Latest: 

Update on coil change. Its been a week now and the car starts first everytime even after heavy rain!

April 2010

I have had terrible trouble with the little red mayfair over the winter, Its normally pretty poor during the winter months, but this has been the worst yet. Most mornings he wouldn't start without being jumped, which is not  amajor hassle as Darren parks right behind me. However it is very annoying if he goes to work first! Its fine the rest of the day...just first thing.

Well someone suggested a new coil. Darren remembered that my engine used to be an 850 and it never occored to upgrade the coil when we fitted the new engine a few years ago. So £25 saw a brand new coil for a 998cc engine and its started forst time every morning since...so fingers crossed!

Stamford Hall Mini Show

Saturday was so hot, and a great day to get ready for Stamford Hall! A full T cut and polish and a fresh coat of paint underneath and in the wheel arches (not just for the show but to protect during the winter) We mix a little black Smooth Hammerite with Red and the colour match is very good.

Show photos coming soon

We took some photos on the way home...here is a preview! (with my new wheels!)

September 2009

Darren brought me four used genuine alloys with tyres for less than the cost of two new tyres! They look really good...problem is there are no wheel nuts!

Luckily we found a very helpful company in Irchester that buy in bulk from the factory that made the nuts for Rover. They don't normally sell to the public, but made an exception for us so we have 16 brand new original specification nuts.

Photo soon!

Past the MOT with no problems :)

August 2009

Figaro needs three new tyres for the MOT...nobody in Northampton has 145-70-12 and they all say they can get one tyre from the supplier! Even tried to neighboring towns! Had to park him up on my Sisters drive until we get back from our weekend!

May 2009

New website goes online!

Spring clean for Figaro! a real good clean inside and out and plenty of Polish.

March 2009

Figaro's rear window is smashed by vandals, but its ok, I needed to replace the rubber screen surrounds anyway. So brought a new rear screen and fitted new chrome trims too.

September 2008

Its that time again....Stanford Hall Mini Show :D

August 2008

Lots of new parts for Figaro:

O/S and N/S inner wheel bearings, CV boots, rear brake shoes and cylinders, handbrake cable. No more squeaks!!

January 2008

Figaro and I feature in the 2008 BCF Calendar!

August 2007

Figaro is Ride of the day at www.rideroom.com

May 2007

New photos added 27 May:

It poured with Rain on Sunday, and as Figaro is leaking badly around the window I didn't want to go on the motorway:(

Have to wait until the next show now!

 Its a British Mini Day at Himley Hall this weekend....hope the weathers good! We have been getting Figaro ready

I also have a genuine 'Mini Cooper' dress to wear, Its quite space age looking with a reflective strip just under the grey which is made up of  hexagons (you can just about see that in the photos). The dress is really warm! So as long as it doesn't rain!!!!

NOTE: May is here...and Cheryl's mini has turned up on ebay. £500, reserve not met, no bids. Cheryl is ok with this though...and at least we know its not going to the scrap yard! If your interested the seller is Dave Hathaway: 079883067979

I am looking forward to seeing her new Mini !!

March 2007

Figaro has two new tyres and a fog light repaired and flies through an MOT without even an advise! Yippee. The squeak has disappeared. Maybe it was a Guinea Pig that's now ran away?

Poor Cheryl has emailed me, someone hit her mini Rose in the rear and she is a right off. 

December 2006

Figaro is being spoiled. The guinea pig squeak is getting annoying: New steering Rack, Front engine mounts, Track Rod Ends and anti roll bar bushes. Still squeaks occasionally! We think it might be the gearbox???

November 2006

Figaro has developed a squeak and sounds like a guinea pig! New brakes haven't stopped it and it only happens when its wet.

September 10th 2006

Stanford Hall National mini Day. Excellent weather, Good turn out and lots of lovely mini's to see:)  photos: Stanford Hall 2006

September 9th

Figaro has a birthday- a wash...touch up and two coats of polish!

September 2006

I was seriously thinking of selling Figaro to fund repairs to Bluebelle (she needs a new front end) But after polishing the little red mini and getting it ready for Stanford Hall, I can't!

March 2006

Figaro is MOT'd and taxed today, and out to play for the spring. 

Nice Mini Rose added to the register

February 2006

Figaro is getting ready for an MOT. Sills have been stripped back, welded and repainted. Still needs new tyres and a few wiring jobs...but Darren has the Flu so it will have to wait. Bluebelle is tucked up in the garage for some tidying ready for the summer shows.

August 2005 Figaro has a new engine and gearbox fitted

August 2004

More additions to the Sky & Rose register.....plus I get  a mini Rose named after me:)

January 28th 2004

The Website you are currently visiting is a Proud Winner of the

Presented by
The International Association of
Web Masters and Designers

December 10th 2003

The last few updates have been lost:(

Including guestbook entries and a new car on the register.

computalynx, our webhost deleted the website and replaced it with a backup from October 2002!!!

Sorry, if you have left info for me on the site- pleeeeease resend it now.

Other News.

Bluebelle's exhaust fell off....so she had a nice new one today. Darren serviced her a couple of weeks ago- but the point gap closed up so adjusted them myself yesterday:)

November 5th 2003

MINI ROSE paper cut-out now on the download page:)

September 2003

Stanford Hall Photos now up

NEW *Register for Mini Rose and Sky!* <here>

May 2003

Figaro makes car of the month on the American "British Car Forum"

April 7th 2003

Added MINI SKY graphics for fellow sky owners with worn or missing emblems. 

<CLICK HERE>

January 30th 2003

Bluebelle passed her MOT with flying colours, not so much as an advise. Taxed her today (from the start of January *grumble*) and now bouncing happily around the country lanes!!

January 15th 2003

Figaro has dropped an engine mount...panic stations to get Bluebelle finished. Not possible to change the front panels because of timing, will have to make do until the spring with some welded patches and body filler.

December 2002

Darren has removed the subframe, welded up the rear inner arches, rear cills, floorpan and undersealed it all...next fitted a brand new rear subframe. He has cut off the rear valance and is about to weld a new one on, and we have panels for the front end now too. 

Next job is the front wing and front panel. then its off for an MOT for Bluebelle ..I am so excited!

Hopefully both Bluebelle and me will be back to normal for next years shows!

(Oh, she is now insured Fully Comprehensive!)

Other News.

December 20th 2002 

At Last! Fresh off of Ebay, the complete 1989 Rover catalogue, featuring the Mini Sky, Rose, Flame Red and Racing Green. I have added the Sky and Rose pages.

June 2002

Figaro Arrives!!

I don't want to be without a mini whilst my SKY is being repaired so I brought this cheeky little mini..its a 1986 mini mayfair auto. It looked very scruffy when I brought it, it has the wrong engine (850cc) and the first gear doesn't work. But a service,  T-cut and polish brings it to life. The plan is to sell this mini when the SKY is being repaired...lol...I don't think so ;) 

I brought a new bonnet badge and wheelarch set too.

Previous news items:

Bluebelle gets squished!

Hit & Run

One Saturday afternoon in July I arrived home from buying parts for a friends Mini, to find Rosalind crying in the street. Would you believe it, the wasters that live opposite us drive a car with no tax (and hence no mot or insurance)...they smashed into Bluebelle, drove off, dumped the car in the next road and walked back as if nothing had happened. They are one of 'those' families that nobody wants to live near (a couple of months ago the police raided them!) fortunately they have now moved out!

To make things worse Bluebelle was only insured third party fire and theft. The police visited us, and despite having witnesses, doubted we would have any success in prosecuting the person because the car was not registered to anyone. Without the drivers name we cannot even pursue an uninsured losses claim, even though we know the family involved.

During 2002 Bluebelle was involved in Four separate accidents!!! Three of them whilst she was parked and I wasn't even driving her! The second incident a big yellow council van reversed into her and squished the front bumper. The Third accident, a Citroen BX reversed into the rear of the car and smashed the rear N/S light and dented the bumper.! The fourth accident I was actually in the car. I heard a noise and felt a bump, someone on a motorbike was swerving in and out of the traffic, misjudged his distance and slid under Bluebells back end. Luckily he wasn't hurt but Bluebelle had a smashed fog light and bent rear bumper and valance.

Two days later the rear subframe broke.

June 2001

Bluebelle and I have two photos in In MiniMag!!!

We found the correct bonnet emblem at Redditch 

Actually, almost correct, I had to paint the sky blue on the shield but it looks just right now.

May 2001

Bluebelle and I are in Mini World magazine!!!!

Ace Of Herts!

Bluebelle and I match! More photos in the Gallery.

April 2001

My first Mini how with Bluebelle! Himley hall - 1950s themed. So polish and touch up for the SKY and genuine 60s mini dress and long black boots for me! More photos in the Gallery

April 2001

We were going away but my husbands car broke down...but its ok we are staying in our caravan and going to a mini show instead!! More photos in the gallery!