Vince's xm - 2.1TD daily driver

[Vince]

deleted

[Vince]

Well guys i dont know whats happening to the xm yet as its not back. As i dont drive it much i told the garage to take their time as i dont need it back quickly. That way the job will be done right and not rushed...

On other news we got a big shock today Linda's counselling service she set up and has run for the last 9 years has been pulled and she now has just 3 months of work left then nothing

This doesnt spell good news for us as we have just started to enjoy being back on our feet after years of work problems and the money worries that brought with it.

Im sure things happen for the best and we will be ok, but surprisingly Linda said pretty much straight away that she didnt want me to get rid of the xm as that wasnt fair to me, but that we will not be able to run it so if she doesnt find a new job in that timescale then it will be being SORN'd until she is back earning again.

Ive thought about this and decided it will be a good thing as i can get it parked up on ramps and rework the underside of the car and carry out a few other jobs now armed with my haynes manual which i flicked through last night and wanted to throw it away. Everything seems to be for the series 2 cars

Im going to try to get the pallas auto refinishing sideline thing really motoring over summer and save up some cash to bank for the kids for christmas. If we are strapped come september tie though then the xm will have to be put up for sale as it will allow us to pay for christmas, which with 2 kids is both important and expensive.

If its off the road though then i still intend to come to shows, ill just be in the qashqai I want to get to shows this year.

[captainhaddock]

Bad news man. I hope something will show up as it often does. Often in ways you cannot think of now.

[russ92xmsed]

That's a real shame Vince. I hope things don't get to bad for you both. I'm sure something will come along.

Good plan though if you do have to sorn the XM.....and yes, you can see why we call the Haynes manual, the book of lies. All mk2 and quite heavy on the 2.5 too. But it is useful to have....I draw and make notes all over mine!

Quite like the sound of Johns 14 binder manuals. Be lost in those forever!

[ragger]

Really sorry about the counselling service being pulled and how it will affect you and your family. Is there any chance that Linda can build some private work from her existing clients? Another avenue to explore might be insurance companies who provide counselling to their policy holders. Sorry if you think I'm being presumptious or if these are stupid or inappropriate suggestions, at least a three month stay of execution gives some time for planning and should prevent a knee jerk reaction that you might regret later.

My XM is also in the garage at the moment suffering from both cool running (good title for a film that) and a lack of heating; it seems they are unconnnected issues, buit they will no doubt be expensive. And I am heading south tomorrow to Manchester to buy (perhaps) a Renault 5 that I have spotted and that looks like just the antidote to XM complexity. I'm just sorry that it looks like I shall have to make the journey in my wife's Fiat Multipla, a brilliant car in a great many respects, but I would love that run out in my XM.

Chin up Vince. One day, this will all be ten years ago.

Rob

[Vince]

Sorry if you think I'm being presumptious or if these are stupid or inappropriate suggestions, at least a three month stay of execution gives some time for planning.
One day, this will all be ten years ago.

Rob

Thanks Rob (and others) She is getting into private practice asap as she has done this before and has an office coming free in Manchester..the problem is you cant always bank on a set income like a permanent wage brings.....

One thing is for sure, she is very intelligent (more so than me) and good at what she does so with a bit of luck she will come out of this in a better position

One day this will be ten years ago.....will the government and bankers have destroyed the world economy for good by then? They seem to have done a good job so far...

[CitroJim]

14 binders John For the Xantia I only have half that

So sorry to hear of Linda's loss of job Vince and the uncertainty it brings... Thing is that counselling is so important, and I know from experience, but so easy to cut with terrible consequences when there’s need to make economies... I don't know exactly what sort of counselling she does but I would imagine with her job going there's going to be an awful lot of very needy, unhappy and desperate people left high and dry and likely the very ones who can least afford it on a private basis. Cutting such services makes me very angry indeed.

Here's wishing Linda and you all the best in making a private practice and Pallas Auto Refinishing a great success!

One day this will be ten years ago.....will the government and bankers have destroyed the world economy for good by then? They seem to have done a good job so far...

I'd not worry too much. I remain eternally optimistic that those that need to will soon wake up, smell the coffee (or the stench of what we all seem to be in at the moment), get real and get things sorted properly. It's happened before, once in living memory, and it'll surely happen again...

Things will get better, it might take a bit of time and suffering for some but it will... In ten years I'm sure we'll all be happily living in a much better place...

[Dieselman]

Richard Branson is quoted as saying "Business opportunities are like buses, there's always another coming along".

With all day, everyday, I'm sure Linda will make money, possibly much more than at present.

[Vince]

I too am optimistic Will

On the xm front, having heard nothing at all from the garage i gave them a call today to be told "yes Vince its all sorted and back in one piece again, but we havent had the wheel alignment sorted yet"

Oh well, it will be next week before i can pick it back up.....its amazing how much im missing it being sat on the drive It wil be good to get it back

[captainhaddock]

Wheel alignment has been a nightmare for me for years and years, living in Connemara and all it's pot holes.
I remember going to a garage to have that done on an almost monthly basis and it was 20 euro's (reasonable enough) gone out of my wallet each time.... That's why I bought this Gunson thing which has earned itself back big time. I know, I keep advertising this thing but trust me I have no shares. With this thing it is easily done yourself.