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reddocsailor · 2 months

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01 Down the rabbit hole - The Begin of a journey I

By Docsailor 2023

Here is me, somewhere in the middle of nowhere. My car broke down, no life sign around, no cell phone coverage, lovely that’s how I liked it.

I am leaning to my car, staring at the sun, which is dropping slowly behind the hills.

My hand moves through my ginger hair which is cascading down my back in a wavy style. I am sighing out load "What a fuck!!". Yeah, not lady like but who cares anyway.

I finished my business trip a couple of hours ago and had some time off. This time I wanted to spent cruising around, get in contact with the country, people….

So nobody would miss me for a couple of weeks "Great". "Yeah spare your holiday of a whole year and take it in a row" I am speaking out load. "Not as planned you…" holding on " Why I am yelling nobody around…"

I am kicking the tyre " Autsch", luckily I switched my heels to the sneakers, but it still hurts.

"Come on you are an engineer, you can fix a car" I inhale deeply trying to calm myself down. My hands brush down my lovely Scottish skirt, I like the texture of it. I am looking down on myself.

My white blouse, still my black bra on, give my C Cup breasts a lovely shape and then my Scottish skirt in which I jumped after the business was done. I like to travel with it.

I begin to smile "Yeah I am looking like a schoolgirl, besides that I am forty…"

Anyway let’s have a look at this bloody rental car. "What does this message say "Error in electrical drive unit"

Damm I am a mechanical engineer. Ok what does my electrical engineer say about drive units "Sometimes they need to reset" Honestly why I have taken a hybrid. " Oh yes be bold, be brave try something new…." Ok I have checked the manual which says call the service, which is quite of tricky when you are in the middle of nowhere. So reset the drive unit, I could kill the connection to the battery, let’s give it a shot. I open up the engine cover, great has this car some tools a wrench would be lovely. So, I go to the trunk throwing my stuff to the back seats, no, no tool box…. Hold on my Leatherman, … In my backpack for hiking… is it a good idea, give it a shot. So, unfold the pliers. Grab the nut and give it a turn…" Arrrrggghh God Damm it that hurts…"I look at my right hand, its bleeding, I slipped an smashed my hand at the engine. "Told you"

So I make myself a bandage on my hand and sit down on the open trunk.

Frustrated I grab myself something to eat from my hiking backpack.

"So here I am, in this bloody hill forest in the middle of nowhere…. No cell phone coverage … broken down car and a scratched hand because of foolishness….." yelling out loud of frustration.

Ok I have my hiking stuff with me, so here is the plan, leave the car, leave a message and then do some miles. So I switch my cloth from casual to hiking. My spandex purple hiking leggings, my hiking shirt and my jacket, and on my hiking shoes. Message left check, car locked check and off I go.

I am humming to myself " And I would walk 500 miles…" as I start my walk down the road.

The sun is dropping down and then I hear it in the far distance a roaring of a high-powered car. There in the distance a red car, the roaring increases.

"Great in the middle of nowhere a single women and the only car is probably a muscle car. Well you wanted to get in touch….. " Sighing

It is indeed a muscle car, Ford Mustang. As it comes closer it slows down and halts right next to me. The side windows opens. "Hi Dear, your car broke down 3,5miles " a friendly women at my age with a colourful hair job asks me.

"Yeah kind off you know Hybrids…" me responding.

"You should not trust the new stuff, luckily I find your car and you, I am Catherine shall I give you a lift to my place, until we find a somebody to fix it".

"That would be lovely. I am Angelique “.

"Angelique what a lovely name. Drop your stuff in the trunk and tug yourself in" I move my backpack in the trunk and then I slide myself into the passenger seat.

“A 5-point belt?”

"You know I like speeding."

"Sure, you do with a car like this."

"You need a hand?"

"No thanks." and then she accelerates like the Devil is chasing her.

"Woaw "

"Yeah I like the vibrations and of course the speeding"

"That’s for sure…"

And we are speeding down the road….

The sun starts to disappear behind the horizon. And we start to chat.

"You are not from here, aren´t you Angelique?"

"No, I had been on a business trip and now I have some days off."

"What are you doing for business?"

"Well I am engineer and have done a Factory Acceptance Test on one of our suppliers the last weeks."

"So you have been long away from home"

"Yeah, kind off"

"Nobody missing you back at home."

“It is complicated. That why I wanted to travel a bit. Until the car broke down”.

“Luckily I find you first, you could be a sweet target”

"Hold on, no I am not a prey I can be pretty bad ass"

"A prey, that is an interesting saying" Catherine is giving me a strange look, mustering me.

"Luckily I have picked you up, and as a female engineer who is running factory acceptance tests I bet you have your abilities to earn your ranks." she is smiling at me.

I look back at her, started scanning her. Well she is probably my age, but her hair style is probably not typical for her age. It starts jet black, starting straight her neck down, getting purple and wavy and the ends fire orange. That’s a hairstyle. She is shorter than me, she got a fitting cleavage to her frame. A cleavage I would like to have. Then I see for the first time she is wearing a corset, leather? Yeah, leather her skirt is shiny leather, of course black stockings and she is driving in heels, very high heels. She is recognizing that I scan her.

"Why is prey wrong to say, what should I say a target? Anyway, what is your business, Catherine." Trying to disguise my scan.

"Oh, you like to change topics. I am the CFO of our family business" With a harsh turn she is leaving the main road down in the forest.

"So, you are probably coming or heading to a party, I assume."

"A party, no my Dear, it is not my vanilla style I usually wear at office and luckily I can leave the vanilla style for a little bit thanks to Home Office" She breaks quite harsh.

"There we are, welcome to my place".

I have seen a lot of places, but this my jaw drops down.

"Your place,……and that of a…"

"Yeah, my place…"

" That is a mansion, no hold on how… big"

"Come in the weather is going to change" The trunk opens automatically. I am still turning my head slowly from left to right. "And you living her with…."

"Alone, come on the weather" she rushes me.

I realize the wind had freshened up quite a bit and dark clouds are moving over the hills.

I grab my backpack and follow her. She opens the door, and I am standing in a hall. Two stairs a leading upward in 2 wings, in the centre there is a doorway which leads further into the house.

"Yeah Daddy had paid very well for this" I mumble to myself.

"Come on before you get lost and find something you might like." I nearly stumble forward as I pass the big C which is been laid in the floor.

"Might like…?" puzzled response. But the clicking of the heels might over tune my words. I have to pay my respect to Cathrine speed on her 10" heels, I would not be able to walk that fast in heels.

"So who is Mr. Cathrine? "

"There is none, I life her by myself, but I have guests if I want. Or I take up a prey" Cathrine turns around and give me a smirking smile "Sorry I like your saying"

"Prey? Just because I mentioned it in the car"

"You offer me a picture, which I somehow like."

"I offered a picture? Honestly."

"I am not vanilla in my house" she cuts me off.

"House, it is more a mansion, residence or something but definitely not a house. Vanila?"

"Dear lets get you sorted. Please be my guest until we manage something with your car" she had stopped right in front a door. With an elegant move she opens the door behind her back with her right arm and steps backwards in gesturing to follow her.

"Make yourself comfortable, shall I pick you in 45min to have dinner together"

"Wow, thank you for your hospitality, you are really generous. I know it is Friday and to be honest it is in the middle of nowhere her, so thank you."

"With pleasure my dear, maybe I will ask for an compensation, maybe, depending on which side of the coin I am." giving me a friendly smile and turns on her heels.

"I will also change in something more appealing."

"Appealing is there a dress code for the dinner?"

"It´s dinner dear, there is always a dress code"

"So no yoga pants than, for being comfortable?”

"Do what you like my dear" as she moves elegant around a corner. The clicking of her heels still echoing.

I through my backpack on a chair. Sighing out loud. "What a day, what a day. So let’s get a shower then and then find something suitable for the dinner".

#lesbian submission #@reddocsailor

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2023cars · 2 years

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What Variant of Kushaq is Good to Buy?

The Skoda Kushaq features an opulent design, plush comfort, and performance that pushes you to new heights, and available with PPS Skoda Dealer Hyderabad. Drive this mid-sized SUV through its trip as we discuss why it offers the best value on the Indian market. Based on the customized MQB A0 IN platform, the Kushaq was the first Skoda vehicle to be introduced in India as part of the India 2.0 program.

The Skoda Kushaq comes in options of 1.5-liter and 1.0-liter turbocharge gasoline engines. A 6-speed manual is available for both engines. The smaller engine gets a 6-speed torque converter automatic while the bigger engine incorporates a 7-speed dual-clutch automatic transmission. Skoda Kushaq offers three variants as Active, Ambition, and Style. Based on the highest-end Style version, the Monte Carlo edition was created.

With a 1.5 litre TSI engine that meets the highest standards for driving enjoyment and dynamics, it stands out among models in its class. One of the important characteristics is the DSG transmission, which is often referred to as a multi-collision braking system or an electronic brake force distribution system.

Its measurements are 4225 mm in length, 1,760 mm in width, 1,612 mm in height, and 2651 mm for the wheelbase.

Different Variants of Skoda Kushaq

PPS Skoda Dealers Hyderabad provides the Skoda Kushaq in 16 different variants. The Skoda Kushaq Monte Carlo DSG is the Skoda Kushaq Best Variant, whereas the base model of Kushaq is the 1.0 TSI Active (1.5 TSI). It comes in five appealing colours: Tornado Red, Candy White, Brilliant Silver, Carbon Steel, and Honey Orange.

Features of the Skoda Kushaq

A 10-inch touchscreen infotainment system with Apple CarPlay, an electric sunroof, Android Auto, wireless charging, a two-spoke steering wheel, cruise control, ventilated front seats, ambient lighting, and a cooled glove box are available in the Skoda Kushaq. As the segment leader with the longest wheelbase, it offers the most space for the occupants. Skoda Kushaq takes care of the safety of the driver and passengers as the first priority.

It offers important accessories including front and rear head restraints that can be adjusted in height, 16-inch alloy wheels, a three-point seatbelt, two outer three-point seatbelts, a centre lap belt in the back, an ISOFIX, a door open indicator. Additionally, the top "Style" trim level has side and curtain airbags that deploy in an emergency. In this section, you should look at the tyre pressure monitor and the hill start assistance.

A four years/1,000,000 km warranty is included with it, and it can be extended up to six years/1,50,000 km. Additionally, Skoda provides a six-year corrosion warranty, a three-year paint warranty, a two-year battery warranty, a two-year components warranty, and extended roadside assistance packages for up to nine years. Get additional discounts and services from Authorized Skoda Dealers Hyderabad.

Is Skoda Kushaq value for money?

Most individuals have a question when buying a car, especially when choosing a certain model. As long as you acquire the desired variant, there is no reason not to drive home this beauty. With the TSI turbo petrol engines, the optimum driving comfort enables the driver seat to roll out effortlessly. The beautiful appearance of this SUV model with a contemporary design is deserving when compared to the Skoda Kushaq Vs Creta or its other rivals, such as the Kia Seltos.

During any accident, the multi-collision brake helps to avoid more collisions. This car in the segment that is worth buying is promoted by these essential attributes when comparing Kushaq Ambition Vs Style. The feature-rich interior exudes elegance that matches the exterior's appearance. Six speakers, a 7-inch touchscreen, height-adjustable headrests for all seats, armrests on the centre console and all doors, and a 2-spoke steering wheel with height and length adjustments are included in all base variants of this contemporary vehicle. Additional features are available in the mid and top variants.

Does Skoda Kushaq Ambition have sunroof?

No. The Skoda Kushaq Ambition lacks a sunroof. Speaking about the Skoda Kushaq Variants Comparision, the sunroof option is available in selected models of Skoda Kushaq - Monte Carlo 1.5L TSI DSG, Style 1.5L TSI DSG Anniversary Style 1.5L TSI DSG (6 Airbags), Monte Carlo 1.5L TSI MT, Monte Carlo 1.0 TSI AT, Style 1.5L TSI DSG, Style 1.5L TSI MT, Style 1.5L TSI MT Anniversary, Style 1.0L TSI AT Anniversary, Style 1.0L TSI AT (6 Airbags), Monte Carlo 1.0L TSI MT, Style 1.0L TSI AT, Style 1.0L TSI MT, and Style 1.0L TSI MT Anniversary.

Is Skoda Kushaq good for long drive?

The Kushaq offers a smooth ride and protects its occupants from any road jolts thanks to its well-designed wheels and excellent suspension. Because of the power and torque, you can let loose the beast on the highway. The car handles amazingly well and keeps its poise at lower speeds on city streets as well. Three people can be placed in the rear with the utmost comfort thanks to the generous legroom between the back seat and the front seat.

Is Skoda maintenance costly?

Skoda automobiles have a history of having high maintenance costs. But over the last few years, things have altered. Significant improvements have been made to the upkeep of the service centres. They now have fairly open billing practices, and you can check the cost of parts on the Skoda website. They also have an app that makes it easy to schedule service appointments.

Conclusion

Skoda Kushaq is without a doubt the top pick in the mid-size SUV sector when considering features and cost. Nobody can avoid buying this model in this market sector because of its exceptional quality and riding pleasure. The best advice is to schedule a test drive at the PPS Skoda Showroom Hyderabad for a real-world, superior experience and also to find Skoda Kushaq Variant On Road Price. Simple, intelligent selections like the Skoda Kushaq don't require much consideration when making a buying decision, but the desired variation must be carefully chosen. Select the Monte Carlo version if it best suits your needs now.

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mitsubishifever · 5 years

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Mitsubishi Triton 2019 Range Review

Everyone loves an underdog.

The largest, loudest and most-fancied might be the darlings of the media, but there’s something about an unassuming contender capable of upsetting the status quo that appeals to our national psyche.

Mitsubishi has played that role in the ute market for four decades. While bigger brands such as Toyota, Holden and Ford have stronger followings, Mitsubishi’s Triton remains a compelling machine which goes about its business a little differently.

Is the Mitsubishi Triton right for me?

Like its L200 predecessors, the Mitsubishi Triton isn't a ute for bragging about big numbers. There are competitors with larger and more powerful engines, greater maximum payloads and more impressive towing capabilities. Mitsubishi didn’t feel the need to mess with its relatively compact 2.4-litre diesel engine as part of a mid-life update for the model.

Pitched at pragmatists, the Triton is for folks who champion value for money. As before, it's one of the most affordable established utes in its class and continues to be available in three body styles - single cab, club cab and dual cab - with a choice of rear-wheel drive or four-wheel drive, petrol or turbo-diesel power and manual or automatic transmissions.

What does the 2019 Mitsubishi Triton cost?

This ute represents one of the more affordable pick-ups on sale.

There are 20 variants to choose from - the GLX with a five-speed manual and 2.4-litre petrol motor and the fully-loaded four-wheel-drive GLS Premium with a 2.4-litre turbo diesel engine and six-speed auto.

Walking through the range, the petrol engine is only available with a manual transmission and rear-drive hardware in the cheapest single-cab body and entry-level GLX trim.

Upgrading to four-wheel-drive running gear with a low-range transfer case is an option.

Switching the basic cab-chassis layout for a pick-up tub costs is also possible, then you can choose between trim levels bringing increasingly impressive features.

Mitsubishi hosted journalists in Tasmania for the Triton’s national launch, where we had an opportunity for quick stints in a number of models before spending a full day at the helm of the range-topping GLS Premium.

What is the Mitsubishi Triton's interior like?

Home to a cabin trimmed in perforated leather with heated front seats, the GLS Premium is intended to take on rival machines such as the Toyota HiLux SR5 and Ford Ranger XLT, which sit toward the top of their respective ranges. A multi-function four-spoke steering wheel with metal shift paddles features tilt and reach adjustment - a rarity in this class - along with electric driver’s seat adjustment, digital climate control and improved noise management to make the Triton more comfortable on longer trips.

It’s not a perfect environment - plastic elements feel cheap, the seats are a little flat and taller occupants have to duck to negotiate a low roof and relatively high seat in a door opening that’s a little tighter than most.

How much space does the Mitsubishi Triton have?

That said, there’s plenty of room inside the Triton (even if it is a touch smaller than key rivals, giving away 20 centimetres to the Ranger’s longer wheelbase) both in the front and back. Passengers have plenty of cubby holes to stash odds and ends, along with the benefit of USB connectivity in the front and rear.

What's the Mitsubishi Triton's tech like?

Four USB points join a 12-volt outlet and HDMI connectivity hooked up to a 7.0-inch touchscreen found in the top three grades. Apple CarPlay and Android auto feature as part of the package, but sat-nav isn’t on the menu - you need to rely on third-party smartphone services such as Google Maps or Waze.

Beyond that, clever touches include an oddball air conditioning system which draws air into a duct mounted in the middle of the model’s roof lining before directing it toward back-seat passengers. Though it sounds strange, the system works well in practice, directing cool air to faces instead of feet.

Practical tech includes clever hardware allowing you to twist a knob and shift from rear-wheel-drive to four-wheel-drive traction while driving at speeds below 100km/h - where some rival machines require you to stop and put the transmission in neutral.

A multi-terrain system tailors the car’s systems for a variety of circumstances including rocks, mud, sand and tarmac, aided by a hill descent control function and a rear differential lock for the top model.

How reliable is the 2019 Mitsubishi Triton?

While engineering largely retained from the previous model isn’t a particularly sexy selling point, some buyers will be attracted to the Triton’s proven and simple mechanical elements. Though it’s too early to say how the Triton will perform over the course of a decade, the previous model has proved less troublesome than Toyota’s HiLux with its diesel filter issues.

How safe is the Mitsubishi Triton?

Safety is a particularly strong point for the Triton, which is available with gear that’s really hard to find in a ute. We’re talking about autonomous emergency braking, a 360-degree camera, lane departure and blind-spot monitoring systems, a rear cross-traffic alert system and a clever feature which stops you from accidentally accelerating into obstacles at low speed.

Buyers on a budget who want safety tech without the top models’ asking price can plump for a safety pack adding self-braking and lane departure tech to some versions of the basic Triton GLX.

It ticks a lot of boxes, but you won’t find active cruise control or active lane-keeping assistance on any model.

What is the Mitsubishi Triton's warranty like?

Further peace of mind comes from Mitsubishi’s standard five-year warranty, which is currently boosted to seven years or 150,000 kilometres of coverage as part of a sales promotion in place until June 30, 2019.

What's under the Mitsubishi Triton's bonnet?

Mitsubishi offers two engines in the Triton. The cheapest two-wheel-drive cab-chassis model is powered by a 2.4-litre four-cylinder petrol motor mated to a five-speed manual transmission. It’s a budget option, and a little breathless due to modest outputs of 94kW and 194Nm that really aren’t too muscular.

Most customers are going to skip that option in favour of a 2.4-litre four-cylinder turbo diesel engine with much healthier 133kW and 430Nm peaks - figures much more adept to working with heavy loads or in trying conditions. The engine is a carry-over unit from the previous model, though diesel automatic variants now get a six-speed transmission as opposed to the old five-speed auto.

It’s not a bad engine by any means, sounding and feeling slightly sweeter than some of the more agricultural motors behind the badges of key rivals.

But the Mitsubishi can’t match the ultimate pulling power of stronger variants with bigger engines, and they’re certainly are times when you can find yourself wishing for a slice of the significant torque advantage held by the likes of VW’s Amarok V6.

How much fuel does the Mitsubishi Triton use?

Fuel economy is something of a sore topic for the new Triton. Despite running the same engine as its predecessor and having an extra gear to play with, fuel use for popular automatic diesel variants has increased by one litre per 100 kilometres of driving to an official figure of 8.6L/100km, something Mitsubishi attributes to bluff, less aerodynamic styling, more aggressive gearing (for improved towing and acceleration performance) and a small increase in weight.

It shouldn’t be a dealbreaker as the real-world difference will be little more than a couple of hundred dollars per year, which isn’t much when you’re dropping up to $50,000 on a new ride.

We’ll revisit the Triton’s real-world fuel economy at a later date - hard running in soft sand, steep rocky trails and winding mountain roads produced figures far removed from what most owners can expect.

What's it like to drive the Mitsubishi Triton?

Our time with the Triton started with a 15 minute run in a 1984 Mitsubishi L200 ute, essentially the same model which first went on sale 40 years ago. The charming (and immaculate) little runabout restored by Mitsubishi served as a reminder of how far utes have come, and just how much people expect from a modern pick-up.

That is, unless you’re buying the basic petrol Triton, which ticks a lot of the same boxes with a wheezy petrol engine, smooth-shifting five-speed manual transmission, basic stereo and spartan cabin. A quick drive of the cheapest Triton reminded us that this is a cut-price machine normally found at rent-a-ute businesses or on company fleets.

Those spending their own money are much more likely to go with the high-spec GLS Premium, or something close to that spec.

We drove the car on a variety of surfaces - torturous ribbons of Targa Tasmania tarmac, steep rocky trails, loose gravel and soft sand, coming away impressed by its breadth of ability.

Taking advantage of its shift-on-the-fly 4X4 system, we barrelled along a broad variety of surfaces, stopped only by a climb in soft sand which needed a second attempt to ascent.

The Triton feels sweet to steer compared with bigger rivals, and reasonably planted on the road thanks to fat new 265mm-wide tyres with a highway bias.

An equivalent Ford ranger weighs in around 230kg heavier than the Mitsu, which is equivalent to having a big trail bike or a small jet ski in the back.

Responding faithfully to driver inputs, the locally-tested Triton brings sound body control and a reasonably impressive ride when unladen. The new six-speed auto is a good gadget, helping make the most of a modest engine and bringing new refinement to highway cruising by keeping the revs down.

We didn’t have an opportunity to tow with the model or put a solid amount of weight in the back, something we plan to address soon.

Drive's verdict

Mitsubishi is on to a good thing with the new Triton.

It looks sharp, offers strong safety features and brings outstanding value - particularly when drive-away prices and the current seven-year warranty promotion are taken into account.

Yep, there’s plenty of fight in this underdog.

2019 Mitsubishi Triton GLS Premium specifications

Engine: 2.4-litre turbo-diesel four-cylinder

Power: 133kW at 3500rpm

Torque: 430Nm at 2500rpm

Transmission: 6-speed manual or 6-speed automatic, four-wheel drive

Fuel use: From 7.9L/100km

Article source: https://www.drive.com.au/new-car-review/mitsubishi-triton-2019-range-review-120685

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numberplates4u-blog · 5 years

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Citroen C3 Aircross review

For Efficient, refined petrol and diesel engines, scope for personalisation, rear cabin and boot space Our Rating 4 Against Uncommunicative steering, suspension can be caught out, fiddly infotainment system 2017 The Citroen C3 Aircross is a comfortable small SUV that is also unusually practical for the class The Citroen C3 Aircross is a worthy contender in the ever-expanding ranks of small SUVs. It's not particularly rewarding to drive, but it does offer relaxed cruising ability and promising fuel efficiency. What make it stand out are decent levels of practicality - something that can't be said for every vehicle in this class - and plenty of scope for personalisation to build on the already-funky looks. 9 Oct, 2017 4.1 Citroen is hoping to attract new customers to the brand with the C3 Aircross - and it believes those buyers are drawn by funky design and the scope for personalisation. The Aircross certainly looks the part, with a beefy evolution of the C3 supermini's looks. That means the ultra-slim daytime running lights at either side of the grille, but a taller, bluffer front end and more plastic around the bodywork. The side profile is dominated by the 'floating' roof, which can be enhanced further through the choice of a contrast colour and, as part of a colour 'pack', a different shade of roof bars. This pack also brings graphics for the C-pillar, which is blacked out otherwise. This appetite for personalisation should be satisfied by the colour options. There are eight body colours available, along with four of those aforementioned 'colour packs' and three contrasting shades for the roof. The entry-level edition of the car gets steel wheels, but Feel editions get 16in alloys and range-topping Flair steps this up again, to diamond-cut 17-inchers. Image 10 of 20 Image 10 of 20 Inside, there are some cues from the C3, but the overall feel is of a more mature product. The standard mix of cloth and hard grey plastic isn't particularly sophisticated, but the optional 'Metropolitan Grey' and 'Hype Colorado' ambiance packs (available on Feel and Flair editions) give a softer-touch fabric to the main panel of the dashboard. In this respect, the C3 Aircross is every bit a match for the likes of the Renault Captur and Nissan Juke. The rest of the package is about par for the course in the class, though, with hard, scratchy plastics never too far away from your touch. At least the front seats offering something different; they're part of Citroen's 'Advanced Comfort' approach, so they're wider and a bit more cushioned than you'll normally find. They remain surprisingly supportive on twistier roads, too. The rest of the package up front is pretty standard fare, with analogue instrument dials - although a head-up display is available as an option. It's worth noting, too, that because Citroen thinks the C3 Aircross customer has a different 'lifestyle profile' than someone who'd buy a C3, this car is not being offered with the supermini's ConnectedCAM dashboard camera, even as an optional extra. Sat-nav, stereo and infotainment The most basic C3 Aircross, Touch, get DAB and Bluetooth functionality as part of a four-speaker infotainment system, but most buyers will opt for at least mid-spec Feel editions, which come with the familiar Citroen 7in touchscreen and six speakers as standard. This incorporates Android Auto and Apple CarPlay connectivity - so stepping up to range-topping Flair editions just to get navigation in the same system looks like a bit of an extravagance. Image 11 of 20 Image 11 of 20 The system itself is one of the more comprehensive on the market - but that doesn't mean it's one of the best. There's a lot functionality rolled into that one display, including temperature controls for the cabin, and at times the system can feel like it's being overwhelmed by the amount of processing required. The interface doesn't help with this, of course, because it forces you to come out of some areas of the system to perform tasks like raising the cabin temperature by a single degree. This is even worse if you're having to duck in and out of the otherwise-slick world of Android Auto or Apple CarPlay. The dashboard contains a single USB socket at the bottom of the centre console; this is welcome enough, but we'd have preferred to see a second one alongside it, instead of the 12V socket that's increasingly irrelevant in today's market. 3.8 On the move, the C3 Aircross feels pretty much like a slightly larger, taller version of the C3 - and in the most part, that's no bad thing. The two cars share a lot of components because they're both based on PSA's familiar PF1 platform. This isn't the most sophisticated set of chassis parts on the market - indeed, it can be traced right back to the old Peugeot 206 - but a string of updates over the years has kept it respectable, and the C3 Aircross implementation is one of the best we've yet experienced. It continues PF1's well-known trait of allowing the occasional sharp road imperfection to jar through into the cabin, unfortunately, but the extra bit of travel afforded by the Aircross’s extra height does make it feel a bit more accomplished than a C3. It hangs on surprisingly well, too. The Aircross shows decent resistance to pronounced body roll, and while the steering is far from communicative, it’s direct enough for you to learn to lean on it. Image 3 of 20 Image 3 of 20 This is not the type of car that you'll get a great deal of enjoyment from driving at the limit - but should you carry a bit too much speed into a corner, it's worth knowing that the Aircross will punish you not with any sideways drama but with predictable, consistent understeer. We've tried examples on 17in and 16in wheels and the larger tyres have a tendency to scrub across the tarmac; the 16-inchers actually behave themselves too, but there is a noticeable groan from the straining sidewalls. The PureTech petrol engine is available with three power outputs - 81bhp and 118Nm, 109bhp and 205Nm or 129bhp and 230Nm. The diesel options are two versions of the same 1.6-litre BlueHDi unit, producing either 98bhp and 254Nm or 118bhp and 300Nm. We've spent most time in the mid-range petrol, complete with an automatic gearbox. It's a refined enough engine, only feeling strained when you get to around 4,000rpm - but possessing enough torque to make sure you shouldn't have to do that very often. The auto box, meanwhile, is an Aisin unit that’s also seen use in various Minis; it’s not infallible, but it’s generally smart enough for swift, smooth progress on all but the twistiest of roads. We've also tried high-powered diesel, which feels a more grown-up offering altogether - helped, no doubt, by hefty torque that cuts in at around 1,250rpm. It’s not the quickest C3 Aircross on paper (that’s the high-powered petrol) but it’s almost certain to be so in the real world. The diesel engine - PSA’s well-proven 1.6 - is a great little motor, blending that admirable bottom-end shove with smoothness that only starts to break up at levels of revs that you simply don’t need to use. Image 7 of 20 Image 7 of 20 We tried this engine with the six-speed manual, which is a solid enough gearbox let down by a slightly vague linkage (a typical PSA trait, unfortunately) and a squared-off, stylised gearknob that isn’t particularly comfortable in the hand. The C3 Aircross isn't really designed to for serious off-roading, but Citroen does offer its Grip Control system as an option if you know you're going to get the wheels muddy from time to time. It's basically an advanced stability programme that can be altered depending on the surface you're driving over - and it includes a hill descent setting that will take the car down steeper slopes at a gentle, easily controlled speed. Engines The C3 Aircross has a choice of a 1.2-litre three-cylinder petrol engine, called PureTech and offered with three different power outputs, and a 1.6-litre diesel, badged BlueHDi and available in two different states of tune. Both engines are strong for their class; they have enough torque to ensure that you don't need to rev them hard, although we'd probably edge away from the most basic petrol, just because its outputs are likely to be on the limit for comfortable rapid cruising in a car that's bigger and heavier than the C3 supermini. You're unlikely to hear either the petrol or the diesel when you're doing motorway speeds; that's because both engines settle down nicely into the background at a cruise, and also because there's a fair bit of wind noise from the side mirrors that will drown out any thrum from under the bonnet. Image 2 of 20 Image 2 of 20 The diesel engine is noisier than the petrol, but it's still not particularly rattly for an engine of this type. And again, there's so much torque low down that you can happily shift up a gear at 2,500rpm, well before any harshness kicks in. 3.5 The C3 Aircross is built on some of the PSA Group’s oldest and most trusted current components. Indeed, its PF1 platform can be traced back to the days of the Peugeot 206. In addition, much of its engine line-up has already seen service in several other Citroens and Peugeots, including the C4 Cactus, one of our favourite small SUVs. With that in mind, the C3 Aircross should offer reasonable potential reliability, although it’s worth remembering that while the C4 Cactus did make it into our top 100 cars in the most recent Driver Power rankings, it only sneaked into the list, at 91st overall. Citroen’s Driver Power ranking is a worry, though; the company finished 26th overall - next to last - in the most recent set of figures, with just under 13 percent of owners saying that they’d had a problem with their vehicle. They also criticised the quality of interior materials, and the connectivity and electrics. Warranty Citroen UK offers a standard warranty with the C3 Aircross - two years of unlimited-mileage manufacturer warranty, and a no-cost option of a third year of cover from the dealership. This final 12 months has an overall limit of 60,000 miles, however. This level of protection is just about par for the course across the industry, but some of the C3 Aircross’s rivals do offer more - notably the likes of the Hyundai Kona and the Kia Stonic, which come with warranties lasting five and seven years respectively. Image 15 of 20 Image 15 of 20 Servicing Citroen hasn’t announced servicing prices for the C3 Aircross yet. However, we expect the car to be covered under the company’s fixed-price servicing policy, under which three years of cover can be paid for up front or for a small monthly outlay. There certainly shouldn’t be scope for Citroen to charge much more for servicing a C3 Aircross than it does a C3, given how many of the cars’ components and engines and shared. 4.3 Small SUVs generally have a whiff of 'emperor's new clothes' about them, because they're usually more expensive than their supermini relatives without actually offering any more space. The C3 Aircross manages to buck this trend. Its wheelbase is longer than a regular C3's, by around 60mm, and this translates into a rear cabin that could actually cope with a couple of adults for a reasonably long journey. They're unlikely to complain much even if their knees to graze the front seat backs, too, because they're soft and squishy enough to be forgiving. Headroom could be more of an issue, especially if the C3 Aircross in question has the panoramic sunroof fitted. It makes height more of an issue for any rear passengers over six feet tall. Up front, meanwhile, there are wider, softer seats than you'd commonly find in the class, and they're supportive enough to not give you backache on a long journey. Headroom is less of an issue for the front occupants too, even with that sunroof - and there's no denying its appeal, because it bathes the cabin in light and prevents it from becoming gloomy. The boot is a useful 410 litres with the rear seats pushed back, and you can slide them individually to increase this capacity to up to 520 litres, or fold them down completely to open it up to 1,289 litres. The floor is flexible too, allowing you to prioritise either a flat load bay or overall capacity. There’s also a neat vertical slot at foremost edge of the boot, for you to tuck the parcel shelf away and accommodate taller loads. Size The C3 Aircross is 4,155mm long, 1,765mm wide and 1,637mm tall. That makes it around 16cm longer than the C3, and taller by a similar amount. It’s also a little longer and taller than a Renault Captur, and the SEAT Arona - although the Spanish offering is a few millimetres wider. Leg room, head room & passenger space Think of the C3 Aircross as a halfway house between a supermini cabin and a family hatchback and you won’t be far away from the packaging on offer here. There’s plenty of room for two adults up front, and two fully grown adults should be able to sit behind them in relative comfort (soft, squidgy front seat backs help with this, by allowing rear-seat occupants to press their knees forwards). Image 16 of 20 Image 16 of 20 Headroom is a little more of an issue - especially if you choose the panoramic sunroof. It does make the cabin much brighter and more airy, but it cuts away a few centimetres of headroom; this is especially true in the rear cabin, where six-footers will feel the top of their heads rubbing on the lining. Can the C3 Aircross operate as a five-seater? The answer is yes, but despite the lack of a big transmission tunnel in the middle of the floor, it’s probably best if the thinnest of the group sits in the centre rear seat. And three adults are likely to find their shoulder space a bit restricted, especially during a longer journey. In this respect at least, the Aircross can’t quite shake off its supermini origins. Boot Small SUVs don’t have a great reputation for delivering any more practicality than their supermini cousins, but the C3 Aircross bucks the trend by offering a genuinely useful boot. Its capacity is 410 litres with the rear seats in place, and you can slide them forwards (either as one, or using the 60:40 split) if you want to increase this to up to 520 litres. With the seats folded, there’s 1,289 litres on offer - not exactly a rival for an estate car, but usefully capacious. You can also move the boot floor to prioritise either capacity or a flat load area with minimal lip - and if you need to remove the parcel shelf, it’s worth noting that there’s a space for it just under the front end of the boot floor. Image 14 of 20 Image 14 of 20 4.3 Citroen is pitching the C3 Aircross a larger, more upmarket vehicle than the C3 supermini; indeed, to some extent it's a de facto replacement for the C3 Picasso small MPV. As such, list prices are a bit higher than they are for the regular C3, although the starting figure for the most basic Touch edition of the Aircross (available only with the most modest petrol engine) is still low compared with many of the car's rivals. Citroen has a history of offering plenty of dealer incentives and discounts, and this is likely to continue on the Aircross, which should have some of the more appealing monthly finance rates on the market. This is, in some respects, a safer way into an Aircross than outright purchase, because it insulates you from depreciation - a factor that has not been particularly kind to Citroens in years gone by. The most frugal C3 Aircross on paper is the lesser of its diesels, which gets a five-speed gearbox and returns official combined fuel economy of 70.6mpg and CO2 emissions of just 104g/km. In the real world, though, we wonder if the more powerful diesel - which is only just behind it on official figures, at 68.8mpg and 107g/km, won't be that bit more comfortable with life and a teeny bit more economical as a result. Image 13 of 20 Image 13 of 20 The petrols can't match the diesels' official figures, of course, but the PureTech three-cylinder engine is one of the more efficient offerings in this area of the market, and its numbers are no disgrace in a car of this size. The mid-spec petrol in Feel trim (our preferred choice from the range) manages official combined economy of 56.5mpg and CO2 emissions of 115g/km. As you'd expect, the automatic variant with the same motor takes a bit of a hit, with economy falling to 50.4mpg and CO2 emissions rising to 126g/km. On the whole, though, the C3 Aircross looks one of the more efficient offerings in the class. To give the 110 PureTech some context, a similarly powered Nissan Juke with a six-speed manual gearbox emits 128g/km of CO2; Renault's slightly more powerful Captur TCe 120 manages 125g/km. Insurance groups Citroen has yet to confirm insurance groups for the C3 Aircross. We'd expect it to nudge higher than the likes of the C3, though, to reflect its higher price tag and position further up Citroen's range. Depreciation It's too early yet to get accurate depreciation data on the C3 Aircross, but it's worth pointing out that Citroen's tactic of dealer incentives and discounts has generally resulted in quite weak residual values. There's already little sign that the French brand is going to shy away from finance and deposit contribution deals here either - but then, the same can be said for many of the Aircross's likely rivals. Image 18 of 20 Image 18 of 20 One model to avoid, meanwhile, is likely to be the Touch. It's the entry-level edition and is available only with the weakest petrol engine. While its standard specification isn't too bad, this version is expected to account for only a tiny fraction of sales - and it's unlikely to prove any more popular once it filters through to the second-hand market.

http://www.autoexpress.co.uk/citroen/c3-aircross/101283/suv

#In-depth reviews

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privateplates4u · 5 years

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Citroen C3 Aircross review

http://www.autoexpress.co.uk/citroen/c3-aircross/101283/suv

#In-depth reviews

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aawestautomotive · 3 days

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Tyre Mysteries: 5 Things Your Tyres Wished You Knew

Have you ever wondered about the secrets your car tyres are keeping? From our experience with car tyres in Box Hill, we'll uncover five things in this article that your tyres wish you knew. From tips on maintenance to understanding their importance, buckle up for a journey into the world of tyres that will leave you more informed and ready to hit the road confidently.

5 Things Your Tyres Wished You Knew

The Importance of Proper Inflation

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Tread Depth Matters

Ever noticed those grooves on your tyres? That's the tread, and it's not just for looks. Adequate tread depth is crucial for maintaining a grip on wet or slippery roads. As your car tyres wear out, their ability to channel water away decreases, increasing the risk of hydroplaning.

Hydroplaning is a phenomenon that occurs when a layer of water builds up between the tyres of a vehicle and the road surface, causing the tyres to lose contact with the road. This can lead to a loss of traction and control, making it difficult for the driver to steer or brake effectively.

Essentially, hydroplaning occurs when the tyres are unable to disperse water quickly enough, causing them to ride on top of the water rather than gripping the road. Keep an eye on your tread depth and consider replacing tyres when they reach the recommended minimum.

Rotation Is Key

Tyres don't wear evenly. Front tyres typically wear faster than rear tyres due to steering and braking forces. Regularly rotating your car tyres helps distribute wear evenly, prolonging tyre life and ensuring balanced performance. It is a simple maintenance task that pays off in the long run.

Alignment Affects Wear

Ever noticed your car pulling to one side or experiencing uneven tyre wear? It could be a sign of misalignment. Proper wheel alignment ensures that your car tyres wear evenly and maintain optimal contact with the road. Schedule regular alignments to prevent premature wear and improve handling.

Quality Matters

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solia-dreams · 7 years

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X-Files fanfic: unused material for chapter 37 of ‘This Is How The World Ends’

Author’s note: Wrote 4,000 words of the next chapter before I realised it was going nowhere. I’m cutting all this - some exceptions, perhaps, but most is going in the trash - and thought “I know some people who might appreciate access to it, even if it’s not going in the actual fic” and so here it is :)

Harsh orange sunset illuminated the drawn faces of the Johannsson children as the car dropped its speed coming into town. Mulder rolled his shoulders uncomfortably and blinked his eyes hard, glancing quickly up at the mirror again to give his vision a break from the relentlessly dull street view. They weren’t his children, but seeing them safe and alive and together brought him a sense of comfort all the same, and he was sure the man in the passenger seat felt that on an even grander scale. Erik Johannsson had lost his wife in senseless and sudden tragedy, and had been thrust into both single parenthood and homeless fugitivity within a day.

“This is it,” Mulder said softly, disturbing his companion from his doze. Erik startled himself awake and sat forward, scrubbing his face and staring through the windscreen at the burnt-bright surroundings. “Welcome to your new home.”

Modest and unexciting, a newish and characterless neighbourhood of a characterless town in eastern Idaho, with identical boxy houses lining the wide straight streets. Mulder would never have chosen this place to settle down, and he doubted the Johannssons would have, given a better option. No single house stood out as architecturally unique; no charming front garden invited an admiring wandering eye. A far cry from the lovely family neighbourhood in Leominster with the tyre swing and the big trees lining the sidewalk, this area had been planned off only two or three blueprints, and every house was just a copy, with blank front yards and empty porches. No stamp of individuality identified one family’s house from another.

Anyone could blend in here – the new Collins family would go easily unnoticed.

Erik Johannsson didn’t share Mulder’s lacklustre disinterest in the neighbourhood. His crinkled, tired eyes lit up and he turned in his seat to shake his son and daughters awake, delighted. The kids were as sick of sitting in the car as the men were of driving it by this point, and had long surpassed the limit of their preteen patience, but even through their sleepy ill-temperedness, they joined their dad in his enthusiasm as he pointed new landmarks out to them, and they pressed their noses to their windows. Their chatter and noise helped Mulder focus on this last ten minutes of driving.

A couple of weeks ago he’d checked out the warehouse address left under a Volkswagen windscreen wiper and found this family hiding, hungry and afraid, unseen by anyone bar their one contact, ‘Sally’, since before Christmas. Rebecca Rose Johannsson’s husband and children, unaware of much of their circumstances except that their mother was murdered and they were next if they were found. The kids hadn’t been to school all year; Erik hadn’t been to work or attended the fake funeral undoubtedly arranged for his wife. Mulder felt deeply empathetic for the family. Not only had he experienced life in hiding from essentially the same people (new names, new faces, maybe, but ultimately, the same cruel agenda) first alone for a year, and then for many years with Scully, but he had also seen firsthand what had happened to drive them into their reclusion. He had unzippered the body bag containing Rebecca Rose. He had watched Scully cut into her chest and perform her autopsy. Her death had been Mulder’s door into this conspiracy. For the Johannssons, her death had been a thrust through the door and out into the unexpected wilderness with no supplies and no map.

“Is that the school?” the younger daughter, Lily, asked, pointing. Her siblings watched the building pass them by. “Is that where we’ll go?”

“Looks like that’s the elementary school,” Erik agreed, squinting to read the signs in the overbright afternoon light. He reached down to his feet where his only bag, scuffed and dirty after so many months, lay between his feet, and retrieved the thick envelope of paperwork Mulder had arranged for him. He leafed through the false birth certificates, the renamed dental records, the freshly opened bank account and made-up school reports. He found the list from Benny of facilities local to their new home. The schools. The hospital. The dentist so poor Zach could have his aching braces adjusted, finally. “That’ll be your school, Lil.”

It felt good to be facilitating this family’s renewal, to see their relieved excitement over things that mattered so little to normal, unafraid families, especially after so many weeks as ‘Steve’, Mikhail Levin’s steadily improving car washer and errand boy. Life with the Russians was insightful and crushing at the same time – the more he knew about what this conspiracy was really about, the more he wanted to run from it, back to DC to gather up the only people who mattered to him now and off to the hills somewhere. In unzippering Rebecca Johannsson, in drawing in Scully, in meeting Henry Gray and now in assisting Levin’s international agenda, Mulder had put his foot in something he wasn’t sure he would be able to pull out of, even if he tried. It was big. It was cosmic. What he’d long feared, and worse, because no one else could see it.

He understood now why Sixty-Four, or Sally, or whoever she was, had warned him about the Hosts, that they’d taken note of his interferences, however minor, and had discussed how to rid themselves of him. They had a secret to hide, a secret so huge it should come as no surprise that their plan did not exclude the option of killing Scully if it meant discrediting and discouraging him. They’d murdered Rebecca, hadn’t they, to shove Dr Gray back into line when he overstepped his role, and had threatened to come after her family next. The Worldwide Family of Hosts and their partners knew no boundaries, and would suffer no consequences.

“This is your street,” Mulder advised brightly, turning across the road through a gap in the lethargic afternoon traffic and into a long, straight side street. The town was the victim of uncreative and meticulous town planning, everything laid out in dull grids. He squinted out at the mailboxes. “Number twenty-seven.”

He would have loved for it to be number sixty-four, thinking that would have been perfect considering the lengths the pledge had gone to in her attempts to protect the family. She had risked her life to smuggle them out of their house at Christmas, and had been sneaking them supplies for months, keeping them alive long enough for her tenuous connection with the Russians to secure so she could ask the favour she needed: a home, unquestioned and unsuspicious, for her tragic charges. Mulder gathered she didn’t get much contact with people outside the Family, and the communication she’d had with Daniil Lenkov before Levin had sent him home had been apparently hard-won and shaky. Mulder, taking Lenkov’s place as the contact point between Gray’s Sixty-Four and Russia’s Levin, had been more forthright. “Dr Gray needs a safe house for someone significant to the case. It’s not negotiable.”

Levin’s wide network of outwardly average model citizens included a few small-time property investors, and so it was that Glenn Collins had taken over the lease at number twenty-seven. A furniture truck full of second-hand furniture had arrived earlier in the week and unpacked into the house, and Mulder, fresh back from a visit to Boston, had serviced his crappy but reliable old car and picked the family up for a road trip. Levin hadn’t questioned the request from his inside man; Gray was an irreplaceable, unrivalled resource, and though the ask was obscure, it was not unreasonable given his willingness with privileged information at the risk of his own position and life.

At the house, the turn of the key and the resultant quietening of the engine sounded like the car’s mechanical equivalent to a sigh of relief, after three days of near-continuous driving, Erik and Mulder taking it in turns to cross the country with three bickering, miserable, cramped kids in the back. Now those children tumbled out, crumbs scattering to their new driveway, which otherwise matched the driveway of every other house in the street, but to this family, it might have been built of yellow bricks. They ran up it to their new front door, and Erik turned his new key and they rushed inside. Mulder followed, taking his time, glad for the feeling of ground beneath his shoe instead of pedal, and of muscular contractions typical of movement as he walked around and stretched. Never. Driving. Again. He liked driving but right now he’d be happy to walk for the rest of his life if it meant never having to sit back in that seat. At the very least, he would be taking Erik up on his offer of a night’s sleep on the house’s couch. Erik was the kind of guy you’d call lovely – you wouldn’t hesitate and wonder if he’d be offended by that, you’d just say it, because that was just the truth – and he’d actually tried to insist Mulder should stay the week out, sleep in the master bedroom, claiming he’d be fine with his new couch and it was the least he could offer Mulder in exchange for all he’d done. It was quite an effort to convince Erik it wasn’t necessary, and even more of an effort to make him believe he actually preferred sofas over beds. Besides, he’d ended up reminding him, they had no idea of the condition of the furniture Levin’s friend had arranged. The beds could be riddled with fleas, and then all five of them could be fighting for the couch.

Mulder collected his backpack from the car and went inside. The furnishings turned out to be perfectly adequate, if mismatched, and boxes of likewise uncoordinated basic household items – cutlery, picture frames, toys, DVD player – were stacked in the middle of rooms with no apparent system. When Mulder walked in, Lily was delightedly waving about the frying pan she’d found in the box in the bathroom on her zippy tour of her new home, shouting, “We can have pancakes again!” He couldn’t help his tired smile as he stepped aside to let the girl whizz past on her way to her dad, but the smile hurt. Erik caught her and picked her up, like dads do. Like other dads get to, anyway.

Family is comfort, and this was a comfort Mulder hadn’t felt in a lifetime.

“We’re never going to be able to thank you enough for this,” Erik told him, honesty and graciousness making his voice solid and whole. “You’ve saved us. Thank you.”

“I hardly did anything,” Mulder insisted again. “You’ve got people in high places who care a lot about you and your children, and I’m only carrying out what they arrange. The house, the accounts, the papers, the furniture…”

“But you put it into motion, and you’re the one who gave up three days to drive us here,” Erik Johannsson said sincerely, as his older daughter Laura came back from the hallway and squeezed past Mulder to get outside to the car, citing going back for her bag. “We would never have made it on our own. It would have taken me all week driving, and I would have gotten us caught for sure. I know you kept us under the radar with all those funny country roads and backwater roadhouses, and I know what a risk this was to your safety, too. I hope Sally and her boss are paying you well.” Erik paused, shifting his little daughter to his other hip. “You haven’t heard back about that email from Sally, have you?”

“No, I don’t expect to,” Mulder answered, but heard a faint tone at his back as though getting a message even now. Swinging his backpack off his shoulder, he brought it around to his front, digging through it for his current phone. Sixty-Four’s unexpected contact with Erik halfway through their drive had prompted a flurry of activity – Erik worriedly reading aloud her instructions to pass the attachment to Mulder and to delete any hint of it, and to definitely not download it or open it with the internet turned on in case it was being traced, and for Mulder to get it to the Bureau where something could be done about it, for the benefit of Rebecca’s case. So that was what they did. Mulder was burning to know what he’d had, but he knew the discouragement from opening the attached file was a good idea, and so forwarded it to Gerard with the same instructions, except to make sure it got to AD Walter Skinner, without question and untraceably.

There was no telling whether it had.

The tone was still chiming, a ringtone rather than a message notification, and Mulder had his phone in his hand. It wasn’t ringing, and its screen was blank. He looked around, tired brain not computing, but the sound was definitely coming from inside the backpack. No. A stupid possibility occurred to him, and he dug in again, frantic and disbelieving. Under the map at the bottom was another phone.

It was vibrating with each ring. Alive.

He grabbed it and wrenched it out, letting other artefacts rip free as well, falling out onto the floor while he stared at the old phone he charged up once a week and never turned off and never used.

It had never rung before. Now it was ringing.

“Excuse me, I have to take this,” he muttered vaguely to Erik, recognising the number as the only number that had this number programmed into it. His thoughts felt slow. Why? Why would she call now, after all this time? His stomach filled with lead at the potential reasons. He almost didn’t want to answer.

But he’d promised.

He forgot to swallow his fears before speaking. “Scully?”

“Mulder,” replied the low voice not hers, and a face came to mind from four years in the past before the confirmation came in words, “it’s Assistant Director Skinner.”

A beat, a million thoughts. This was her phone. Skinner was an ally but why would she give him her phone to make a call? She didn’t want to speak to him and would only call in a dire emergency – of that, he was quite sure, since she hadn’t found cause to use this number in more than three years – and if she were able, wouldn’t she surely make the call herself? His brain immediately overloaded with improbable and horrific scenarios.

“Where’s Scully?” Mulder demanded, pulse accelerating in fear. “Why do you have her phone?”

“How quickly can you be in Wyoming?”

Oh god, she had been in an accident, hadn’t she, an accident in lame-ass Wyoming of all places, and Skinner wanted to tell him face-to-face. Or they’d gotten to her, taken her again, and Skinner had only just found her, dragged out to fucking nowhere and dumped, and he needed Mulder to identify the body. But he should be able to do that himself. Unless she was totally mangled. Maybe there were only birthmarks from under her clothes with which to identify her, marks only Mulder or maybe her mother would know about.

Or maybe he was overreacting and postulating ridiculous paranoid thoughts. He tried to push them down, get control of them. Maybe she wasn’t in Wyoming at all, but after those thoughts, wherever she was, that was where Mulder planned to be next.

“Depends,” he said flatly. “Where is she?”

“She’s here,” Skinner replied, words which should have been assuring except that his voice was hurried and low, like someone with a secret. “I’m with her now at what passes for a hospital outside of Thayne.”

“Thayne?” The thud of his heart smashed his attempt at reason, and a whole new flurry of disjointed, highly specific visions swept through him, in which Scully was no longer dead but gravely injured, or maybe dead, or maybe sick. Her cancer was back, and she was being treated in Wyoming where no one would know she’d been weakened. A case had naturally led her to Thayne, and in investigating an alleyway a delusional runaway had jumped out and slashed at her with a broken bottle. She was lured there by an agent of the Family of Hosts posing as a contact, or worse as Mulder, and had come under fire and taken a bullet, and was lying in a hospital bed awaiting brain scans to tell her doctors if she was still viable. Shit – calm down. Skinner. He knew, he could clarify, he could explain. “What happened?!”

Erik Johannsson lowered his daughter, expression appropriately concerned for Mulder’s reaction, but Skinner on the phone was far from sympathetic to Mulder’s spiralling overdrive of panicked thoughts. “Nothing happened. She’s fine.” She’s fine, she’s fine. The spiral slowed, and Mulder turned away from Erik to keep his relief to himself, pacing unhurriedly toward the door. Skinner elaborated. “We’re investigating a case and she’s in the restroom, alright? She doesn’t know I’m making this call.”

Mulder froze. She didn’t know Skinner was calling. Because she wouldn’t have made the call. Because she didn’t want to talk to him. A rude reminder, because in the golden relief that she was alive and fine, he’d forgotten that she was still not talking to him and they were still uncomfortably on the rocks. She wasn’t his to worry about. She wasn’t his to fly to. Not that it would have stopped him if she were in danger, but for anything less…

“Then why are you?” He heard the temperature of his own voice and knew it was childishly chilled, the same tone he used with Scully when she hurt his feelings or made him jealous. He was overwhelmingly grateful to know she wasn’t sick or hurt or dying, no hospital gown and thin pale sheets and whirring machines plugged into her ailing body like the nightmarish instances of their past, but the sudden fear of that and then the assurance it wasn’t a fact had thrown his emotions about and left him vulnerable.

“We’re about to go into an interview,” Skinner answered, now almost whispering, eliciting a curiosity in Mulder. Tempting him on multiple fronts, testing his resolve. “Agent Scully is not going to handle it well. She’s already shaken. I think you should be here for her.”

Mulder kept his feet firmly planted where he stood in the Johannsson family’s new foyer, but it took effort. Whose side was Skinner on? Stupid question. Hers, always hers. “I’m sure she appreciates your concern, but trust me, I’m the last person she wants to see.”

“Trust me. You should be here.”

With an irritated sigh, Mulder stepped back outside into the greying orange of the freshly set evening. Skinner still didn’t get it. He knew they were divided, didn’t he? Hadn’t Mulder told him, four years ago when they’d last spoken, to expect this? Weren’t Skinner and Scully close enough that he would have to know where she stood with her former partner, even if she probably didn’t really talk about it? Or at the very least, was Skinner not insightful enough to note that they were very deliberately not seen together, which should insinuate – if he wasn’t personally up-to-date with their relationship status – that they were avoiding each other for a reason?

“She doesn’t want to see me,” Mulder insisted, leaving no room for further argument, an early breeze sweeping past him. He watched as Laura Johannsson finished tossing all her siblings’ things from his backseat onto the driveway, and went to close the door for her. “Our last conversation was… strained.”

Laura had grabbed her own backpack but now turned to the scattered mess she’d created on the ground in the name of organising her brother and sister and respectfully clearing most the mess they’d made in Mulder’s car. Responsible, thoughtful beyond her years: the typical nuclear firstborn only to the highest power, because she’d suddenly become mom as well when hers had been taken away. She slung the coats over her shoulders and gathered all the activity books and pens and toys, while Mulder knelt beside her to pick up the handfuls of food packets and bottles and drink straws the children had burned through. He tucked the phone between his ear and shoulder to free his hands, though really, he should just hang up. He had nothing to say to Skinner, and nothing to offer Scully right now. Sixty-Four had been quite clear – their mission and her life could be in danger if she was further associated with him, and an emotional interview was not worth that risk.

“If she’s upset by the case, there’s nothing I can do to help,” he said finally, preparing to end the conversation and go back to Erik’s family, some people he actually could help. “Having me around will only make it worse.”

That should have been the end of it, but Skinner hadn’t forgotten the days of being his boss, and still had the authoritative voice to prove it. “Mulder, listen to me. This is bigger than you two giving each other the silent treatment.”

Mulder turned his eyes skyward, exasperated. The man was insufferable. One of his most trusted friends, yes, but insufferably impatient and blunt. Of course Skinner would reduce Mulder’s current complicated arrangement with Scully as simply reciprocal spite, and be tactless enough to actually say it.

Regardless of whether it was true, it wasn’t meant to be said, especially between two friends who hadn’t spoken in near on half a decade.

“Whatever you’re doing, drop it,” Skinner continued, his voice an impatient growl, and Mulder eyed his armful of garbage ironically, following Laura back to the new house. “Whatever it takes you, just get here. I don’t want to tell you why on the phone. I don’t want anyone to overhear.”

The email. How could he have forgotten? It had reached them after all, and it was as big as Sixty-Four had implied. When the message tone went off on the phone Sixty-Four had smuggled to Erik halfway through their epic cross-country road trip, the topic of Rebecca had inevitably come up between the men, and he and Erik had discussed Mulder’s connection to the topic and Erik’s extra information on the topic at disjointed length, whenever his kids weren’t eavesdropping in the cramped quarters. “Something about the case?” he asked, shouldering through the front door after the teenager’s loose ponytail.

“Yes, but not specifically,” Skinner confirmed cryptically, meaningfully, wilfully, sounding even more paranoid than he had when they last met. He’d said he was in a hospital, hadn’t he? So who did he think was going to be listening in on their conversation? What exactly had Sixty-Four let his friends in on, and why was Skinner so intent on involving Mulder? “And not something, someone. Someone I think you would very much like to meet, even if you still won’t admit your connection to him or his mother.”

The implication was sickeningly clear, and Mulder dropped everything except the phone. The Johannssons in the main area of the house all jumped at the sound of empty Coke bottles hitting the floor, and they looked over in concern. Laura Johannsson stopped where she was and turned to see if he was alright. She had the eyes he’d seen sightless and cloudy in Berkshire County Morgue in December, her mother’s daughter. The same eyes again, reincarnated in the offspring.

Like William. His son, with Scully’s eyes. Their perfect child, who’d settled so warmly and perfectly into the crook of his arm the first time she passed the tiny bundle over to him to hold, and looked up at him with her eyes, bright and round. Love and hope and faith and magic all rolled into one flawless being. But…

But his son was gone, lost to the big wide world, and those eyes were just another pair in a crowd of strangers, unrecognisable unless taken aside and viewed in isolation. Skinner had to be wrong. Or Mulder’s interpretation had to be wrong. Someone you would like to meet. It could be anyone. Even if you won’t admit your connection to him or his mother. There were plenty of people Mulder pretended not to know, for their own sakes or his – undercover and covert informants, sympathisers, whistle-blowers. Maybe some had mothers. There was no way Skinner was referring to William, no way he was about to interview William. William wasn’t in goddamn Wyoming, one state away from where Mulder’s own feet were currently touching the same planet. It was a ridiculous fantasy to entertain. But the words kept playing in his head, and he heard them a thousand times on fast-forward before he managed to speak, hope seizing his heart and hurting inside his chest, and he knew what he’d heard when he managed to utter only, “Walter…”

“You need to be here,” Skinner reiterated forcefully, voice low and close. “I think we found him.”

The line died, and Mulder took his phone from his ear to stare at it. Overwhelmed. Scully’s phone had called. William. Not her voice. He knelt to gather the rubbish back up, stunned into rude ignorance as the Johannssons asked if he was alright and Laura returned to help him. William. Skinner, still an ally after all this time, a surprise voice out of the past calling on Scully’s phone. And Scully was unhurt. Alive. My son is alive. Skinner and Scully working together in Wyoming. I think we found him.

It was insane to believe it. How many other people could it be?? The odds were certainly not favourable that this find of Skinner’s was Mulder’s lost treasure.

But Scully believed it. Skinner said she was shaken. Not going to handle this well. She believed it, and she didn’t believe in anything.

“I’m sorry,” he said suddenly, interrupting Erik’s second tap on the shoulder and worried inquiry. “Yes, I’m fine. Thank you. I’ve…” He looked up and tried to focus his eyes and attention on his constant companion of two and a half days. Kind eyes. Lines from laughing. A dad, a good dad, with beautiful kids. Mulder looked at their faces. They all looked alike, in different ways – a family. What did his family look like? He hadn’t seen it together in almost fifteen years. But now… it was in Wyoming. “I’ve got to go.”

#x-files #fanfic #this is how the world ends

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buckner-in-australia · 7 years

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Day 20: June 15, 2017

Here we go with another bittersweet day. Today we are leaving the rainforest :( Even though everything was super damp, the rainforest definitely grew on me and almost made me want to stay there forever.

Like every morning every two days, we packed up all our belongings and boarded the buses to our next destination. I still can’t get over how much sugar cane there was. Acres upon acres spanning down the twists and turns of the highway. Since Paul was on our bus, we dropped him off in his neighborhood. Though we didn’t get much time with him, we really enjoyed his company. He also spread some words of wisdom to our group:

“You all are the single handedly most influential generation that has ever existed. Your impact as college educated Americans will affect the whole world in ways we haven't seen or witnessed before. You can pull the world out of the mess we're in but it is up to each and every one of you” -Paul

To say the least, his words were very enriching.

On our drive the only placed we stopped was at Rex Lookout. Once again, it was an absolute beautiful view and we water was an mesmerizing sea-foam green. I could stare at that water for days.

Sooner or later we made it to Cairns and our accommodation, the Cairns Queenslander. Now this location wasn’t the Four Seasons but it was better than the last. I was just grateful for the absence of humidity, a hot shower, and a normal toilet.

During the first days of our stay in Melbourne, Ash and I scheduled to do the Minjin Swing and guess what today’s the day and it’s scheduled for 3:00! We ended up getting settled into our room at about 12:30 and then we were starving. After trying to find a place to eat we decided to take a taxi closer to the facility and eat on that side. I ended up having calamari at this sit-down resaurant & it was delicious and was only $9! You can’t beat that! We were told that we would be able to get a taxi to the facility from the restaurant but little did we know what was in store.

Since our driver told us that the shifts changed everyday at 3, we though that calling our taxi at 1: would give us plenty of time. Boy were we wrong! We requested a taxi 5 separate times! It got so bad and we were so anxious that we even decided to separate. There was a Woolworths around the corner so Cody decided to go up there to wait for taxi and if he got one he would bring it back and if we got one we would go get him. After running back and forth, calling more taxis and the company (need I remind you none of us have a phone plan or service) we finally snagged a taxi 50 minutes later lol. We were all out of breath.

As we neared the facility, we were super pumped! When we got dropped off, low and behold, there was another steep hill in order for us to get up there. Best believe we got up there. As we entered we were greeted by staff who called us out by name to sign in. This time I made sure to read the terms and conditions because there was no way I would be hanging upside down anymore! After this process was completed, we were weighed to make sure that we didn’t go over the maximum weight. If we were 1 kilo heavier, the three of us wouldn’t have been able to swing together lol.

After Tristen went it was time for our turn. We wake dup another hill to receive our harnesses, helmet, and GoPro. All I could think was that this was going to be like the Superman at Six Flags. Boy was there a difference! I tried to convince myself that it wasn’t that high but you better believe it was! And what made it worse, as we were hoisted up we saw a huge python coiled up!! And what also made it worse, we thought that we would be the height of the trees…No. We were OVER the trees! We were so high that we could see over the canopy to the ocean. Great view but dang we were high!

As we sat the the very top we had to wait for a green light to flash then it would be safe to pull the cord to drop us. I literally had to have a little talk with everyone to pull my thoughts together. We then decided that it would be pulled on 3. Oh my Lawd! When we dropped it was like my soul left my body and then caught up when we swung over the building! It was insane! They had a deal that if you booked the swing it would only be 35 to go again. Ash and I loved it so much that we did it once more and the adrenaline rush was still A1.

After our wonderful time we headed back to the Queenslander and got ready to go to dinner. Once we finished our food we decided to just walk around to see what the city of Cairns offered. I really wish that we would’ve had more time there because the area was very cute and stylish with so many shops and restaurants. While walking around Ash got snagged into a travel shop that I thought was sketchy from the very beginning. Before we knew it we were heading with a group of 40 people from this travel place to go to a bar named Gilligans for free pizza, drinks, and VIP access. We ended up meeting some cool girls from from England and Wales who decided to travel for a whole year. One of them has been in Australia since March. We also ran into the English girl we adopted for ziplining. I then made friends with 2 black girls from Germany and we met 2 girls from Ohio (Ally and Victoria) that were just finishing up their semester here. Little did we know that tonight was ladies night so there was free champagne and a dancing contest. I did not participate but I sure did have fun! The music was good, the friends we made, and the experience was priceless. Who would’ve thought that strolling into a travel shop would’ve lead to such a great night?

This night, again, was amazing and tomorrow morning we head for Sydney! I can’t wait to see what this city has to offer!

Things I've learned - Sticking your arms out of the window while driving is illegal and you can be fined - I really love calamari - The McDonald's empire is truly an empire. How did they manage to find little places like Cairns? - Cairns has jellyfish not crocodiles - To be protected from the jellyfish, stinger nets are put up. - “Daintree? That's my country. Right over dere (over the mountain). Nice little town whites and blacks living together.” -man that approached Ashley and I while waiting for our taxi. He was more confused about a black and a white person being together than the fact we stuck out like sore thumbs waiting for a taxi - On Thursday's there is late night shopping where the shops are open until 9 pm - Grocery stores close extremely early, at about 5:30 pm - Tire = Tyre - Goonbag = box wine (how they came up with this name perplexes me greatly) - We dropped/swang from 155 ft in the air

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shannrussell-blog1 · 5 years

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Read this before driving off in your 4WD!

Before heading off on your next trip, make sure that your 4WD vehicle is in tip-top shape and is well stocked so that you are safe and prepared for whatever comes your way. Here is the essential guide to making sure your 4WD is ready for adventure to reduce your risk or accidents, breakdowns and more.

Ensuring that your vehicle is in good condition is just about the most important thing you should do before heading away on an adventure whether its heading down to the beach for the weekend or crossing the Simpson Desert. Not only should the vehicle be in good condition, serviced regularly and thoroughly checked before you head away, you should also check the vehicle daily whilst your away to ensure you get to your destination and home again safely.

I know I’ve said it before, but let me start by saying that your vehicle should be checked by a qualified mechanic before your trip. Tell them where you are going and what you are doing to give them a good idea of what the vehicle needs to be prepared to do. If you own a 4wd, take the vehicle to a mechanic that specialises in 4wd servicing and repairs as they will often know that little bit more about what to look for, especially before a big 4wd trip in remote areas.

Below are some basic areas of the vehicle to check before, during and after your trip. Of course these aren’t the only things to look at and some vehicles will have specific areas that need more attention than other but it’s a good place to start!

Check Your Engine Oil

Ensure your vehicle has had regular oil changes and has the correct amount of oil in it. If you’ve never checked the oil before get your mechanic to show you how to check its level, and where/how to fill it.

Make sure you use the correct oil; as the saying goes “Oils aint oils” and you can’t use just any old engine oil. Using a cheap or incorrect type of oil can ruin your engine!

Make sure you take some spare oil with you just in case.

It can be a good idea to clean you engine and engine bay with degreaser top and bottom a few weeks before you go away. A clean engine will make it easier to spot any oil leaks that may need some attention.

Check Your Coolant

Make sure you radiator has the correct amount of coolant and the correct type of coolant in it.

If your vehicle has a history of getting a little warm, perhaps when climbing hills in hot weather or you are constantly topping it up with fluid, you may need to get your cooling system checked before you head away.

A proper engine coolant will work much better than water as it is non corrosive and will have a much higher boiling point and lower freezing point than water.

Water is ok if your desperate but try to keep your vehicle full of coolant.

If you’re heading to the snow you may need to put an anti freeze additive in your radiator.

Check with your mechanic or even at the service stations located near the snow as most of them will have a good idea and even be able to test your radiator to see if it has enough anti freeze properties.

Check Radiator Hoses and Belts

Thoroughly check your radiator hoses for cracks and signs of fatigue.

Ensure the hose clamps are tight and there are no leaks.

Likewise the fan, alternator, a/c and any other belts your vehicle may use should be checked for cracks, fraying at the edges and signs of fatigue.

You may also need to check the tension of the belts.

If the belts are slipping, usually identified by a high pitch squealing coming from the engine especially while it’s cold, they will need to be tightened.

If the belts have stretched to the point they cannot be tightened much further they will need immediate replacement.

Any Hoses or belts that are looking a bit tired should be checked by a mechanic and replaced, especially if you are about to head off on a remote area adventure.

Always carry a spare set of belts and hoses for your vehicle when heading into remote area’s

Check the lights

Make sure all your lights are working correctly and that you have spare globes.

Even your interior light can come in very handy so make sure its working!

Check the Fuses

Whilst you should notice if a fuse is blown by the failure of a particular part of the vehicle, its a good idea to check the fuse boxes to make sure they are clean and free of corrosion.

Applying a silicone spray or water disperser can be a good idea to keep the moisture out of your electrics.

Always carry a large range of fuses specific for your vehicle.

Check the Battery

Your battery should be a clean and in good condition, starting your vehicle each morning easily.

Have your battery tested and checked by a professional before heading away.

A mechanic will also be able to test you alternator to make sure it is working correctly as well.

Check Tyres

Of course you should have a good set of tyres that are the correct tread pattern for the type of driving you will be doing.

Not only should your tyres be in good condition but they need to be set at the right pressure.

Talk to your mechanic about what pressures you will need for the areas you are going and check out Essential Tyre Pressure Tips for 4WDs for some more handy tips.

Tyre pressures may vary depending on where you are going so it’s a good idea to check your tyres daily.

Also check your tyres daily for any punctures that may be embedded in the tyre or any damage the tyres may have sustained, especially from heavy off road use.

Don’t Over-Load

Lastly, do NOT over load your vehicle or exceed your vehicles GVM rating.

Be careful how much weight your roof racks are carrying as your roof will have a weight rating as well.

Over loaded vehicles and trailers that are top heavy can be very dangerous and difficult to control so make sure you pack carefully and spread the load evenly throughout the car.

Keep Tools Handy

Always carry a good set of tools, and spare parts for your vehicle and remember, If you look after your vehicle, it will look after you!

Don’t Speed

Above all keep your speed down on the trip!

You will get better fuel economy by driving under 100km/h and will lessen the risk of damage off road.

You’re on holidays after all so slow down and enjoy yourself!

As I said above, these are not the only things than need to be checked and I cannot recommend highly enough the importance of seeing a qualified mechanic to have your vehicle inspected before your trip. Don’t be afraid to talk to your mechanic about what things to look for and check whilst your away and ask about anything that may be specific to your vehicle.

If you have any further mechanical advice to offer when checking your vehicles, we would love to hear from you so feel free to make a comment below!

The post Read this before driving off in your 4WD! appeared first on Snowys Blog.

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brothersjacksonvideos · 6 years

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3 True Scary UK Horror Stories

Watch the Video Here: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ewj3yG2yJWo&t=442s I’m a 21 year old male, living in a rented 1 bedroom house just outside of York in the United Kingdom. I moved in after my uncle who had pancreatic cancer and was particularly close to me passed. Now for the record, he only lived there for 3 months, moving in after being diagnosed and actually passed in the hospital, so what i’m about to tell you, it really chills me to the bone.

I had just moved in and was pretty emotional about my uncle's death. Growing up without a father, he was like mine. It was 3 days after his funeral and I was pretty beaten up. I needed a place but, at the time, it was quite depressing. So I was sat in my uncle's old living room and it was a hot summer's day, well, hot for UK standards. I was just listening to music with my shirt off when I got hit with a blast of cold air. I stood up and started towards the direction the air came from. I walked to the hallway and stood at the bottom of the stairs… I heard footsteps from upstairs. Fear overcame me as I realised I was unarmed and had no way to protect myself from this potential intruder. Not wanting the trespasser anymore time and against my better judgement I began walking up the stairs. Now the way the house laid out, the stairs escalated up and then veered off to the left, then on a small and narrow landing area, were my room and a bathroom next door to each other. At the top of the stairs, before they turn left, there’s a bannister that has wooden ‘sticks’ running up and down. I had a towel dangling over this bit and used this to my advantage. I lifted the towel minimally and saw my bedroom door was open, this was off to me as, just out of habit, since a kid, I’ve always closed doors behind me.

I heard rustling in my room and decided this was good confirmation for me to call the police. I felt my short pockets and realised, I’d plugged my phone in to listen to the music on my speakers. ‘Fuck’ I whispered rather loudly at this. I heard rushed whispers from my bedroom and realised my cover was blown. Still weary I began creeping up the stairs as my bedroom door slowly creaked as it was pushed shut. I was not afraid to admit that I was scared. As I stood up close to the door I could hear breath on the other side and see shadows through the slit at the bottom of the door. I reached for the handle and turned it slowly and silently and cautiously…

Before throwing it open lunging myself into the room and screaming like a madman in an attempt to shock the intruder. After a moment of mad screaming I came to my senses and to my horror, the room… it was empty. At this point I was beyond freaked as I looked around my room and realised that absolutely nothing was out of place. I scanned my room, checking in my small wardrobe to find nothing… or no one. I felt as if I was going mad as I heard human whispering and with my own two eyes, I saw the door close.

However, I brushed it off as my uncle’s death playing on my mind but, one thing still freaks me out to this day. As I was walking out of the room I happened to glance at a photograph of a 4 year old me, my mother and my deceased uncle, hanging on the wall. Everything in the room was how I left it that morning. Even the jeans just underneath the picture hadn’t moved an inch from what I remember. But the picture… it was upside down. This hasn’t happened again since and that freaks me out even more. Even though, when I come home from work late at night, I swear that sometimes, I hear someone, or something, quietly whispering from upstairs...

What I’m about to tell you, only happened last year. I’m 32 now and was 31 at the time. I live in Sheffield, UK and was driving home from a friend's’ engagement party in Manchester. The drive is very rural, crossing over Snake Pass, a long, winding road, cutting through the Peak District, one of the largely uninhabited national parks in the UK. It was around 1am and being female and alone I was nervous and apprehensive about the drive. About half of the way over Snake Pass, I felt my car begin to chug and I lost all power. I quickly got out of the vehicle to see what I could see and I noticed that, both of my front tyres were flat. I began to panic and immediately felt scared, I remembered that when I purchased my insurance policy, it included breakdown cover and I had my membership card in the glove box. I paid extra to include tyre replacement and thankfully, 24 hour call out. I leant over to retrieve the membership card and I called for help. They told me that somebody would be with me within the hour. I felt slightly reassured but was also nervous about being here, in the middle of nowhere, in the dark… alone.

It was around 20 minutes later that a recovery truck approached. I was relieved to no longer be alone and was hoping to be on my way home soon. A man approached me and introduce himself as Craig. He took a look at the tyres and told me there was no possibility of a night repair by the roadside, and with no local garages open, he would have to take me to a local hotel. This was a service included in my membership with them, so I never really thought anything of it. Craig told me to get all of my things from the car. He would take me to the B&B before returning to take the car to the local garage, ready for them to repair in the morning. It was around 3am at this point and I just wanted to go to bed, from where I was standing, you could see the approaching road at the side of the hill. I noticed a lone vehicle approaching, which looked like another recovery truck. I pointed this out to Craig and as soon as I did, he told me he’d be back in a moment as he needs to check the B&B has a room available before he was insured to take me there. I was slightly annoyed but, didn’t really think anything of it. I watched Craig drive off.

When the new recovery truck approached, it began to pull over. I assumed it had seen me in distress and just wanted to help. When the driver approached me, I told him I was already dealing with Craig and that he had gone to the B&B to see if the availability of rooms was there, so he was insured to take me. The driver looked very confused and looked at the front tyres, he told me that he could repair them by the roadside and that it was included as part of my membership. I was quite confused at this point, but having dug a bit deeper, it turns out that the second driver was genuine. He had no idea who Craig was and said that there was no other drivers operating within a 100 mile radius. And the worst part was, when he looked at my tyres… he said they’d intentionally been punctured by barbed wire… almost like it must have been on the road to do both.

I don’t like to think what could have happened to me that night and what ‘Craig’ really wanted. But one things for sure, I haven’t drove across Snake Pass, in over 9 months, and I don’t know if I intend to again....

Being a 31 year old female, living in a large village near Oxford in the United Kingdom, isn’t a problem, what is a problem is when my husband goes travelling for up to a month at a time.

We live in a large 3 bedroom detached house with neighbours either side, within shouting distance. We also have a huge, thick willow tree in our garden which looks scary, but I love. In June a couple of years ago, my husband had to leave for 3 weeks to go to Argentina on business. I was upset and knew he was too but, it was part of his job and I reluctantly let him go. On the first night I was already missing him and to try and clear my mind I took a nice, long, hot bath and put my earphones in, dumb idea, I know. I was sat listening to Nirvana, bubbles all around me and candles lighting the room. ahhhhhh , pure bliss. I was relaxing in my little slice of heaven and above the angel voice of Cobain, I swear I could hear quiet thuds. Yes, I love Kurt Cobain. I took my earphones out and could only hear the distorted fuzz of my earphones. Perhaps it was something in the song. I put my earphones back in and lost myself in Kurt’s voice when again, I heard the distinct thuds. This time I rewound the song and listened… No thuds. I was unsettled but not scared and parted ways with Cobain and turned my music off. There was silence, the odd gust of wind that howled through the house, then silence… *thud thud* I jumped and splashed water everywhere, a bit jumpy at my husband’s absence. I sat shivering, goosebumps all over my body, fear and chills. I sat, still as a statue... *thud thud*

Huhhhhh I gasped, WITH THE LIGHTS OUT… I fully wet myself as my music began playing through the earphones at full volume, louder than I had had it before. I wanted to get out of the bath but, I was too scared to move. IT’S LESS DANGEROUS. ‘Shit’ I murmured, music was playing through my earphones again. I held the button in and turned it off, I decided to jump out of the bath, wrap the towel around me and then, I didn’t know… my mind was made when I was sure I heard someone running down the hallway just outside the bathroom. I could even swear I caught sight of a shadow under the door. I shifted very cautiously towards the door deciding I couldn’t just stand there all night and as soon as I reached to grab the brass knob like something from a horror film, 3 of the 6 or 7 candles I had lit just flicked out.

I didn’t even think, I swung open the door and ran to my room, slamming the door shut behind me and leaning against it. Panting, I gathered myself and went to grab my phone. It was in the bathroom and it was off… I panicked, aimlessly looking around the room with no end goal. Confused. Scared. Alone. What was even happening? At one point I thought I was dreaming and exhausted I fell onto my bed relaxed, beginning to feel it was all over. I lay in that state between consciousness and sleep, not sure what was happening. I was brought back to the waking world with a creak from the other side of the hallway. Disorientated I climbed out of bed, put some undergarments on and one of my husbands t-shirts on and headed to the door. The creak sounded like the bathroom and I opened my door a slither. I actually came close to passing out as I noticed the bathroom door was closed. I swore to myself I left it open as I panicked, and was genuinely questioning my own actions… then I stepped onto the hallway *creeeeeeak* I was skittish and jumped at the floorboards creaking. I heard heavy footsteps from downstairs *thud thud thud* I was over the fear slightly. I went to the bathroom and opened the door. All but one of the candles was out. I put 2 and 2 together and I told myself it must have been a draft. Right? I clicked my phone back on and stood in the silence of the bathroom. I was scared, confused, lost and almost in tears. What was happening tonight? I was driving myself mad. My phone loaded and was searching for signal when ‘About A Girl’ started blasting out loud, I dropped the phone and collapsed crying into the room. I’d say around 10 minutes passed and again, I exhausted myself. I stood up and walked to the landing… as I approached I heard very loud thuds, 3 of them, from just round where I could see. Each one making me flinch, the sound, echoing through the house. I opened my eyes to see a shadow race against the moonlight, across the landing, towards me. I screamed extremely loud, ran as fast as I could to my room, closed the door and pushed a stool against it. I collapsed in bed and heard thuds all night until I passed out from exhaustion. I woke the next day, dazed and unsure of what happened the night before. I looked around, cleaning up the mess as I went, trying to ‘debunk’ what had happened. I put it down to dampness on my phone screen causing music to play, drafts making bumps and blowing out candles and the willow branches casting the shadow. The other 2 weeks and 6 days passed without further incident and even now, years later in the same house, nothing like this has ever happened. I was scared that day and until now have always suppressed this and never told anyone. Just beware, creepy stuff can happen to anyone, it’s indiscriminate and no one’s safe, watch out haha. Oh… P.S. I still love Cobain

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clarabelsitati · 6 years

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March 2018 and the office is so boring, being a branch office, most people had the feeling that it was just the branch that was boring since the rest of Kenya seemed to be having fun. The year started rough with incidences here and there, mistakes, meetings and lots of stern conversations. My desk being so swell, I really did not have the time to engage in the ‘fact find mission’ on why the branch was such a boring place to be; however, I was ready to participate in any plans that came up to make the office a more lively and homely place to be at. So yeah a fun committee was formed best believe the Kenyan National government teaches its citizens a lot and let’s just say it was only fair if we borrowed a leaf 🙂 .The committee came up with this amazing plan that was pocket friendly and still within the coast but yet again a couple of days to the trip…7/30 folks only made the commitment. I know I felt like bailing on this considering the fact that a good number of the folks on board were mainly acquaintances but i still gave it a shot and here goes the adventure.

Saturday April 28th 2018

The morning pick started as early as 0400hrs and I was among the last to be collected from the CBD at 0500hrs. The crisp chilly morning had us all quiet in the van and covered in tiny blankets. The driver was left with the company of the gentle whispers from the radio that could hardly be heard from the back of the Safari van. The van…she was a beast with tyres screaming out loud ‘ I am from Michelin and not Pirelli 🙂 , the fresh roar of the engine, smooth switch in gears as we drove off and zero emission from the exhaust was a safety assurance in the wild. Yes, I love cars and had to inspect the basics of this ride. Slowly day light brightened the environment and so did the attempted chill that came with the morning fade off. The coast is hardly ever cold but at this time of the year Kenya gets a bit cold hence the reason why I refer to the chill as attempted. The squad now gets into an upbeat mood and convos get loud, laughs more vibrant as the whispers from the radio now disappear. ‘John what music do you have in this thing? and can we give you a flash disk…’ a common phrase from any Kenyan squad on a road trip and that just means let’s get the party started 😉 The music goes up and the van just warms up in the most magnificent way right before we stopped for breakfast at MacKinnon road. I bet most of you have spotted the curio shop on the road but never really known that they serve scrumptious meals as well. Breakfast was earlier planned so by the time we got there our food was ready in a few minutes. Fried beef, chicken, tea and chapatis heavy as it was we finished it all. Some face beats for the girls a little freshening up by all, a few pictures and off we drove into Taita-Taveta county. Tummies now full the only next thing to be emptied was the cooler box that we had stuffed with liquor earlier. The party was great already and the small office representation now turned into good friends with chuckles and jokes here and there. No ground rules set except for bring all the fun music and jokes to make this trip the best of them all.

We arrived at Voi at around 11am and filled up our cooler box with more supplies from a local store at a petrol station since we were headed into a deep area and generally supplies were cheaper at a station away from the main lodge. The terrain now exceptionally beautiful with the few rains already transforming the environment into a vibrant green. The hills stood majestic at a distance with perfect cloud cover and oh the temperatures were just perfect. The drive was so breathtaking, the country feel was so crunchy and air so crisp I could feel the freshness with every breathe making this one of the best choices I ever made. Travel has never been a wrong choice from my experience anyways. We then got to a dirt road now with the Sarova signage clear every few meters and one or two animals grazing on the tantalizing vegetation cover.

1230HRS and we check in at the Taita Taveta Lodge, this is the central check in point for guests at the Sarova Salt Lick Game Lodge. We were a happy group of people and there were many other groups of tourists from all over the world. The locals were a hand full though just goes to show how we need to tembea Kenya a bit more as locals.

Taita Taveta Lodge is also the place where we had lunch and this being sarova, it was definitely a ten! All filled up and set we headed back into the dirt road and drove in now seeing more animals and the Safari feel in full gear. The views got more natural and we spotted the lodge rooms standing on the stilts from afar and all of us were all so wowed and taken aback by the beautiful architecture of the salt lick lodge from afar. Serenity redefined!

We had a few minutes in our rooms then headed out for an evening safari which started at exactly 1600hrs. Several other travellers with their vans and the drivers coordinated on the walkie-talkies every so often on where to find the animals. The lions, the wild beasts the dikidikis, zebras, heart beasts, and more were all scattered within the vast park. This being a wet season, most animals were away in the deeper sides of the park and it wasn’t so easy to spot as many animals as one would during the dry season. In the dry season, the animals come into the lodge in search of water at the waterholes below the stilts and food. I reckon the name salt lick may have gotten its origin from these iconic manmade waterholes under the stilts at the lodge.

The season did not make the lodge any bad in fact I loved it then since the views were so serene and we still spotted herds of buffaloes, zebras, dikidikis and more grazing until the sunset. We then got back to the lodge just after sunset and the stilts looked so beautiful lit up from a distance as we approached the lodge.

Dinner started from 7pm onward and I must say the service was exceptional with the staff working efficiently and timely; hardly did we have to seek for help with anything since the waiters served us at the right time. After dinner, some guests continued having convos and chill at the lobby and others went down the underground tunnel and bunker that had ground level windows to see the night creatures. This being a wet season, there weren’t so many animals on sight but we still appreciated a few creatures. Guests are now allowed to go to bed at their own time but highly discouraged from getting out of the lobby since there is a risk of bumping into wild animals as the lodge has no electric or man-made perimeter walls.

SUNDAY 29TH April 2018.

The day starts with the guests stepping out for the morning safari with hopes of spotting more animals and in this case the king of the jungle for us since we spotted two lions from very far the previous day. We were lucky to spot a lioness and her two cubs just chilling, we also saw a few more animals then drove back to the hotel for breakfast and check out.

We checked out at around 0011hrs and the drive back was extremely therapeutic. We got to know each other better via exciting games and opened up to each other and till date the trip remains special to the seven of us. The trip brought us together and made us understand each other better us colleagues and in the end strengthen our relationships as individuals. Sarova Salt Lick Game Lodge is highly recommended and stands highly rated in my travel experience.

Have a lovely travel Tuesday!

SAROVA SALTLICK GAME LODGE March 2018 and the office is so boring, being a branch office, most people had the feeling that it was just the branch that was boring since the rest of Kenya seemed to be having fun.

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autoscommunity · 6 years

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The V8 Cygnet has been brought to life for a single customer through the ‘Q by Aston Martin – Commission’ service. This section of the British marque’s bespoke personalisation service allows the ultimate freedom of expression when designing an Aston Martin and the V8 Cygnet continues to push these boundaries.

Aston Martin Vice President & Special Operations Officer, David King said: “The V8 Cygnet shows the fun side of both Aston Martin and its customers. It is also a fine example of the engineering talent within the company as it’s no small achievement to fit the Vantage’s V8 engine so harmoniously into the Cygnet’s compact body. I am sure that it will amaze and thrill people when they see and hear it on the hill at the Festival of Speed.”

Developed in-house by Aston Martin’s engineers, the starting point for the project was a right-hand drive Cygnet steel body shell and panels. A roll cage was welded to this, becoming an integral part of the chassis in the process, while a new front bulkhead and transmission tunnel were fabricated from sheet metal to accommodate the characterful 4.7-litre naturally aspirated V8 Vantage S powertrain. Subframes and suspension are also derived from the previous generation Vantage and a steel fuel tank housing have been mounted in the boot area, utilizing every inch of space.

Despite all this work, the car remains very recognisably a Cygnet from the outside. The face of the little Aston Martin remains largely untouched, with no extra bulges in the bonnet and just a subtle black mesh for the famous grille. However, there is no disguising the extra width of the wheel arches. In order to accommodate the significantly wider front and rear tracks, beautiful carbon composite flared extensions were made. These also house the new forged, five-spoke, diamond-turned wheels, which have grown from 16” to 19” in diameter.

READ MORE: Pirelli Launches Its First Wind Tunnel Tyre Speaker, Created In Collaboration With IXOOST

At the rear of the car, the distinguishing new feature of the V8 Cygnet is the central twin exhaust pipes. The exhaust is a bespoke system with twin underfloor mufflers and catalytic converters. With relatively short distances involved from manifold to tailpipe, the V8 Cygnet has a voice that belies its compact size.

The engine itself is the 4.7-litre, naturally-aspirated V8 that is more usually found beneath the bonnet of the previous-generation Vantage S. Bespoke intake trunking had to be designed and there are twin conical air filters. There is no sense in which the engine has been neutered for the Cygnet, however, with power and torque figures remaining at 430bhp and 490NM (361lb ft) respectively.

The gearbox is also taken from the V8 Vantage S with a seven-speed Sportshift II transmission taking care of the shifting. Power is transferred via a miniature torque tube to the 9.5” rear wheels, which are complemented by 275/35 Bridgestone tyres.

Weighing just 1375kg when full of fluids, the V8 Cygnet has a power-to-weight ratio of 313bhp/tonne. As a result, the V8 Cygnet is capable of accelerating faster than the V8 Vantage S with 0-60mph taking just 4.2 seconds. With a top speed of 170mph, it is over 60mph faster than the regular Cygnet.

Braking is taken care of by 380mm discs clamped by six-piston monoblock calipers at the front and 330mm discs gripped by four-piston monoblock calipers at the rear. The calipers are painted yellow to contrast with the Buckinghamshire green of the bodywork. Most of the remaining parts of the braking system are taken from the V8 Vantage S with ABS and a fixed brake bias valve. Inside, there is a bespoke brake pedal housed in the V8 Vantage-derived pedal box.

READ MORE: Maserati Joins Cash & Rocket Tour 2018

The rest of the interior is largely indicative of the fact that this V8 Cygnet could easily be used for competition. In addition to the roll cage, there is a fully FIA compliant fire extinguisher system and seating is taken care of by composite, fixed back Recaro bucket seats with four-point harnesses. The Alcantara covered steering wheel is removable and behind this sits a bespoke carbon dash with the familiar Vantage instrument cluster. There are, of course, little touches of luxury inside as well, with leather pull straps on the unique carbon door cards and two USB ports alongside the bespoke controls for the air conditioning.

This very special one-off Cygnet is a timely reminder of what a ground-breaking car the original was, bringing luxury to the city car segment. What’s more, the marketplace shows that prices of Cygnets are rising as it looks set to become a future classic. Of course, classic status is already almost assured for this new V8 version of the Cygnet that epitomises the concept of a ‘pocket rocket’ and is sure to be a firm favourite of the crowds at the Goodwood Festival of Speed this weekend as it joins a plethora of other Aston Martins on the Hillclimb.

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Aston Martin V8 Cygnet: The Ultimate City Car The V8 Cygnet has been brought to life for a single customer through the ‘Q by…

#Aston Martin #the Goodwood Festival of Speed #V8 Cygnet

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jeffrey2garner · 6 years

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Half Price Hot Hatch: Suzuki Swift Sport

There are many who will say that a car with a mere 134bhp does not qualify as a hot hatch, and that a 0-62mph time of 8.7 seconds is simply too slow to ever feel exciting. We can’t help thinking a quick go in a Suzuki Swift Sport would begin to change their minds.

For here is a car that takes everything that is brilliant about the hot hatch formula, and then wraps it up in a package that is both affordable and accessible. Think of it as a Japanese take on the Peugeot 205 XS or Ford Fiesta Zetec S and you’re on the right track – a track, indeed, that leads to an awful lot of fun.

In this guide we are concentrating on the generation of Swift Sport sold between 2011 and 2017, initially as a three-door, and then followed later by a five-door. The former cost what is still an unbelievably cheap £13,499 when new, and is now down to around half that price as a used buy with a reasonable 50,000 miles or so on the clock.

For that you get a naturally aspirated petrol engine of 1.6 litres, lowered suspension, quick steering and a sporty bodykit. That the engine produces its maximum power at 7,000rpm tells you a lot about the rev-happy character of this car, a trait it’s easy to make the most of thanks to the snappy and precise six-speed manual gearbox.

Equipment levels are good too. All Swift Sports come with climate control, power folding mirrors, keyless entry, Bluetooth and cruise control. Being so light (the kerb weight is just 1045kg) it’s also refreshingly frugal for a hot hatch, with more than 40mpg on the cards if you drive gently. Road tax meanwhile is £155 per year and it’s even relatively cheap to insure thanks to its group 19 rating.

THE DRIVE Fizzing, enthusiastic and playful without ever being frightening, the Swift Sport is the perfect antidote for anybody who has grown tired of the seemingly endless power war in the hot hatch class. Better still, because it’s only got 134bhp you can enjoy every last ounce of performance without putting your licence at risk, savouring the razor-sharp throttle response as that little engine spins away up front.

As with any great hot hatch it’s not just about the engine, but the handling too, the first impression of which is the beautifully weighted, direct steering that has the car darting into corners with unbridled enthusiasm. Once there you’ll note that the chassis demonstrates not only tenacious grip but also a rare adjustability depending what you do with the throttle and brake pedals so that you can make the car move underneath you, all the while clamped in place by the excellent (if slightly high-mounted) sports seats.

Tightly controlled suspension helps here, but by the same token the Swift Sport never feels overly firm, thanks in part to sitting on relatively modest 17-inch wheels. Imagine a Renaultsport Clio 200 Cup with a third less power and a third less grip but a similar sense of harmony to its controls and you’ll have some idea of what the Swift Sport feels like to drive.

It gets better too, because while this Swift Sport’s predecessor was also hugely entertaining to drive, the lack of a sixth gear made it a buzz box on the motorway. No such problems with this follow-up model, which is a much happier long distance companion, if still no executive cruiser.

CHECK POINTS Before you even think about the usual checks for kerbed wheels (easy to do on the Swift Sport) and a full service history, it is vital to assess whether Suzuki’s pocket rocket is large enough for your needs. For while it might look Ford Fiesta-sized on the outside, the boot is small, to the point where you’ll struggle to fit a weekly shop. Space for a couple of passengers in the rear seats is slightly better, with access helped if you go for the five door.

In the event you come across a notchy or noisy gearbox a change of oil can help, plus be sure to test the handbrake holds the car on a hill, and look for premium brand tyres as a sign that a previous owner has spent some money on the car. As for any major mechanical concerns, this little Suzuki is so far proving to be very reliable, and so as long as you find a car that’s clearly been cared for – including evidence of servicing every 9000 miles – then you’d be unlucky to experience any major headaches.

What might bother you is the interior’s tendency to squeak, creak and rattle as the car gets older, for which you can blame plastics that feel as cheap as they look. Sometimes these noises can be fixed, whereas other times owners just learn to live with them as a quirk of the car.

If you want sat-nav and a DAB radio you’ll need to look for a car registered from 2014 onwards. Using the relevant filter on the CarGurus search panel will do the hard work for you.

For something a little different the rare SZ-R model (pictured) was a special edition for the UK only featuring two-tone Cosmic Black and Ablaze Red paintwork, red stitching for the interior and a numbered plaque on the sill as you open the door. With only 100 built it could take a while to find one, however.

All that’s left is to consider whether you can convince yourself and others that for all of its puppy-like enthusiasm the Swift Sport really does qualify as a hot hatch. Then again, you’ll be having so much fun behind the wheel that you probably just won’t care.

FAST FACTS Suzuki Swift Sport Built: 2011-2017 Power: 134bhp @ 7000rpm/118lb ft @ 4400rpm Acceleration: 0-62mph in 8.7 seconds Top speed: 121mph

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from The CarGurus Blog http://blog.cargurus.com/2018/04/27/half-price-hot-hatch-suzuki-swift-sport via Car Gurus from Blogger http://jeffrey2garner.blogspot.com/2018/04/half-price-hot-hatch-suzuki-swift-sport.html via IFTTT

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