Tag: dailyprompt

One improvement you can make in life? Buy a Morris Minor Traveller!

May 31st, 2024

Part 1

Yes I did! I bought a Morris Minor Traveller with my partner that is not in the best condition and will more than likely be a number of years long project, but we knew that when we bought it.

Our Morris is a 1969, Blue deluxe traveller with a 1098cc engine. Now for me I know nothing about cars, but through-out this project I will slowly be learning what is what in a car, terminology, various skills such as welding and of course how to restore a Woody. My partner on the other hand has already rebuilt a BMW M3 and knows a lot more about cars and mechanics so whilst it is a joint project most of this will be him teaching me and me helping as much as I can and I do intend on getting stuck in.

The first thing was to look up the car we didn’t know much about them except we loved the car as a classic. What that meant for us was we were going to take a journey with the car. Morris was popular back when these beauties were being made. The Traveller was introduced to the world alongside the Morris Van in 1953 and the last traveller ever made was in 1971. These cars were everywhere along with their competitors, but it was the wooden frame with extra boot space that appealed to those wanting to travel in style.
A fun facts about owning a Morris Minor Traveller or just any period classic car in good period condition is that quite often producers for TV and Film will put out calls for these cars to be used in filming. A great example of this is ‘Heartbeat’ which is a period drama and features a number of fully working period travellers.

So we bought the traveller! Amazing. To be honest we couldn’t believe what we had just agreed to purchase. It needs a lot of work. The wood was rotten, there was rust in some areas, dents in some of the body work and the tyres were perished. But, for the price it was a bargain and to us it’s more about bringing what was once a beautiful example of a classic car back to its former glory.

My partner picked up the car on a hired trailer about an hour away from our home, with his brother and dad as I was working. As far as I was told it went smoothly and despite almost losing the roof on the way back which was firmly ratchet strapped down it made it to its new home.

We got to work stripping and pulling the car apart to give it the thorough inspection it needed. Due to the condition of the car we are having to strip it fully back to its frame so we can flip it and do some well deserved fixes.

All the parts were there in various conditions, some salvageable others not so. One that was not was the back seat as it had corroded to much and was falling to pieces. This was a sad discovery but we are on a mission to make this a period correct restoration so we will do as much research into replacing like for like and do this with care. We’re in no rush to complete this project so can take our time.

Currently the car is sat on our patio under a tarp all stripped of its wooden character, but it is ready for its new beginning to start soon.

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What’s in your keepsake box?

May 19th, 2023

Everyone has something precious in their lives, be it something small like a childhood teddy bear, ring, or photo. Some people may not be attached to anything, but may develop these things later in life. Maybe they start when they get married and the first keepsake is the wedding album. There is nothing wrong with any of the above. Some people simply can’t afford the luxury of having anything precious to put in a keepsake box.

Society is what it is. We have different races, cultures, lifestyles and milestones. Every single person is unique in their own right so why do we hold on to things. Is it because someone said you have to, of course not, the most likely reason is because it has sentimental value, it’s something that reminds you of a huge moment or time in your life.

So what do you keep?

Many people keep different things, parents for example might keep your baby teeth or a lock of hair, your first pair of shoes. You however may have no real sentimental value of any of the stuff your parents keep from your childhood, but maybe the teddy bear, or the first portrait of you, the first certificates you won.

Sometimes I like to keep things that may not have sentimental value as an item being a gift, but it represents my time in a place that meant something. My first trip to Disney for example. My first world cruise when I worked on cruise liners. Things that have been large parts of my life. Photos are a big thing for me as they remind me of all the people who have come and gone through my life, each and everyone have their place in my life.

I am now in the process of starting a new keep sake box with my boyfriend to remember our life together as we grow as a couple and enjoy life. So far we have a few pieces from our first year, and the box we made together from scratch which makes it completely ours. We will keep adding to this box and maybe one day make another box together just as unique as the first.

Tag: dailyprompt

One improvement you can make in life? Buy a Morris Minor Traveller!

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What’s in your keepsake box?