Hosed!

Posted on by Ian C.

More like de-hosed actually …
For a while now, the passenger side washer jet on GBMINI#6 has not been working. I assumed it was due to the cold weather – although the car has heated washer jets, I figured maybe one heater was broken, and hoped to find time to visit MINI of Peabody one day (it’s been ages!)

Well yesterday was up to 40, and today we got to 50; but still the washer jet wasn’t working, so I decided to see if there were any kinked hoses.
When I opened the hood, I noticed a puddle of greenish fluid collected around the passenger side suspension strut! Looks like washer fluid, I thought – and proceeded to unscrew/unclip the sound deadening sheet from the underside of the hood. And there, I found a loose hose from the washer jet:

Once found, it was easy to re-attach, and hey presto I have two washer jets again! This must be the first ever MINI repair that I’ve done for myself 😉

Temperature by Rhododendron

Posted on by Ian C.

The Rhododendron plants outside our bedroom window help us to tell how cold it is … today for example, overnight was cold; I took this picture about 7:30am when it was maybe 15f (-9c):
February 7 - Temperature By Rhododendron.jpg

You can see how the Rhododendron has “dipped” it’s leaves nearly vertical, presumably as an adaptation to allow any falling snow to drop off the leaves and prevent breaking branches!

This afternoon, 3pm, the temperature is close to 40f (4c), and the Rhododendron has responded:
CIMG0256-1.JPG

Bridge work

Posted on by Ian C.

Since the horrible I-35W bridge collapse in Minneapolis last year, bridges all over America are being inspected and repaired.
Work has been ongoing on the A. Piatt Andrew bridge for a while (apparently planned before the collapse), but recently closure of one lane in each direction over the bridge has begun affecting our journeys out of Gloucester!
February 6 - Bridge Work.jpg

It looks like the bridge might be being “de-prettified”, which they’ve done once already – they added tall mesh fencing to the sides, to discourage people jumping off; but now it looks like the granite kerbing might be being replaced with ugly jersey barriers 😦