Pockmarks

First good wash in weeks. Discouraged by number of blisters and pockmarks that have appreared over the winter. Still looks good, though.

Checked all hoses for weak spots and adjusted alternator belt. Got my daughter Charlotte to take my picture for Practical Classics while my hands were dirty!

What's that smell?

Two roundabouts out from work I detected a whiff of coolant. By the time I joined the slow queue onto the business park the temperature gauge had nosed its way above normal. I steered into a convenient slip road just as the steam emerged from the side of the bonnet.

Split top radiator hose, less than a year old and bought from Martin Robey because the kit promised Kevlar reinforcement. Very disappointing performance. It's split like a rotten tomato.

Sat in the car proof-reading pages for Practical Classics until the engine cooled and the traffic queue had died down.

Borrowed the Porsche at lunchtime and went home for the old hose I replaced a year ago. It hadn't failed so I kept it – waste not want not, as we say in Yorkshire.

Day two CCL!

Another early start. Took the planned route into the show from the Ace Cafe but it had a couple of awkward traffic light junctions. Should have done the 'wrong' route again.Good drive home with the publisher's PA listening to Chris Rea and heading into a huge storm at sunset. Neat.

Cheerleader in the back

Left hotel early for the Ace and then followed the Starsky and Hutch Gran Torino down to the show with the Capital Gold VIP competition winners. The motorcycle escort rode straight past the A1000 turn-off and we all followed him. He took us a much better route, though.

Oh yes, I had a Starsky and Hutch cheerleader in the back, too.

Interior smells lovely. Called at office just to check my emails. Bomb scare. Left keys on desk and couldn't leave for London until after lunch.

Drove to hotel in Hendon then up to Alexandra Palace. Show looked good.

Damp patch

Cleaned inside of car for VIPs at Classic Cars Live! this weekend. Found damp patch in driver's footwell. It seems to radiate from the floor-bolted hinge of the accelerator pedal.

New gaiter fitted

Finally got round to fitting the offside steering rack gaiter. Pulled it over the track rod keeping locknut in position to avoid wheel alignment problems.

Replaced light switch (last one from a spare set). Got MOT certificate sorted too. Legal again.

Ace night

Drove down to the Ace Cafe for the Classic Cars meeting. Left early to try the Alexandra Palace drive-in route. All OK round the North Circular but got lost at Fortis Green. Made it up to Alexandra Palace eventually. City looked amazing.

Took winding route home and burned out another headlight switch. By-passed the switch to get home. Must fit a relay.

Plug scrub

Topped-up oil and water. Cleaned spark plugs. Most are a very light brown or grey with light carbon deposits on outside of bend in outer electrode. Cleaned, gapped and oiled threads.

Didn't start engine. Not going anywhere. Home DIY hell.

Free those windows

Gaiters didn't arrive this morning. So went out with the intention of washing away the salt and giving the car a quick polish, if only to spoil what started as a lovely spring day. It always rains if I polish the Jaguar.

Got bogged down in the repair of the door pocket instead, and decided it was a good opportunity to sort the creaky window action. Stripped the driver's side door and removed window winder mechanism. A flat coiled spring on the wound arm was dry and rusty. Cleaned and oiled it and then worked the mechanism, trapping a flap of skin on my finger in the gears. Ouch!

Window winds smoothly, though. Firmed up broken door pocket and had to pack up to take the kids swimming.

Drive to Brooklands

Ordered steering rack gaiters from Martin Robey - half the price quoted by SNG Barratt, hope they're not half the quality.

Drove to Brooklands for the Penrite Award lunch. Editors of classic car magazines meeting to discuss nominations for the Penrite Person of the Year Award. Enjoyable and interesting. Brooklands quite busy but it's mild and dry. Quite a few young mums with children.

Rotten drive back, caught in a jam on the M25 round the north-west section. Car never missed a beat but the slight shudder at 65mph is annoying on these long dual carriageway runs.

I thought it would disappear when the Dunlops were fitted and the wheels balanced but it hasn't. Unless a weight has flown off, I must suspect something else. Propshaft maybe? I would have expected to feel it through the gearstick if it was in the drivetrain, but there's no evidence of that.

I'll need to get the tracking checked after fitting the steering rack gaiters, so I'll get the wheels balanced at the same time.

Droopy pocket

Driver's side door pocket fouled on door trim when opening door. Temporary fix with silver Duck tape.

Will it pass?

Started fine this morning. Checked all fluid levels and added 500ml oil, a litre of 50/50 coolant/water and enough battery top-up to cover the plates. Maybe a full charge at the weekend will give me another month or so.

Failed MOT for split gaiters on steering rack.

A lovely evening with friendly people

Another jump start needed. Time to think about a new battery, I fear.

Giving a talk at the South Lincs Jaguar Drivers' Club this evening, near Boston. Nice evening, talk went well.

Wonderful driving home from about 22:30. Richard Allinson plays some great music on late night BBC Radio Two. Driving across the Fens at night reminds me of being at sea – large black expanses either side and strings of lights on the horizon like a distant coastline.

Jaguar running very well with charge meter sitting at normal. I could have driven all night.