Travel Issues! Jim Mann
Today, Mar.25.20, Liz and I should have been returning from our ‘winter sun’ break in Abu Dhabi but needless to say that is not actually happening. As you might imagine, given the winter just gone, we were really looking forward to getting away to the heat and the sunshine that is, practically, guaranteed when
visiting the Middle East. We had booked it way back in November 2019 to give us ‘something to look forward to’ but given the plight of those travelers who are still appearing on the news today, at the last minute we decided to cancel our trip. Before discovering Abu Dhabi about 10 or 12 years back, we used to head to its near neighbor Dubai. However, after visiting Abu Dhabi on business, we discovered that the hotels there were at least of a similar standard if not higher, the sunshine and environment were exactly the same, but the cost to visit was almost half that to go to Dubai! The proverbial no-brainer.
Mind you, Dubai seemed to have something against us. Of the 5 / 6 times we actually visited Dubai, there were travel issues each and every time. The first visit, a long time back now, we were travelling from Aberdeen to Dubai with KLM via Amsterdam. All went well until we walked into the Baggage Hall in Dubai airport to find our name ‘up in lights’ above the baggage carousel. Turned out, KLM had left our luggage behind in Amsterdam. We had arranged for the hotel, The Royal Meridien, to pick us up and transfer us to the hotel. The meet and greet service was superb, BMW 750iL was waiting for us, complete with chilled towels and iced water was we completed the 20-minute journey to our hotel. On pulling up outside the door, the driver got out and opened my door for me whilst the hotel Concierge opened Liz’s door before popping the boot lid to collect our non-existent luggage. When the boot opened the Concierge looked in and found only my laptop bag. Turning to me with a completely straight face he than asked me: “Flying KLM were you Sir?” Obviously, a routine occurrence with the airline. Fortunately, M&S had recently opened their first outlet in Dubai, so the first tripthe next morning was shopping. (Jim Mann comments: Do you have a travel story, why not write and share it?)
A Big Task. Steve Cromar
Following Nicola Sturgeons instructions last night that only immediate family attend funerals, I will not be attending the funeral of Ken Flett tomorrow, Thursday Mar.26.20. My wife is keen that I follow the rules. However, I may be happening to be passing by in one of the old Jaguars at 12pm and saluting Ken, a long-term E-Type aficionado. My self-isolation task is I am going to keep busy clearing out the garage of a lot of junk. Got a big job on my hands. Stay safe – Steve. (Jim Mann comments: Do you have a big job to keep you busy, why not write and share it?)
The Old Grey Lady – Richard Marsh
My 1967 Jaguar 420 is going to get a lot of TLC whilst we are incarcerated. Although she is entirely free from any little yellow bugs she is going to enjoy, or not enjoy, a deep clean and new wax make-up over her ancient body.
She will be made to straddle the 4 metre pit in the garage and in spite of all local shops being stripped of loo paper the old lady will soon have the cleanest bottom in the County. I will then offend her with liberal applications of Kurust and Waxoyl. Impenetrable to the most persistent virus. Sills and pillars are going to get an unexpected thrill with their first major rustproofing enema for 15 years. After that all her bodily fluids will be replaced - 20/50 engine oil, automatic gearbox oil, brake and power steering hydraulic oil. Even the limited slip differential will be drained and refilled with the correct oil - need to research that. Her new air filter will be impregnated with a potent disinfectant more effective than any anti-viral face mask.
Finally, the cylinder block radiator and heater will be emptied and refilled with mineral free water and 30% of top-quality antifreeze. Strathdon summers can freeze water, never mind winters. If Boris’s travel ban is still in force the old girl is then going to be surprised at the indignity of having to do 20 laps of the Lonnach fields in front of my house. A far cry from Le Mans glory....
Richard Marsh’s immaculate Jaguar 420, aka The Old Grey Lady, one of only a handful of these magnificent cars that has not become a donor to keep an E-Type on the road.
However, she is one Jaguar that is bound to long outlive her owner. With this wretched Chinese bug ruining lives and businesses; life may be alarmingly short for somebody of my considerable antiquity. But if the worst happens, I need no sympathy because one old Grey Lady will have made my final days on this planet very content. Good luck and stay safe. Richard Marsh, Strathdon.
