Success

So the big question was will Olly be ready? Craig has gone all out, searched high and low for a new pipe and ended up having to get one made. 3 1 litre bottles of Transmission fluid later and we're good to go.

There she is Olly's new Transmission fluid pipe. Great job Craig and thank you Becki (his girlfriend for patiently waiting while he gets it sorted. We'll pack the camping gear in the car over the weekend and then it's off to The New Forrest to meet the other mad Windy 500 entrants and compare our modes of transport. See you there Windy goers.

The panic is on to get Olly ready for the 18th of August but will she make it?

Craig has realised we have a transmission leak and has taken off the transmission oil cooling pipe and then went off to get a new one. We thought we had a lead with just what we needed. 3 different places later and no pipe found. The question now is can Craig beat the clock and locate the pipe and fit it before he goes on holiday

?

Craig tried to drain the transmission fluid out, good use of a milk bottle mate.

I hope this makes Steve feel happier, it's not really a breakdown more of a bit of maintenance to avoid the breakdown. Lets keep our fingers crossed. Olly needs to get down to the New Forrest in 2 weekends time to join her new fiends so we hope that Craig can work his magic. Craig is off for a week from monday so we only have a week to get it sorted so Nik and I can drive Olly to The New Forrest where Craig and Becki will meet us. We even treated Craig to a new pop up Gazebo to keep away the British weather and it fits perfectly in Olly's boot for our big adventure.

For the Olympics we thought we should show a bit of support and even Olly has got in the spirit

Summer fun

Well it's supposed to have been summer time so we have been have a clear out and made room for Olly on the driveway. The old caravan had to go and a new shed was needed to store all the things we need to get Olly ready with and the camping gear needed an airing ready for our get together in the New Forrest. We decided a BBQ was well and truly overdue so on went the coals to keep us all going while the work went on. We had some help from great friends and others were more of a hindrance ............

Craig decided that the car needed some work while the sun was out and he battled for 2 and a half hours to get the water pump off the car to change that and the cam belt. He had it back on and sorted in minutes. Some bruit strength was needed and a few trips to Halfords!




 I think we should get a Halfords points card if there is such a thing as I think we'll be backwards and forwards from time to time before next June.

Nik has been busy working with wedding Disco's to save money towards our wedding and the Windy 500 honeymoon adventure. Check out Lets Go Disco to see what we can do.

We have had some fun too although it can feel like it's all work from time to time. We keep telling each other it will be worth it. We have had some nights off too and a few too many sherbets were had. A karaoke birthday bash for me was a good chance to let our hair down. Some friends and family came along to celebrate with us and there are some good pictures of the night on Facebook too.

Myself, Mel, Fran and Lyndsay get on the mikes but I don't think The Saturdays have anything to worry about just yet.







Nik and Craig keep tempting me with things they plan to do to Olly and these include a cocktail bar, fridge and pull out bed! Nik has this marked on his phone at the moment but there may be a slight problem as there will be no place to put the camping gear but at least the camp site will hear us arriving!

Be in touch soon guys and girls.

I almost forgot!

How could I not mention it, it was a while between setting up the Blog but we have been busy and one of the things that has taken our attention in recent weeks was the push from our local football club to  get promotion and it finally came ! Brackley Town Football club have won the Evostick Southern  league to gain promotion to the Blue square North. It has to be mentioned as our new friend Steve and   some of our Windy 500 Rally goers will know how much this means as they have battled alongside us   in the Southern league this season. So for those who haven't seen it, this is how we now roll ;                

We're really involved at the club with Nik and our business partner providing PA and sponsorship.        They are also both on the management board. Craig is Membership secretary for the supporters club      and  for 2 seasons Gem was supporters club Chair person. So we are working out just how best to pay   our respects to Brackley Town Football club on Olly. I'm thinking red and white stripes on the boot and bonnet or red and white interior. Any thoughts or ideas people?                                                                

                                                                                                                                                                       
                                               So any ideas on how we should decorate Olly?                                          
                                                                                                                                                                   

Team Newlywed27 are mobile!

Well it's been a long time since we updated you. Lots has happened and it has all become very exciting today. Nothing much was happening on the wedding front until Christmas day when the sales started and I located some potential Bridesmaid dresses, It snow balled from there and 2 weeks later I had 6 Bridesmaid dresses, their shoes, my wedding dress and my shoes! It all feels more real now, we have started the hunt for a wedding photographer and the save the date cards and invites are getting made. The anniversary of our wedding date has come and gone (27.04.2012) and so the hunt for the car for our Windy 500 Honeymoon challenge has arrived. My criteria is ease of access in my wedding dress as we are using the car on our wedding day but Nik and Craig were more interested in economy, ease of maintenance and repair and likelihood we will last the Rally distance. We couldn't believe our luck, when last weekend we found something that ticked all our boxes. We have been looking at a few option's with the overriding criteria that it must have a wedding theme. We hoped for a Limo but didn't think we would find one that we could get in budget (£500). Nik spotted one and we raced to Dudley to see her. I fell in love at first sight and thanks to Niks amazing negotiation skills, Craig's mechanical checking and Mark, the nice man selling her we became the proud owners of a 23 year old stretch Vauxhall  Eagle Quest. Olly (due to her number plate) as we have called her is the newest family member to our Gem, Craig and Nik Windy 500 family. Here she is, top picture. I must admit though I was tempted by the Daimler Hearse. Mark, who we bought her from has done up the Scorpio above as an American cop car and is hiring her for prom's and parties. It gave us plenty of ideas! Anyone want a Limo trip for nights out or airport runs then let us know and we can come to a deal towards raising money for our charities ; Julia's House and The Air Ambulance. 

Searching for a vehicle

So it's been a long time since I blogged but better late than never. Christmas day came and after a few glasses of Champagne (Mum realised she found she had a taste for the good stuff), we hit the sales on line. Well would you believe it I found my Bridesmaid dress's and shoes and got a great bargain. This all snow balled a week latter when a couple of the girls came to try their gear on and suggested I arrange to look at some wedding dress's. We went with Mum, just to look and came back with a wedding dress bought! It seems in some areas I am a fast mover. In the end I had Bridesmaid dress's shoes, wedding dress and shoes all ticked off the list. Spurred on we have made real progress and we're well under way. As the 27th of April 2012 has now passed I can officially say that we're now on on less than 1 year count down to becoming man and wife. We've concentrated on supporting our boys at Brackley Town Football club to win the league, sorry Spooky I couldn't The silver wear is amazing and the presentation night was great on Friday. I'll add a pic just to rub it in further! Now we have passed that 1 year Mark we are starting to get some momentum for the windy 500. Yesterday, we started looking at vehicles and NIK was thinking, engine, fuel economy, ease of repairs etc and my criteria was how easy would this model be for me to get in and out of with a wedding dress. I have decided the bigger the better, just Like many things in life! We have agreed a make and model and the search has started, when we have our baby we will l Introduce her to you.