The nearest resort was Les Carroz, we were in La Frasse a few miles away.

The vibration was caused by a knocking o/s track rod end, which required a whole new assembly as it was seized into the adjuster and adjuster seized into the main rod. It appears to have solved the issue. I'd also noticed a wet passenger footwell mat, and the it turned out the aircon drain tubes were blocked, so they have been cleared. The pollen housing is all fine, so I'll just have to keep an eye on it - fingers crossed that's fixed it. The old girl will have a rest now, 16mpg and current fuel prices aren't a great combo!

Just had a small service and a new steering damper fitted, noticeable improvement. It is the only spend since the last service.

Now need to have the front windscreen rebonded as it’s leaking. It also makes sense to replace the finishing fixings all around at the same time.

Happy Christmas and all that.....the passenger door won't open. I need a nimble fingered vandal to break the latch.. It also means I've got to use the D5 for shooting over Christmas. .

I had a spare door latch in stock and Dave at 4x4 Development had the requisite knowledge and brute force to get the old one out. The door had superlocked which was handy....

That fix was quickly followed by an MoT failure for passenger side upper and lower ball joints, and emissions due in part to a rotten t piece where the exhaust splits out. So new ball joints and a new rear exhaust section. Booked in for mid Feb.

Nothing like a quick fix. Dave at 4x4 Development is in demand, so it has taken an age to get it booked in for the ball joint and rear exhaust. It does appear to have 4.6 axles and 4 pin diff, so that's a plus. Once these jobs are done it can have an MoT and then go for the windscreen to be re-bonded.

I'm also looking forward to next month as my son has completed his GCSE DT project which is a gun draw / storage box / dog bed made to fit in the P38. I've seen pics of it and it might well survive a nuclear blast, but it looks great. Just need a forklift to move it

She passed the MoT on Thursday (advisories were indicator bulbs not being orange enough and an oil leak). I had a crawl around underneath and there was no sign of the oil leak, so after quite a few months stood idle it was great to take the P38 down to Pembrokeshire at the weekend, along the back roads via Leominster, Brecon and Llandeilo.