Description: I decided it was time to clean out some excess Jaguar bits and bring in some income to help with my considerable out of pocket medical expenses.
Having recently swapped out the 5 speed Tremec gearbox in my XJS Coupe for a 6 speed Tremec gearbox now that was an obvious place to start.
After advertising and selling the kit (Tremec 5 speed gearbox, rear mount, flywheel, clutch assembly and plate, tailshaft, 3.54 crown wheel and pinion) I was getting it ready to put on a truck to the buyer's mechanic in Wodonga, when I thought, as I have a gap between medicals, why not deliver it myself and enjoy a trip.
I loaded everything into the boot of my XJ-SC as the Coupe is full of race gear (they have a boot big enough to take all this and my small suitcase - XJS's are very versatile.
Mine is no show pony but a real workhorse and gadabout. As well as many track outings, we have been around the coast of Australia, plus travelled over 200,000 klms to many places in all states, she is always up for a trip!
Loaded up, I checked the usual things, (radiator water level, oil level, 40psi in the tyres), filled the tank, a bottle of water for me (bearing in mind we’re no longer allowed to drink this while driving - a $500 fine - so it stayed in the picnic basket away from temptation).
Ichi Mouse and Puurring Pussy on the road again with lots of jazz and rock blaring out!
The trip from Carey Bay to Wodonga was uneventful, except for the additional 2 hours getting past Sydney on the M7 due to a truck on fire - and I thought giving way to a car at the Toronto roundabout was congestion!
After delivering the gearbox kit, I thought I’d better find a motel for the night and have a leisurely trip home tomorrow. But Puurring Pussy wouldn't bloody listen to me and on her own account left Wodonga and travelled back country roads past lots of moo cows, sheepsies, gum trees and small country towns headed for Wagga Wagga.
She did let me enjoy myself on some wonderful twisty bits of road (although I think she enjoyed herself to, wiggling her bum about showing off sometimes!)
I got a bit of my own back last night though - stopping in Wagga overnight, I slept comfortably in a warm bed leaving her parked outside the room. I was very refreshed, but she woke up shivering with ice on her windscreen - first time in 30 years so that shows her I should be boss!
That thought didn't last long though as against all my advice on which way to head home, she just set off to the Junee Licorice & Chocolate Factory, again!
It’s amazing how many back roads there are in such a short space between two relatively close outback towns.
Puurring Pussy wouldn't let me leave before she made me buy a big bag of dark chocolate ginger and 2kg box of liquorice.
Is there no shame or way of controlling this girl - if Von was with me it would have been embarrassing, as I led her to believe I was in charge!
While here, decided to also visit another favourite, the Junee Roundhouse Railway Museum.
I looked at the map and thought how about we go to Young, I had heard about a local bakery there that makes tasty chicken pies.
Maybe then I can take back some control!
A straight trip up the highway from Junee to Young - what was I thinking!
“Oh no no no” says she, that won't do at all, promptly taking off on another back road to Temora to visit a couple of Spitfires in a hangar there.
Whoever thought cars could have feelings. Something had affected Puurring Pussy - maybe because the Spitfire also has a V12 engine she felt an affinity as she waved her tail about on the curvey road to Young, thinking the curves were just like the Spitfire curves - who knows, she didn't confide in me she just showed off enjoying herself - bloody tart!
After delicious chicken pies and feeling refreshed, I was ready to carry on home. Puurring Pussy flounced around and she said "I want to go to Grenfell and see Henry Lawson and talk about his poems and books”.
What are you Ian - a man or a mouse - c’mon squeak up!
I’d had enough of this so, I just had to put my foot down "Look, I'm the boss and we have to head home. I have jobs to do to get the house ready for April's visit end of next week plus the Newcastle Jazz Festival, besides I can't afford another night's accommodation and you don't want another night out in the cold, do you?"
That did it. I showed my authority and common sense.
So off we set, Puurring Pussy quiet and subdued, me with a superior self-satisfied smirk as we headed directly for the highway.
"No no no it can't be" I cried as suddenly she kicked up her rear, swung off on to a back road sign posted to Crookwell.
It's bloody hard to admonish and complain with a grin ear to ear as we danced around sweeping curves, held lovingly through tight twists and turns and flew over flat sections of road until the Crookwell wind farm.
Both completely satisfied, now it was time to re-join the highway for a leisurely cruise home.
Maybe next trip I’ll reassert my authority.
