T minus 1

Will this cold weather ever end? I'm preparing my car and gear in Winter conditions, not at all what I had imagined. Vitared is still locked in Scandinavian winter. Look at my place below.

Close to departure and Mike due to move in as lodger/house minder, so that would be time for the heating system to threaten to break down! Nothing to do with recent work, but a corroded micro bore feed to a radiator upstairs. I kept the heating on all be it with a bucket catching the drips in the garage. Heart felt thanks to Mick for the repair job after work on Wednesday. There is some air in the system that needs bleeding over the next day or two. I'll leave Mike, Mick's number just in case.

I have a six month period backwards and forwards between the two countries. I still have work here in the UK, just a little, but important. You don't know what you don't know.Yesterday I learnt something new. UK vehicles can only be abroad for a maximum of 90 days with extended cover, before insurance becomes invalid. I wanted the Polo at Vitared for six months, and the motorbike out there for the summer (every summer actually). No problem, I'll get Swedish insurance I thought. Nope, not without re-registering the vehicle. Damn! Unless someone has a brighter idea my solution is:

Spring - Car
Summer - Motorbike
Autumn - Car

I need the trips back to the UK anyway, and it provides the opportunity to supply the Swedish house from England. Down side is just the motorbike for transport over there May - August. Short term this is livable, until I work out how I am using these properties. I suspect that Elsa will become Swedish with a new registration plate at some point.

Packing and Loading: I made a start yesterday. I need the heavy and bulky items on board, and a trial run with the stuff for the roof, so that I know what is going to fit. I'm back on track, so that would be the time for the programmer on the heating system to pack in. I've had enough. I broke off what I was doing and went out to buy a replacement. Shit happens! Mick is due back this evening to fit the new controller. No more messing with possible intermittent faults. The old one is clearly faulty and it cannot be left that way.

Back to the packing and everything I wanted to take out to the new place first trip, went in. No overloading issues. Job done. Thanks to Allan for a lift on and securing the roof load. Get the new heating controller fitted tonight. That leaves just hand luggage and paperwork, and put the vacuum around in the morning. At least this time problems to solve has stopped the pre trip jitters. If all works out now I am due at Ali and Cara's in Suffolk for a relaxing overnighter, ready for the ferry on Sunday. I need a cuppa (Tea)!