Well a very long but productive day today. Drove from my place, about 30 miles SW of Glasgow, to Yorkshire for some parts.

I know that makes me look a retard, but I also enjoy long drives, and haven't been on one for ages so it was all good - apart from the bit where the A1 South bound was completely shut all day due to a bad accident... someone (pedestrian) got hit by a lorry apparently, must be terrible for those involved so I decided I would be a dick to get too annoyed. RIP whoever he was.

Anyway, 500 miles (and numerous burger stops) later, and I procured a proper manual mirror to replace the incorrect electric one (that wasn't connected, the car isn't fitted for leccy mirrors), another 2006 RDS head unit (OK, I'm a saddo, right?) and a back bumper that while it is going to need work due to being broken plus fully colour coded (ghia perhaps?) is the correct shape and moulding with the single light and the big bump bar. Some repair work, some paint and a new chrome strip (I have a reel of the stuff) and it will - hopefully - look spot on! Pics will go up of the process for anyone interested. All that for the princely sum of 80 sterling, I'm happy.

Really nice guy, I'm not joking when I say a barn FULL of sierra bits, plus panels and bumpers out the back. Not a lot of tasty bits like cossie stuff (although I did see some interior pieces and a saph boot spoiler needing a fair bit of work) but loads of bits all the same. I could have spent all day in there raking about. 2 essex lumps sitting too which briefly tempted me, but its a heavy old lump and doesn't offer THAT much performance for the hassle of fitting versus other options with same amount of work involved.

He doesn't even advertise because he doesn't have time to list on ebay... mostly sold bits to kit car guys and says the sierra demand just isn't there now... needs to let folk know he is there!!!

Anyway, got the mirror stripped, its perfect, just needed a clean - hopefully the previous owner of my car didn't just tiger seal the cover on, and I can do a quick swap tomorrow, so the nieghbours dogs/cats/tapirs and wheely bins will be that bit safer when I reverse out the drive now lol

The head unit didn't come with a code, but thats not an issue; I had a hunch the problem with mine was the tape deck/head and it turned out right. Swapped that into my own unit, hey presto, I now have clapton playing perfectly lol. Added bonus, took two minutes to swap the front plates so now all the illumination works, huzzah!!

Glad it worked out because the stereo in mine is the original for the car, with my registration etc when you turn it on. I'll just keep the other one for spare components.

So jobs list right now:

• Fit mirror tomorrow hopefully, if no tiger seal induced rage.
• Listen to Clapton cassettes.
• Paint cam cover, its really bugging my tits big time - could wait an powder coat but don't think it will fit in my oven.
• Clean/scuff back bumper, stand and stare at it while smoking roll ups and wondering what I've got myself into this time.
• Listen to Bon Jovi cassettes.
• Wheels could do with a refurb, but not bad enough to pay for a proper strip n recoat... might take them off and paint them myself to do until I need new tyres at least.
• bodge/bandage/superglue/mumify centre exhaust box to stop it sounding like a spitfire with a round through the block; yes I could replace it and I will, but its needing more than just that - I'll do it right come MOT time (October)
• change front discs and pads (fairly confident it is still on the original discs, crazy wear lip) and try not to get carried away pulling off bits to clean up.
• Listen to Shirley Bassey cassette... wait, wut???