Nine days off? In a row? What am I going to do with myself? Have a break? Relax? See people? Do things? Things! I could even make appointments and go to businesses that are open, during business hours! This all feels like a trap.

I went to a book shop. Books are cool.

Oh yeah. That’s some cold cranking amps right there. Bit of a squeeze getting it into the 940 engine bay but it fits. Hopefully that’s an end to the electrical saga now.

Introduce yourself with 5 cars you’ve owned. 1983 Innocenti Mini 1275GT 1969 Dodge Charger 440 1987 BMW E28 535i SE 1998 Lexus LS400 1998 Volvo 940 Turbo estate I could’ve done a list that was just Volvos but I decided to do one from each of my automotive lives.

Chatting with production types on set at work. (Tapping some of the flakey bits of a croissant with my finger like flicking cigar ash) “Yes, I am sure Nolan’s The Odyssey will surely impress. However, I myself am looking forward to The Beekeeper 2.” Why? Because I’m an intellectual that’s why.

Post your warning label.

New battery for the 940 arrived. Superb delivery. Well done.

Looking at new tyres. Hmm. Yes. I’d like really good tyres please. Hmm yes. £600+ oh right. Ok. Hmm. Maybe. I know one of my “things” is really good tyres and I’d regret it as I slid off the road into a ditch but c’mon man. £650? Yes, I know there’s more expensive tyres / cars etc.

You’ll be visited by three spirits…

We have solved the mystery.

I need to solve a mystery. Someone anonymously sent me a hot wheels in the post. I won’t post a pic of the car because I won’t be able to tell if someone is just taking credit. If you sent me a toy car this week please identify yourself by telling me what make, model & colour it was.

Christopher Nolan Trojan Horse Movie Heist pitch. Tech heist. Crack team played by your usual heavy hitters wiping out ÃÏ servers all over the world. He only wants to do it practically. No cgi. In real server farms. Twist. The actors do it for real & we rid ourselves of ÀÏ plus get a cool movie.

sure everything sucks but have you considered frogs?

As a cultural advisor to the internet I strongly recommend watching or rewatching the television series Justified from the beginning. Whichever case applies. For me I think this will be the fourth or fifth time around. It’s my familiar, comfortable armchair of a tv show. Or slippers maybe.

I have escaped London and have taken a day off tomorrow. A three day weekend which is costing me a days wages but I don’t care. I’m shattered and haven’t been home in two weeks. The 850 sprang into action after lying dormant all that time and dominated the motorways in order to get me home. 🫡

You simply have another 007 clone get birthed from a pod filled with goop. Moneypenny, M & Q do a black magic resurrection spell. Twin brother. Parallel dimension. Time travel. Have none of the Amazon people ever seen movies before? Due South replaced one lead actor and made it a plot point.

I thought the bathroom tap in my rental digs looked familiar.

Rewatched The Guest (2014) again last night as my Halloween 🎃 themed movie. Such a great little film. Loads of style, great score & soundtrack. Superb performances and just creepy & a little bonkers enough. Dan Stevens is having such a good time. Charisma for days.

Alternator belt on the 940 decided to relocate itself on a whim recently. Not even sure how. I could just replace the belt but as a preemptive bit of maintenance I got a new alternator as well. Also a new “door keeper opener” for the 850 arrived so I guess this is what I’m doing this weekend.

Who schedules a 18:00-03:00 shoot in central London on Halloween? This production. You do your lates at the start of the week and then claw back to return to normal times for Friday so people aren’t wiped out or driving home knackered. Should’ve booked today off but my colleagues would miss me.

I missed the bacon rolls at Greggs by a second as the clock clicked to 11:01. The bacon is right there man. It didn’t cease to exist. Just keep selling it until it’s gone. This arbitrary time you’ve decided to deny people bacon is absurd. Yes I’m working splits. Yes. This is my breakfast time.

Shout out to this piece of art I saw at a coffee shop in Soho today. I get it Burning Horse. I’m picking up what you’re laying down.

OK, so this is embarrassing. Having earlier slandered Guillermo del Toro by saying he'd never made a film with an exploding helicopter, I've been reminded that he did blow one up in Hellboy II: The Golden Army. One exploding helicopter though, that's pathetic.

Off to see the new Frankenstein tonight. I hope they do “Putting on the Ritz”. 🤞🏻

Looks like that car I was enquiring after has been sold. History has never known despair like this.

What everyone thinks I’m doing on my truck while the carnage of the filming day goes on… Vs What I’m actually doing… (They’re right)

I have fallen off the wagon and messaged a seller about a car for sale on the internet. I haven’t bought a car since 11th May 2003. The rush is exhilarating.

Just a reminder that in Enemy of the State (1998) the cars in the tunnel chase scene had to be chopped into several sections, taken three levels below in a lift, reassembled and painted. Once filming was complete they were disassembled once again and removed from the duct. You’re welcome.

Shitty long day at work but the guy at the kebab shop called me “Boss Man” so that helped.

Spotted this little nugget outside the local Halfords. Lowered. Aftermarket wheels with track looking tyres. Stripped out. Roll cage. Bet it’s a giggle to drive.

Representing @takona.co.uk and #Rustival today in the garage

Well my plan to service the 850 has been slightly marred by discovering the drivers door “holder opener” has snapped and was preventing the door operating properly. Will order another. Door opens and closes fine now. Just doesn’t stay open. New one on me. Wonder if I can recycle one of the rears.

Really tough week. Oh well at least I have a reserved seat on a comfy direct train this evening to get me home for the weekend. Oh. Never mind.

why is The Onion the only newspaper that's ASKING THE REAL QUESTIONS theonion.com/study-finds-...

To all the people in London who have asked me what we’re filming. I’m so sorry for all the lies. You have to understand I get asked this approximately 500 times a day and I get bored telling the truth. HA! I’M NOT SORRY AT ALL! I’LL DO IT AGAIN I TELL YA! I’LL NEVER STOP!! LIES UPON LIES!!!

Pretty great car spotting in Southend-On-Sea. When was the last time you saw a street parked Clio V6?

In what is now becoming an increasingly large collection I call “Photos from the tailgate of my truck” I hereby proudly publish this. No editing or photoshop just a real view at work snapped on my trusty iPhone 11. Quite proud of this one.

Week 2 of 18 done on this job. I’m aware of the outside world through snippets online but am existing in almost constant commuter motion in London. Haven’t driven my cars in ages. I am trains, tubes & trucks at present. Long days. Short nights but a good crew of my friends so it’s not too bad.

So. Based on my coworkers cheap ULEZ compliant purchase I have been searching for “sub £2,000, auto, petrol” cars for this job. Most of them local to where I am staying in London. Some fun options. Here are my four favourites. The Civic has fake TypeR badges but apart from that it’s a good car.

If you see this, quote the energy you bring to bsky.

Wrapped at 18:00 last night in south east London. Got home at 01:00 this morning after travelling most of the way back as a passenger in a colleagues Mini One that he bought for £700 just for this job because it’s ULEZ free. London to Wrexham and I have to say for £700 it was perfectly fine.

So. Filming at night on a busy suburban residential street. Lots of gear & people everywhere. Locations dept issues reflective jackets for everyone. Then immediately on wrap at 22:00 they start taking them off people. While we still had an hour derig in the exact darkness as before wrap. FFS.

Shoot day 1 of 90 tomorrow. 18 weeks. In London. Good to be working but it’s going to be a tough gig and I’ll be missing from my life until February. Two weeks off at Christmas. Gotta keep positive. Had a prep week so far loading a truck. Working with my regular crew. Let’s do it all again.

I am at a cinema and the film isn’t due to start for another 10 mins. It’s almost my bed time(!) This must be what crime feels like.

My man Pete is selling his wonderful, much loved E39 530 Touring. I’m sure he’d like it to go to a good home. He’s one of my best friends and trustworthy as can be. You could meet him and make a friend during the purchasing process should you desire.

For someone who is staying alone in a house over the weekend and would not be discovered until Sunday evening; the “almost tripping over while putting on trousers” scenario that just unfolded was way too risky in retrospect. I’m too old & not getting paid enough for these daredevil stunts.

Working away for the next few months. Not going home this weekend. No car down here in London but I know what I’m doing Friday night.

Ad for the Rallye is live, if anyone knows someone who might be interested www.carandclassic.com/l/C1944976

My 940 got used to transport some flowers today. An important message. Be good to yourselves & others.

No new pictures, where are you mentally?