This post is a bit delayed and since these photos were taken the chickens have grown a lot and I will no doubt be posting about them again very soon.
So where are we at with the journey and what have we learnt so far.
Well I can tell you one thing for sure, these little buggers eat a lot!  In fact all they do is eat, poop, drink and sleep.
We are really treating this as an experiment in a a number of areas:
How do we feel about raising our own meat and butchering it ourselves?
How do we feel about a commercial breed vs a heritage breed for meat?
How much does it actually cost? Does this save us any money
What are the yeilds from the birds?
What is the meat vs fat ratio?
And importantly how do they taste?
It will be a while before we can answer all of these questions but we have already made some observations.

"What you lookin at?"

There are some behaviours that these chickens exhibit that I think has to do with the comercial breed and the rate at which they grow.  They seem to need to streatch a lot for one thing and you often see the streaching out a wing or leg.  Now I have to be realistic in the fact that we do not usually spend as much time looking at baby chickens (these ones spent a few weeks inside) and perhaps all little chickens spend time stretching but I am not convinced it would be so often.

They also seem to spend a heck of a lot of time sitting down.  This is something we knew to expect as the commercial breeds are so heavy.

It is always dinner time.

One final thing that has become obvious is that there can be big differences in the size between some of the chickens.  They were all hatched over two days but some of the chicks are twice the size of others.  Check out the difference between the three in the photo below.

The chicks are now living in their outside residence and I am quite glad to have them, the noise and (yes mum) the smell gone.  We have had some cool weather lately so they still have a light to keep them warm but this week should be the last week for that too since they are now fully feathered.

NB Apologies if there are spelling mistakes but blogger does not want to check it for me, grrrr.

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SPOTTED: IT'S ME FORTY

Talking about Starlet family in Toyota, we were usually exposed with KP30, KP60/61 and FWD EP series. A bright day had brought me to this superb condition P40 Starlet/Publica, which I believe it just stepped out from paintjob garage.

Without emblems and decals, it was totally clueless to obtain the identity of this car. Really glad to see this forty-year-old P40 in an excellent condition. Kudo's to the owner (In other words, Please join OCCC!).

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Bi- Carb Cream Cleanser

Over the last 12 months we have been working our way through an array of cleaning products using them up but not replacing them.
For some reason the last owner of the house left behind all sorts of cleaning products plus we had the ones we brought with us.  We had  over 20 half bottles of all sorts of things that we would not normally purchase, but did not want to be wasteful and throw out.
I while ago we made the decision to switch to simple green cleaners that are cheap and easy to make at home.
The basis of most of these cleaners is Bi-Carb Soda and for $25 we purchased 25 kg bag that I blogged about way back here.
In the past I used to purchase gumption for use as a cream style cleaner.  I have also used Jiff  in the past but find the smell unpleasant.
So now I make a cream cleanser using 1 cup of Bi-Carb Soda, 1 tablespoon of Glycerine and just enough water to make a smooth paste.  And that's it.

It s slightly abrasive so don't use it on anything that will scratch.  We have a ceramic top stove and that is one of the places we do not use it.
The way I use it is to put some on a cloth and clean the area that I want then give the area a spray with white vinegar.  This activates the layer of Bi-Carb left behind by the paste and helps pick it up.

 

I also keep a shaker of Bi-Carb under the kitchen sink too, great to sprinkle where ever it is needed then spray with vinegar for a quick and easy clean.  The next thing I want to make is some citrus cleaner.
What do you use at your place?

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London in love with Alfa #2

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Classic Car Insurance - Proven Tips to Lower Your Rates!

Nowadays, classic car owners need to endure less hassle when they are trying to purchase classic car insurance due to the fact that more insurance companies are offering this type of insurance. However, buying insurance for this type of car might cost dearly to the owners. If you are one of the classic car owners and want to find out how you can get cheaper rates, here's how you can do it.

As we have always known, it is expensive to insure young drivers. Therefore, it is always better to insure a car under an older driver's name. The same thing happens to this type of car insurance. You can get cheaper rates for your classic car insurance once you reach certain age limit. Insurance companies usually think people who are 25 years old or older are more reliable drivers. If you are young and drive a valuable classic car, chances are you will be given high rates.

Next, you can consider reducing the mileage of your classic car if you are looking for cheap classic car insurance. The companies will offer you lower rates if the car does not go more than certain miles in a year. Usually the mileage limit is no more than 7,500 miles. It would be an added advantage to you if you own another car (which is not a classic) besides this classic car. Use the other car to travel most of the time and you will find yourself spend less time behind the wheels of your classic car. Otherwise, consider carpooling or taking public transport and see how much you can save from it.

Last but not least, try to keep a good driving record. If you are making claims all the time, this would definitely affect your rates. You can be assured to get very high premiums if you file too much claims. Therefore, try to drive carefully to avoid any accidents and damages on your car and you will be able to enjoy lower rates. It would also benefit you if you choose to insure your classic car as a second car on your policy.

Your opportunity to learn more about classic car insurance has finally arrived! There are still many ways to get cheap classic car insurance. The key point is whether you are committed enough to find out the ways to lower rates. One of the easiest things that you can do is to visit my website. There are many tips and tricks available there for you to get the best deal of cheapest car insurance in town! Get the tips to save more on your car premiums from my site. It is a website specially dedicated to people who are looking for more information about cheap car insurance! Go to the website, read all our recommended tips on how to get the cheapest car insurance and start saving money now!

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Coriander and Macadamia Nut Pesto

After my last post Wendy from Duchess Declutter asked for the recipe so here it is.

I will say though that this is a recipe that you have to adjust to your taste.  Personally I like mine quite nutty and with a generous helping of cheese and garlic.  But you can adjust to suit your own tastes.

Before starting roast your macadamias in a 180 degree oven until just starting to colour.  Remove and cool before making pesto.

Pesto

3 packed cups Coriander
1 1/4 Cups Roasted Macadamias
3/4 Cup Parmesan
4 Cloves of Crushed Garlic
Olive Oil
Salt and Pepper to taste

Put the coriander, garlic, macadamias and parmesan into a food processor and blend till broken down a bit.  The add olive oil till it becomes a paste.  Add salt and pepper to your taste.

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In the Kitchen and Garden

Over the weekend I spend a few hours in the kitchen whipping up some tasty treats.

I made some sourdough sweet chilli scrolls using my standard bread mix and adding sweet chilli sauce and grated cheese.

I also made some coriander and macadamia nut pesto.  We have coriander growing like mad in the garden and it was a great way to use a whole lot up before it all goes to seed.

I will let some go to seed to attract the good bugs to the garden but there will be plenty to do that even if I harvest all of what is in the veggie garden.  Last year my coriander went to seed and I left it so that I could harvest all the dry seed for cooking.
But just as the seeds were ready to harvest we got rain and they got washed off the bush and all through the garden.  Now we have coriander popping up everywhere.  Oh well not really an issue just more to let go to seed  for next year.

Coriander growing in the wood mulch paths around the raised beds

Coriander in the driveway

And growing in the garden edging

Do you have any self seeded herbs of veggies popping up in strange places at your place?

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Back to the old bank

Only few things are as exciting as classic cars to me and old abandoned racetracks are one of these. Audi and Red Bull seem to share my opinion in this regard and decided to take an R8 LSM to one of the oldest race tracks in Europe, in fact possibly the second ever made. 

But the Autódromo de Sitges-Terramar is far from being legendary for the right reasons. The track was completed just in time to host the 1923 Spanish GP but none of the drivers or teams received any money since the builders didn't get payed for their work and decided to seize the ticket office and take all the money. As if that wasn't enough the drivers complained about the junctions between the scary 60 degrees bank and the straights being apparently not well connected. 

This particular detail is ever so clear in the Red Bull video where some nice slow-mo underline the car trading the rough gap. I don't understand spanish too well but is pretty clear that the point of putting Carlos Sainz and Miguel Molina in the R8 is to beat the 45.8second lap record set by Louis Zborowski Miller in 1923. It is impressive to see that the record is improved only by three seconds with Sainz lowering the bar at 42.6.

The track might have had its troubles but the quality of the construction is incredible and the colossal banks look scarier than ever before. Enjoy.

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Top Places To Look For Cheap Classic Cars

If you are planning on collecting or simply owning classic cars, you might be intimidated by the huge tag price that comes with these sweet rides. Some fully-restored classics may even be more expensive than brand new luxury or sports cars. The '55 serial one Corvette is rumored to be valued at near a million dollars!

But do not worry, as the upside to collecting classic cars is that they could be bought cheap. The principle behind this is simple: since most of the classics are at least over 15 years old, some people who are not collectors will probably consider them as junk. And cars considered as junk mean a very low price. What they say is true: one man's trash is another man's treasure.

Here are some places you can check out for cheap classics.

Online Auctions

The best place to find cheap classic cars is at online auctions. Online car auctions may not have the lowest price tags, but you can surely find the greatest variety. This is because online auctions are easily accessible to all people. You can easily spot a good condition '57 T-bird with a starting price of a mere $500. That's surely a pretty good deal.

A few great tips when buying at online auctions: look for auctions that are only a few hours from ending. This is the best gauge for what the final price of that car will be. Also, if you are bidding on a fresh auction, do not overshoot the price. Bid shyly, so that the price will not go sky high.

Online Classifieds

If you can't find anything to your liking at online auctions, try your luck at online ads. Some online ads carry a wider variety of makes than auctions. However, sellers pay for these ads, so expect the prices to be more expensive than those at auctions.

Oftentimes, you could not see a seller's reputation in these online ads, unlike in auctions. So if you plan to buy via online ads, be sure to get the contact details of the seller. Try to know specific information about the vehicle, and ask for a pre-purchase inspection.

Second-hand Car Shops

Live second-hand car shops offer a limited variety of makes, since they are constrained by space and location. However, prices here may be much cheaper than at online auctions and classifieds, since some of the cars offered are several shop-years old. Another good thing about these venues is that you can easily shop for a car and inspect it at once.

Junkyards

Junkyards are probably the last place you might think of when buying great classic cars. Still, a junkyard holds some very funky treasures. Just a reminder when shopping at junkyards: do expect to find these cars in a deplorable condition. So even if you buy them at a very low price, prepare yourself for a pretty expensive restoration. And of course, do not buy cars that are just plain trash. Leave vehicles that are degraded by rust to Mother Nature.

If you don't have tens of thousands of dollars to spare for buying a classic, make sure to visit online auctions, look for online classifieds, drop by your nearest second-hand car shop, and shop at junkyards. You'll surely find a vintage car for a real bargain.

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Curry of the Week - Delicious Dahl

This recipe is so easy to make and is cheap, filling, comforting and oh so tasty.

I makes a big batch and you can freeze leftovers. The below recipe makes a spicy dahl so you can cut the chilli back or leave it out altogether.  Serve as a side dish or as a main course, or even as a spread on bread.

The dry ingredients, ginger and garlic

This recipe is made with two sets of ingredients, the main ingredients and a spice mix.

375gm Red Lentils                           5 cup Water
1 large Onions diced                        4 cloves of Garlic crushed
2 tsp each of Ground Turmeric, ground coriander, and ground cumin
40gm grated Ginger                         2 tsp chilli flakes

Spice Mix

2 Tbs Vegetable oil                         2 tsp Mustard Seeds
2 tsp Fennel Seeds                           2 tsp Fenugreek seeds
2 tsp Cumin Seeds                        2 tsp Salt
2 tsp Sugar                                      4 Tbs Lemon Juice

Wash and drain the lentils then add the rest of the the first set of ingredients.  Cook for 20 mins until lentils are mushy.
While the lentils cook, heat the oil in a small pan and fry the seeds of the spice mix until just fragrant.  Remove from the heat and add the salt, sugar and lemon juice.
When the lentils are nearly cooked add the spice mix and cook a further 5 mins.

The mix will thicken as it cools and can be kept for 4 days in the fridge.

Water added and onto cook

The finished product

A final word of warning.  The recipe contains turmeric which will stain everything it comes in contact with so wipe up any spills or splashes asap and cook in a stainless steel pot.

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Long Weekend Camping

Over the long weekend hubby and I managed to get away for a few nights camping at Bernakin State Forest.  This is the second time we have camped here and last time it was a bit of an adventure that you can read about here.

Friends of ours were able to feed the cat and chickens for us and you are allowed dogs at this camp ground so Jessie got to come with us.
The weather was cool and damp but not rainy other than the odd shower.  We had a fire going and spent our days sitting nearby, knitting (me not hubby), reading, and playing majong.  We also went on some bush walks where we saw lots of kangaroos and deer.

We got a new tent and look who I busted cuddled up in bed!
Get that smelly little puppy off the bed!!
Naughty husband, happy dog.

We had a visit from a Koala too.

He proceeded to join us for breakfast.

Mmmmm gum leaves.

A lovely relaxing weekend away, just what the Dr ordered.

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Treasures from Greece

We all know about the economic climate in Greece and it was just a matter of time for interesting classic cars to appear on the market. This seems to be Dimitrios Spyropoulos' Veloce Classic and Sports good chance to get some very interesting cars up for sales. His company is based in West London and thou some cars still seem to be in Greece judging by the pictures, his business seems well established and I would be happy to go and check it out if anyone's interested.
These are three cars that I found particularly interesting.

This Lamborghini Miura S appears to be a present from Aristotle Onassis to Stamatis Kokotas, a famous Greek singer in Greece. The ad also states "The car needs complete restoration. The engine is overhaulted by the Lamborghini factory and is on preview from the Lamborghini Museum in St. Agata." A quick check on chassis numbers reveals that the car was completed on the 24th of December 1968, and whether chassis and engine match, the color should be Red and Black, with Blue interior. Some specialised websites also note that is was rebuilt as 434th car. Sure there's some interesting history to discover about this car.

Another little gem is this Fiat Ghia 1500. I always liked this model and sure it would be a welcomed car in many events. It looks very straight in the pictures and I really don't think it's a car that is worth messing too much with, therefore it should be as good as it looks. If the pictures match the real conditions of the car, the price seems right at£15500 or near offer. 

My personal favourite of the whole lot thou would be this Lancia Flaminia Zagato 3C, one of my all time favourites. The car is said to be modified at the source for hillclimb races and would be interesting to find out who actually made that unique one-piece bonnet. The story of this car could very possibly make it one of the most amazing Flaminia in the world.

Please contact me if you need any more info or better still, if you want me to visit Dimitrios' London office. I think I'll get in contact with him very soon.

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London in love with Alfa

It is a great pleasure to see how many vintage Alfa are popping out everywhere in London, all used and all well maintained. Sometimes I really really love this town.

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How To Accurately Estimate Classic Car Values

It is easier to spot a classic car than to know how much it is worth. You may know that the Oldsmobile Cutlass hanging out in your garage is a real sweet vintage ride, but you might have a difficult time deciding how much to sell it. Or maybe you have spotted that Cutlass, but do not know whether the price is worth it.

Worry no more, as here is an easy guide on how to estimate classic car values.

1. Research on Market Values from Dealers

Classic car values are almost always fluctuating, as all car values are. By researching the market value of a classic car sold by professional dealers, you can have a clear marker as to how much a vehicle in a certain condition is worth.

However, remember that this is a dealer's price, so expect that it is overpriced from 10%-20%. There are many other determinants of price that are oftentimes not covered by dealer-based values, such as your own preference and the demand for that car. Nonetheless, market values from dealers are still a good marker.

2. Check the Condition of the Car

The condition of the car is usually the biggest determinant of its value. Most classic car enthusiasts use a five-point rating system, as follows:

Excellent: A car in perfect and near-mint condition, usually drivable.

Very Good: A car with some very minor scratches or engine and mechanism faults, but is still almost perfect and drivable.

Good: A car with some very repairable damages, but still needs little effort to restore and is still drivable.

Fair: A car that needs a lot of restoration work, with signs of abuse such as dents, scratches, and rust. If a car is not drivable because of engine, brake, or other mechanical failures, but has a solid exterior look, it will fall in this category.

Parts car: A car that cannot be plausibly restored because of heavy damage. A parts car, as its name suggests, is usually bought only for its reusable parts.

A car in an excellent condition could be sold for twice or thrice its original price and collectors will still buy it. Cars in the good or fair condition are the usual ones that you will see in the market.

3. Customization is a Minus

A classic car with an A/C unit, a fuel-efficient engine, and soft seats may be convenient, but these modifications often bring down the value of a car. Customized paint jobs may look cool, but they still decrease the possible price. The reason for this is simple: original parts are harder to find, and maintaining them are more difficult too. Expect a car with almost all original parts (including the wheels) and paint color to have a really large price tag attached to it.

4. Rarity is a Plus

Classic Dodge Chargers may be valued highly, but Chargers with a Hemi engine is a gold mine. This is because Hemi engine-equipped Chargers were made in very limited numbers. If you have one in your old man's garage, you may want to reconsider that engine change.

5. Original Options are a Plus

Turbo and superchargers might increase a muscle car's values, given that they are original parts. Because the '61 Bullet T-bird is used as a pace car for Indianapolis 500, it has some original era modifications which increase its value.

Remember, when buying or selling classic cars, consider the condition, the originality, rarity, and the added options. Put this side by side with the market value from dealers, and adjust as needed.

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The Veggie Garden Whip Around

The Winter veg are coming along nicely.

There is Kohl Rabi and Fennel

 And the Kohl Rabi are ready to harvest.

 Mini Cabbages nearly ready too.

 Crunchy Pak Choy that has been making it's way into stir Fry's this week.

 Silverbeet and Coriander going crazy.  I think there will be coriander pesto on the cards this weekend.

 And the brassicas out the back in my gardening experiment are coming along nicely.

What's happening in your veggie patch?

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1972 Ferrari 365 GTS/4 Michelotti Spyder for Sale

There's an unique opportunity to acquire the last car ever designed by Michelotti, and wether its shape is in my opinion a love it or hate it, the story behind this unique Ferrari sure makes for a very interesting piece of history.

Born in 1972 as a the 71st Daytona Spyder out of 121 ever produced, the car was sold to Reno, Nevada. It started a brief career in cinema acting as a spare car in the 1976 movie "The Gumball Rally" but it will be heavily damaged that same year while starring in "A Star is Born". Luigi Chinetti acquired the car and rather than have it repaired as it once was, decided to send it to Michelotti in Turin.  The result is not one of the the happiest designs of the designer but it will turn out to be his last ever. The car would be presented at the 1980 Turin Motor show, the same year the designer died.

Straight lines and a thin front bumper are tightly wrapped around the 365 chassis and enormous V12 and wether the front might have its estimators I think the rear end is the bit where the concept fails to impress.

Still the heritage that comes with this unique car makes it an extremely interesting vehicle to enjoy, especially considering what an amazing car the 365 is.

RM Auctions traded it in 2006 and 2007, where it sold for $385.00, way below the estimate. In 2010 it was Bonhams chance to sell it starting from an estimate between €525-675k. The car did sell but I can't seem to find reliable sources for the final offer.

It is now on sale privately via a contact on classicscars.com. Please enquire if interested.

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SNAP: SPICY PEANUT

Who says a four door sedan ain't sexy and adorable? You are going to change your mind after seeing this pristine second-generation Corolla KE20. It looked kinky in red, shiny chromes all around and sitting on 12-inches steel wheel, complete with wheel cap. Too bad this KE20 lost its OEM fender side mirror and fender antenna, else it looked like it just stepped out of the dealership in 1970's.

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Getting ready for 24h of Le Mans 2012, Truth in 24 II

This year's 24 of Le Mans is almost here and is worth a little warming up for what it seems to be a very promising year. Last year's battle was one of the best ever, with an amazing battle between Peugeot and Audi. The french bidding on the new 908 and the germans trying to keep up their winning streak on the R18 TDI. Audi dominated for most of the 2000s and Peugeot started questioning them since 2007 managing a victory only  in 2009.

In 2010 Audi replied with a win and record distance of 5410.71km, more than 2000km more than Peugeot managed the year before. 2011's new regulations forced both companies to bring brand new cars to the grid, and Audi decided to change coach style from an open top barchetta to an enclosed cockpit of a more traditional LMP format. The race was on. I would love to tell more about this amazing race but Audi of America for decided to produce and distribute for free an amazing documentary about this race.  They have done it before for the equally amazing 2008 edition but decided to make it available in free streaming only for the american users. They haven't done the same mistake twice and "Truth in 24 II"has been available for download without charge and in HD on itunes from day one. I really recommend downloading it HERE.

Some user made the first episode available in HD on youtube and AUDI did the same for the second one. I will attach both below.

Do yourself a favour and watch them both while getting ready for Le Mans 2012 on the 16th of June. Peugeot will not be trying again but Toyota is back in the equation this year and we can be sure they will do anything possible to forget missing the target in 1998 and 1999. Will Audi keep winning?

ps- don't forget to switch the HD on, go full screen, sit back and enjoy these amazing stories.

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Classic Cars - The Advantages Of Owning And Collecting Vintage Rides

Classic cars are perhaps the most valuable vehicles in the automotive world. Some may not be priced as high as your present-day Lamborghini, but their values are nonetheless very alluring. If you are planning to start a collection of mean machines, you might want to think about collecting classic cars.

And if you are planning on buying second-hand vehicles, you might as well buy vintage cars. Of course, put into consideration the fact that you may possibly need a great deal of work to do: from paint to upholstery to engine to brakes and suspensions. It's a bit troublesome, but it is worth it in the long run. Just take a look at what you will get when you own or collect classic cars:

1. Vintage Cars are Cheap

There are many people who don't know what the value of their car is. It is no wonder that you can sometimes find a fine Dodge Charger lying in a junkyard, or a Cadillac Fleetwood rotting in an old garage. Because these cars are rusting away and considered as junk by some people, you can easily buy them at an absurdly low price.

An ill-maintained '60s Cadillac Fleetwood sells for around $2,000 in used car shops. You can find cheaper ones in online car auctions, some even going lower than a thousand dollars! Sure, you will probably dish out a few more bucks in restoring the car back into fighting condition, but it WILL surely be worth it, simply because it will increase in value tenfold.

2. Classic Car Values Appreciate

If you buy a brand new car, expect its value to depreciate as each year passes. A brand-new '07 Jaguar XKR sells for around $92,000. Listings on XKRs that were used for a year varies from $85,000-$89,000. That's 7% depreciation in just a year.

Now compare that to a fully restored, fully functioning '61 Jaguar XKE: a '61 XKE that has a mileage of 10,000-12,000 mi sells for a screaming $80,000-$100,000! And because you can buy an abused and ill-maintained XKE at a significantly lower price, you will be sure to profit, profit, profit.

3. A Better Relationship with Your Car

Because you'll be spending so much time in your garage, you'll get to know your car pretty well. And there's nothing like pouring all those time, money, and sweat onto creating a monster machine. After you've done restoring, you will undeniably have a better relationship with your car. And that will be a relationship that's far better than when you simply buy an expensive one.

4. You Will Have New Friends

Once you pull in that classic to your garage, unknown neighbors will probably sneak up on you and introduce themselves. They might even give unsolicited advice. And since car collectors are such a small circle, you will probably have no problem in finding fellow car enthusiasts.

5. You Will Have a Cool Ride!

And of course, the most rewarding part when it comes to owning and collecting classic cars is that you get to have a cool ride. After you have finished restoring your classic car, you will probably find yourself in celebrity status. And because a vintage car is less threatening than a new one, you'll attract curious people. Some will drive beside you, roll down their windows, and ask something like what the make of the car is and what year it was manufactured.

Restoring an old car into near perfect condition may be a lot of hard work, but consider these advantages and you will find that it's worth it. You can buy vintage vehicles cheap and sell them expensive. You'll have a better relationship with your car, new friends, and best of all, sport a very sweet and sexy ride. So what are you waiting for? Go own and collect classic cars now!

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Slow Living - May

Linking up with Christine again this month although I am running a little behind but hey that happens sometimes.

Nourish -Make and bake as much as possible from scratch. Ditch over packaged, over processed convenience foods and opt for 'real' food instead.
There has been a lot of bread making again this month as well as biscuits and slow cooked meals.

Prepare - Stockpile and preserve. Freeze extra meals or excess garden/market produce. Bottle/can, dehydrate or pickle foods to enjoy when they are not in season.
Other than the failed batch of Lime Pickle there has not been any stockpiling going on but I did acquire a lot more preserving jars so that I can do more in the future.

Reduce - Cut down on household waste by re-using, re-purposing and repairing.
This month I have had to mend some of our flannelet sheets as they had worn through in a couple of spots. I think this will at least get us one more winter from them.


Green - Start (or continue!) using homemade cleaners, body products and basic herbal remedies. The options are endless, the savings huge and the health benefits enormous.
Nothing new here just sticking at what we are already doing.

Grow - plant/harvest. What's growing this month? What's being eaten from the garden?

I have been picking figs and raspberries this month and we have lots of lovely silverbeet and coriander.

Create - To fill a need or feed the soul. Create for ourselves or for others.
I have been knitting away and have now made three dishcloths.  Next project will be a scarf.

Discover - Feed the mind by reading texts relevant to current interests.
I have just read "The healthy house cow" by Marja Fitzgerald.  Not that we are looking at getting a house cow any time soon, but it was on special and one day I would like to have one.

Enhance - Community
I am the event director for the Kilcoy Classics on Wheels (a classic car and motorbike show) for the second year so there is a lot going on working towards the event in October.

Enjoy - Life! Embrace moments with friends and family. Marking the seasons, celebrations and new arrivals are all cause for enjoyment.
This month it was about learning new skills for me.  Cheese making and knitting.  It was also about working on my relationship with hubby and doing more together.

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