This is very much a first world problem – how to pronounce the name of my favourite car maker. There must be so much confusion that the company itself has released a video covering this very subject. In usual Porsche … Continue reading
Category Archives: Porsche
My favourite car shot – at the moment
This shot was taken last year but I’ve only just got around to cleaning it up – and I really like it.
I’ve removed a few distractions – like power poles and the inevitable overhead wires – and played with the colour but that’s about all.
Photographers talk about the “magic hour” just after dusk – and this shot is a good example.
I’ve included the original shot as a point of reference.
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- Photo as taken
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- Photo retouched
2015 – the year that was
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This gallery contains 45 photos.
As we do every January, here’s a quick look back at 2015. Some shots you may have seen and some new ones.
What is wrong with this picture?
It’s not simply that both Porsches are making visits to the Powerhaus for repairs at the same time. It’s something to do the with back of the 911 being way up off the ground.
That’s right dear reader, the engine that usually resides in the back of the 911 is currently across the workshop bolted to an engine stand awaiting surgery.
The Powerhaus medical team of Reuben, Dave and Reuben are working on a fix for a faulty oil return valve – hopefully which doesn’t involve stripping the engine down any further.
The 356 (which still has it’s engine attached, thankfully) is waiting for parts for a starter motor which are coming from the US. So with luck, that will be home in the next few days. The wait for the 911 will be a little bit longer.
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- My section of the Powerhaus workshop
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- The 911 engine is here, but should be ….
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- No engine in July. Back and running by December
Some randomness
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This gallery contains 8 photos.
I have had a collection of random photos building up on my desktop for a while. Shots that I liked but which had no real story attached to them – other than they might be useful for a blog sometime in the future. Today … Continue reading
Something old and something new
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This gallery contains 2 photos.
Last weekend I ended up with the 356 and 550 parked outside our place as I did those pre-winter car chores. It turned into an impromptu photo opportunity as the sun went down – at 5pm. One of these cars … Continue reading
Spot the problem
I was driving home Thursday night. It was a beautiful evening, the rain that had hung around all day had cleared. It was still and clear. I had just picked up the 356 from the Powerhaus where it had a new ignition switch fitted and it was running like a dream.
All was well with the world.
I was winding around the hills of Wellington on one of those narrow roads that is only wide enough for two cars when a bus approached from the other direction. A bus always looks big but on narrow Grafton Road it looked huge. The only option was for one of us to mount the pavement to let the other pass. As the bus approached I realised that was going to be me. But no problems, it was a lovely night, there was room for both of us.
I used a driveway ramp to get my left hands wheels up onto the pavement. All went we’ll until my front and rear wheels dropped into the gap between the driveway ramp and the pavement and I was stuck. Completely stuck – I couldn’t move forward or backward. No amount of power would free the wheels.
Bugger.
A call to the AA rapidly had a service vehicle on the scene. The bemused AA man admitted that this was a first for him but with a gentle pull the 356 was free and the journey home was completed without incident and only a slight denting of pride.
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- The day I got the car stuck in a gutter – not my finest work
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- But the view waiting for the AA was great
2014 – the year that was
It was a fun old year at our place. As always there seemed to be a lot happening but when I look back at the photos we’ve taken, our trip in August and those puppies – well Bella mainly – seem to dominate.
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- Rosie sitting on her bench in the garden
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- Wellington City across the harbour
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- Mount Victoria across Evans Bay
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- Our two at home
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- How not to park a 356 – paint missing and dented
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- The most photogenic house in Nelson
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- We decided to paint the house – one of these colours …
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- … then endured weeks of this
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- Jean’s lap in demand
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- Coming home from work to this … Bella!
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- Bella fascinated by a bug
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- 911 in parking garage at work
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- Rosie with Poppie and Bella enjoying the afternoon sun
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- Jean baking up a storm
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- Poppie in front of our fire in a wintery July
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- The girls out walking in the UK
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- Neil and Jayne’s back yard on a sunny English summers evening
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- Relaxing at Hotel Eden Roc in Positano
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- You can build almost anywhere in Positano
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- Restaurant Bruno in Positano – the road is thrown in at no extra cost
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- Noto’s sun coloured streets at dusk
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- Noto Cathedral, Sicily
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- Sunset over Sant’ Agostino, Sicily
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- A cliche of a rental car – Fiat 500 cabriolet
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- The real Fiat 500
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- Market day in Ortega, Sicily
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- Sicilian parking – not by me I have to say
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- Sicilian sunset
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- The impressive pool at our villa in Sicily
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- Relaxing in the evening – Sicily
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- The Torre al Mangia in Siena
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- Hotel Relais Vignale in Chianti
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- The view on our walk from carpark to Campo
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- The morning view from our Tuscan hotel balcony
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- Jean in Rome
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- On the terrace at La Pergola in Rome
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- Bella looking innocent
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- Summer’s arrival in Wellington
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- Bella stuck in the bath
At the end of the day
I was walking to my car one evening after work recently, and I noticed a great opportunity for one of those almost monochrome, grungy, industrial looking photos. Job done.
Today we turn 300
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This gallery contains 191 photos.
Since April 2011 there have been 299 posts to this blog so this one is officially number 300. Over the last 2 and a bit years we’ve covered our trip to Europe – which was the reason for starting this … Continue reading
Not a sight I wanted to see
Yes, that’s the 911 sitting forlornly on the back of a tow truck on it’s way to the Powerhaus for repairs.
The reason for the repairs? The complete absence of a clutch – push the pedal and there’s nothing, nix, nada.
And forcing the car into gear amid a graunching and grinding of gears doesn’t make for enjoyable motoring.
The fleet is now complete
A week ago I picked the 356 up from the Powerhaus with refurbished brakes, a tuned engine, new battery and new “stop it leaking oil onto the road” thingies.
The last time I drove it was onto a transporter heading to the Powerhaus before Christmas. All four brake drums had seized so it was more dragged than driven. It was a sad sight.
But now it’s back and better than ever. All it needs now is a wash and wax and it’s back to showroom condition.
toscanakiwi 
