Between 265 & 485 SQ/FT London Calling. An ordinary life.

[sawduststeve]

Full marks, Bob, for use of the British (and Australian) automotive vernacular - "bonnet" instead of "hood".

Bob just proves the point, you’re never to old to learn a second language

Hey Steve, I was watching a car auction last night and this popped up, I thought of you.

https://www.seven82motors.com.au/lot/september-28th-2025/rhd-vw-13-window-kombi/

Wow, looks expensive, do you know what it sold for. No good for me though I can’t make a cup of tea or a bacon sandwich in it. I’m out.
It is very very nice though and I think the 2.4 ltr
should make it quite lively.

Steve

 

[Geoff289]

Bob just proves the point, you’re never to old to learn a second language

Wow, looks expensive, do you know what it sold for. No good for me though I can’t make a cup of tea or a bacon sandwich in it. I’m out.
It is very very nice though and I think the 2.4 ltr
should make it quite lively.

Steve

It went for $76K AUD, plus buyer's premium (i.e. auction house fee) of 8.8%. Not that I know much about them, but I would have expected it to command a higher figure than that, although the departures from originality to which you allude may have affected that.

A different thing altogether, but I reckon this was the bargain of the day at $28K AUD. Perfect for a bloke with a joinery company,

https://www.seven82motors.com.au/lot/september-28th-2025/1980-ford-falcon-ute/

 

[Bob Heine]

Just let me know what time your plane lands and we’ll pick you up in it.
The weather was atrocious that morning but it was great fun, and certainly a once in a lifetime experience.

You might ( or might not) be receiving a postcard from Goodwood.
The bank HSBC ( they sell themselves here as The Worlds Bank) had a fantastic set up, free drinks, goodie bags etc. and also free postcards and a postbox with the promise to put a stamp on every card and send them on.
Your name and address is on one, let’s see if it arrives

Steve

Steve, the postcard arrived and it was a wonderful surprise. It has been raining almost every day for more than a month so your postcard arrived quite bent, along with a rolled up magazine and catalog. I'll have to put it in a book and set a brick or something heavy on top to flatten it out.

The front of the postcard was a nice invite to get on a plane. One of us is eager to do that. The other talks a good game but doesn't go further.

On the back side I was struck by the stamp. I remember mailing multi-page letters (The Manly Misfits) home from Australia in 1989-91 and it cost AU$1.00 each to mail to the US. Seeing this stamp on the Post Card was a shock (not the face):

The £3.20 stamp is $4.30 in American pesos. In my childhood in the early 1950s a post card cost 1¢ and a one ounce letter required a 3¢ stamp to mail to the lower 48 until 1958. My father sent a post card from Dawson Creek, British Columbia to my grandparents place in Vermont in 1957. They were 5 miles from Fairhaven on a dirt road so their address was RFD (Rural Free Delivery) and it cost 4¢ because it was international mail. Dawson Creek was one of the places my grandfather visited from his home in Grande Prairie, Alberta in the 1920s. The Canadian government paid him to visit former Klondike gold miners who didn't strike it rich and tried to become farmers. His territory covered northern Alberta and British Columbia and up to Whitehorse in the Yukon territory. My grandfather's expertise was caring for animals in sub-arctic regions. His summer horseback rides were 2,000 to 3,000 miles but he got to spend winters in Grande Prairie with his wife and three children.

I was relieved to read your post that the HSBC bank paid the postage for your card. Google shows that stamp would almost pay for a pint in a place like Hull.

 

[Old tool guy]

3 pounds for a postcard? That’s nuts. What does it cost for surface mail?

 

[Just Puttering]

Crikey, thats $5.99 Canadian! It’s no wonder that postcards from abroad are such a rarity these days.

 

[sawduststeve]

3 pounds for a postcard? That’s nuts. What does it cost for surface mail?

Evening mate
Over the last few years postage stamps have increased dramatically in price
1st class, to be delivered next day any where in the uk is now £1.70 and second class, two day delivery
85p.
Little old ladies like my mum and MIL used to send
40-50 Xmas cards, not anymore, family only.
Royal Mail are too expensive for parcels, it’s a bit stupid really when they should have ******* the eBay market early doors but didn’t, and have lost market share to all the new guys. Consequently losing money hand over fist and having to put up everything else.

Steve

 

[sawduststeve]

Crikey, thats $5.99 Canadian! It’s no wonder that postcards from abroad are such a rarity these days.

Is £3.20 expensive for 4500 miles
Message me your address and I’ll send you a card, I’ll be more exciting than the average coffee I’ve just had for the same money.

Steve

Wow! Your VW van on the Goodwood track looks like it is absolutely flying along!!! Love the slight nose down racing stance. Probably the downforce on the nose from the aero package stealthily disguised as surfboards.

Brings back fond memories of 21 years ago seeming to be flying down the Mulsanne straight in a rented VW diesel Westfailia with the wife & kids on the way to visit the town of Lemans. A few minutes later I realized I was holding up a string of traffic.

Nose down racing stance aided by dropped spindles and a fat bloke behind the wheel
Absolutely flying I very much doubt that.

No matter how slow you were you wouldn’t be holding us up.
Been past LeMans quite a few times on way to holidays along the south west coast of France.
Driving the Mulsanne straight though, what a great experience.

Steve

 

[sawduststeve]

It went for $76K AUD, plus buyer's premium (i.e. auction house fee) of 8.8%. Not that I know much about them, but I would have expected it to command a higher figure than that, although the departures from originality to which you allude may have affected that.

A different thing altogether, but I reckon this was the bargain of the day at $28K AUD. Perfect for a bloke with a joinery company,

https://www.seven82motors.com.au/lot/september-28th-2025/1980-ford-falcon-ute/

Hi Geoff
Thats about £40k, strong money I think, the market has dropped here of late and there are a few real bargains about.
Although, as always, good stuff sells for good money.

We never had that Ford here. Great engine size but I’m not a lover of pick ups, just not enough room for what we need to carry. Plus it’s always raining.

This is about as good as it got here 1980 2ltr cortina estate. My dad had one because he could get a door in it and bags of sand and cement.

Steve

 

[Geoff289]

Hi Geoff
Thats about £40k, strong money I think, the market has dropped here of late and there are a few real bargains about.
Although, as always, good stuff sells for good money.

We never had that Ford here. Great engine size but I’m not a lover of pick ups, just not enough room for what we need to carry. Plus it’s always raining.

This is about as good as it got here 1980 2ltr cortina estate. My dad had one because he could get a door in it and bags of sand and cement.

Steve

Those Falcons came in wagon form too.



We had those Cortinas here but didn't have to settle for a couple of litres of engine. Ford Australia also shoehorned 3.3 and 4.1 litre straight sixes from the Falcons into them. They went like stink in a straight line once the rear tyres stopped smoking but believe it or not were a tad front heavy which didn't do a lot for handling.

https://www.australianmusclecarsales.com.au/cars/1972-ford-tc-cortina-xl-235117

 

[Bob Heine]

Those Falcons came in wagon form too.

Geoff, before heading down under, I planned to buy a used BMW 5 series (we had a 733i at home) but the cheapest used one I could find was over $100K. Setting my sights much lower, a Ford wagon caught my eye (I forget if it was a Falcon or Fairmont). It was a yellow 1986 with the straight 6. It was 3 years old with over 100,000 kilometres on the dash. They wouldn't settle for a penny less than $AU25,000. Had it been a V8 I might have jumped on it. Of course, that was before I discovered the financial hit for a 6- or 8-cylinder engine so 4-cylinder Toyota Camry Ultima it was.

 

[Geoff289]

Geoff, before heading down under, I planned to buy a used BMW 5 series (we had a 733i at home) but the cheapest used one I could find was over $100K. Setting my sights much lower, a Ford wagon caught my eye (I forget if it was a Falcon or Fairmont). It was a yellow 1986 with the straight 6. It was 3 years old with over 100,000 kilometres on the dash. They wouldn't settle for a penny less than $AU25,000. Had it been a V8 I might have jumped on it. Of course, that was before I discovered the financial hit for a 6- or 8-cylinder engine so 4-cylinder Toyota Camry Ultima it was.

At least your Camry was red, Bob. Given my fondness for American cars, well those from the '50's and '60's anyway, I feel a bit of embarrassment that you had to get around in our country in something so pedestrian, but you can't kill a Toyota.

By 1986 Ford Australia had stopped offering the correct number of cylinders, i.e. 8. They wouldn't return until 1992. Holden continued to offer 8-cylinder Commodores, but really, who would want one of those? I was fortunate to spend the entire '80's in a 1980 XD Fairmont wagon (the model in the pic I posted above, (although that's just a lower spec Falcon GL) with a 351 Cleveland under the bonnet/hood. On the one hand this was great foresight on my part, on the other I traded my '71 XY Falcon GT for it which wasn't such a great move.

5 and 7 series Bimmers aren't that common here even now so would have been a pretty rare beast 35 odd years ago so I'm not surprised they commanded a prohibitive price.

 

[sawduststeve]

Those Falcons came in wagon form too.



We had those Cortinas here but didn't have to settle for a couple of litres of engine. Ford Australia also shoehorned 3.3 and 4.1 litre straight sixes from the Falcons into them. They went like stink in a straight line once the rear tyres stopped smoking but believe it or not were a tad front heavy which didn't do a lot for handling.

https://www.australianmusclecarsales.com.au/cars/1972-ford-tc-cortina-xl-235117

Ohh. A mk3 cortina.


My first car was a mk3, I paid £500 in ‘82 for a
2 door 2ltr GT in red similar to this. High back seats and four auxiliary dials in the center console tilted towards the driver. No many left now

In the 3ltr Capri that followed the ‘tina I put bags of sand in the boot to stop it being quite so much tail happy.

Steve

 

[sawduststeve]

Geoff, before heading down under, I planned to buy a used BMW 5 series (we had a 733i at home) but the cheapest used one I could find was over $100K. Setting my sights much lower, a Ford wagon caught my eye (I forget if it was a Falcon or Fairmont). It was a yellow 1986 with the straight 6. It was 3 years old with over 100,000 kilometres on the dash. They wouldn't settle for a penny less than $AU25,000. Had it been a V8 I might have jumped on it. Of course, that was before I discovered the financial hit for a 6- or 8-cylinder engine so 4-cylinder Toyota Camry Ultima it was.

At least your Camry was red, Bob. Given my fondness for American cars, well those from the '50's and '60's anyway, I feel a bit of embarrassment that you had to get around in our country in something so pedestrian, but you can't kill a Toyota.

By 1986 Ford Australia had stopped offering the correct number of cylinders, i.e. 8. They wouldn't return until 1992. Holden continued to offer 8-cylinder Commodores, but really, who would want one of those? I was fortunate to spend the entire '80's in a 1980 XD Fairmont wagon (the model in the pic I posted above, (although that's just a lower spec Falcon GL) with a 351 Cleveland under the bonnet/hood. On the one hand this was great foresight on my part, on the other I traded my '71 XY Falcon GT for it which wasn't such a great move.

5 and 7 series Bimmers aren't that common here even now so would have been a pretty rare beast 35 odd years ago so I'm not surprised they commanded a prohibitive price.

You guys were spoilt for choice for V8’s we really weren’t. Come the ‘80’s there were very few to choose from.
We had to develop cars that were small and nimble , and great around corners
The series 5 M5 with the v10 was on my list but I doubt I could afford one now, but as a 4 door saloon it makes a great family car.

Steve

 

[sawduststeve]

I’ve been a bit preoccupied of late, with dealing with the passing of my aunt. She was 93 so it wasn’t too unexpected, but she never married and had no children so it all falls on me and my brother. Solicitors, probate and a house sale to deal with, it gets a little complicated.
How about this
A two up two down original Dagenham house.
Dagenham, pretty much built for Ford mo co.
About 100 years old and one family owner from new. My grandparents moved in when it was new
My aunt and mother were born here and finally it’s going up for sale.




Steve

 

[sawduststeve]

I have finally managed to get some work out the door fitted and paid for. About time I earned some money
Remember this

Finally got it done
All new leads courtesy of Mike


Shocking colour, customers choice

Steve

 

[Old tool guy]

Interesting. Only two windows on the elevation and they aren’t aligned.

 

[sawduststeve]

Interesting. Only two windows on the elevation and they aren’t aligned.

Hiya fella
The downstairs window is into the lounge, to the left corner are the stairs. From the inside the lounge window is bang in the middle of the wall
The upstairs front bed is the full width of the house, making the window bang in the middle of the bedroom wall.


A big window for a small room with the enclosed stairs to the right.

Small window on the side wall is at the bottom of the stairs with one at the top landing, seen above the porch.



Professional photos taken today, possibly on line and for sale come Friday

Steve

 

[Old tool guy]

First picture, looks like Danish “modern” furniture from the 60’s.

 

[sawduststeve]

First picture, looks like Danish “modern” furniture from the 60’s.

60’s yes, MCM yes, Danish I doubt it. East end special probably

 

[Just Puttering]

Shocking colour, customers choice

Your door looks fantastic

Stained glass colours look like your client is getting an early start on their Christmas decorating.

 

[sawduststeve]

Your door looks fantastic

Stained glass colours look like your client is getting an early start on their Christmas decorating.

Ha, maybe ‘cept these decorations are staying up all year.

The colour I could live with, eventually, it’s the ring door bell thats so damn ugly.

 

[sawduststeve]

At long last we got these fitted today, the client has been renovating the house and was finally ready for us now that the wet trades are out of the way.
The original doors and frame.


Frame and one on

All done and everyone’s happy


These are the original leads, resized and sealed into new dg units, the top 4 panes are also the original glass

Steve

 

[Old tool guy]

The colour I could live with, eventually, it’s the ring door bell thats so damn ugly.

I bet you could paint the cover to blend in.

 

[sawduststeve]

I bet you could paint the cover to blend in.

Oh, I see a dragons den moment for you there
An aftermarket ring door bell cover in every colour of the rainbow.
I’ll take 10% for giving you the idea, seems fair.

Steve

 

[Old tool guy]

Make it 20% and it’s a deal.

Never heard dragons den comment.

 

[sawduststeve]

Make it 20% and it’s a deal.

Never heard dragons den comment.

Oh great, 20% of nothing has to be better than 10%. Thanks
My bad, Shark Tank.

 

[sawduststeve]

Shot down to Floaty Friday evening, there is always going to be something to do and to keep an eye on what is going on.

The marina at night, not sure if this is an atmospheric photo or just rubbish, anyway here it is


Work has started and the boathouse is 8” higher

Also arrived is all the timber for the new quay heading, the original has rotted away and is letting the river out onto the garden, and enough for the new decking at the rear of the shed and both sides. This is all raised to the height of the outside decking



My builder has a bigger one than me
It’s enormous.



It hasn’t an engine though.
That’s one way to move materials about

 

[Old tool guy]

My builder has a bigger one than me
It’s enormous.

With badly rusted deck plates.

 

[captain14]

With badly rusted deck plates.

That’s patina.

Historic, vintage, collectors item.

And one of his money making tools.

 

[pima67]

A bit late but: door color. Based on the many Brit tv/films I've watched, I thought bright door colours (red, blue, green etc) are a culture requirement, if not decreed by the local council.

 

[sawduststeve]

With badly rusted deck plates.

Yeah, it certainly has a madmax/water world vibe about it.
There’s about 3” of water in the bottom, I’m guessing it’s rain water rather than it’s sinking.
We’ll see

 

[sawduststeve]

That’s patina.

Historic, vintage, collectors item.

And one of his money making tools.

It certainly does a job, that’s for sure.
Materials transport and stable work platform, what’s not to like.
Of the two builders, one’s family own a local boat yard. Maycraft boat yard. We’re friendly with his brother and elderly dad, who is a very interesting fella, as he has lived and worked on the river all his life.
The barge sits in the yard until it’s needed then just towed to where it wants to be.

 

[sawduststeve]

A bit late but: door color. Based on the many Brit tv/films I've watched, I thought bright door colours (red, blue, green etc) are a culture requirement, if not decreed by the local council.

Hi fella
Better late than never, thanks for calling in
Yeah, we do have a tendency for a bright door
During the 80/90’s we stained everything(EVERYTHING) brown. Things have gone full circle now and most modern microporous paints can be tinted any colour you like.
If you’re (un)lucky enough to live within a conservation area the chances are to have to apply for council permission to change the colour of your front door, and even then only from the approved range.

Colours galore.



Steve

 

[littlebean]

I'm sooooooooooo boring, ours is black........

 

[sawduststeve]

I'm sooooooooooo boring, ours is black........

Black I can do

 

[Old tool guy]

Black I can do

Reminds me of an old saying about wimmens … All wimmens are created equal, it’s the accessories that make the difference.

Based on that and looking at the dresser top, my wife should be the most beautiful gal in the world.

 

[sawduststeve]

About 40 years ago, when I was my dad’s little helper, we replaced a 7 section bay window.
In the fanlights were a series of 7 lead lights with the pattern running through.
I had them away and stashed them in the workshop, where they have stayed until now, as I never found the right place for them
Well the wife has found the perfect place, so she says, so after a trip to Mike for an inch of new
lead all round and a good clean, this is the state of play as of today.



A few pieces of glass were broken, which we repaired by breaking down the others.
But I think they came up nice.
The frames have been 2 coated and hopefully I’ll get them glazed tomorrow.

Steve

Ps. During the 80/90’s we removed 1000’s of lead lights and had a nice little side line of putting them in containers and shipping them over to the good old US of A.
As is evident making new and refitting is back in vogue.

 

[y'sguy]

Looks like McFloatly may be getting a sweet upgrade?

 

[Grizz1963]

Nice work Steve.

 

[captain14]

Looks like McFloatly may be getting a sweet upgrade?

That would be my guess also after they take a little boat ride.