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MG MGA - Moving South

I moving south on 24 June to Farnham in Surrey.

Who will be my new MGA neighbours?

Are there active MG natters in the area?

Steve
Steve Gyles

I've just returned from a week touring the South London counties and was shocked to find the beer is nearly double the cost around here in Cheshire!!! But I have to admit it was warmer...........Mike
m.j. moore

and they cant talk proper, like wot we do, Vin
Vin Rafter

Vin

I will be able to use the Queen's English again without weird looks from the locals for the first time in 45 years. I am a Londoner born and bred, but not cockney unless it was a 100mph southerly wind blowing across London on my birthday.

I was taught to pronounce garage as 'gararge' not 'garidge'; potato as 'potarto' and tomato as 'tomarto'!

Steve
Steve Gyles

indeed but, bus as ,bas' and bath as 'barth' but good luck with the move anyway, Vin.
Vin Rafter

Vin

And let us not forget the silent 'P' as in your bath or barth.

Steve
Steve Gyles

And "sex" is what rich people have their coal delivered in!
Peter.
P. Tilbury

Steve
Welcome back to the sophisticated south, though sadly I haven't found a garage like Bob West's down here. I guess you will misss that
Graham M V

Thanks Graham. You will be the other side of the smoke to me, although I was originally from your part of London at the end of the Piccadilly line - Cockfosters.

However, my daughter is in Mill Hill so opportunities to meet up. Where in Middlesex are you?

Steve
Steve Gyles

Mike, not sure I would like to pay twice the price for warmer beer!

LOL Neil
Neil McGurk

Anyone passing the Southgate area drop in, I'd love to check out your "A"...

k klay

Steve
I am in Northwood, which is just 5 minutes from M25 junctions 16,17 or 18. In fact I lived near
Cockfosters in Southgate as a child.
Mill Hill is only about 15 minutes.
Graham M V

I also meant to add, that if you saw my posting on shock absorbers, Colin Manley lives near M3 junction 3 which is even closer to you. Paul Camp, who is on the forum too, lives a bit further round M25 near Cufley. At this rate we could form our own MGA club!
Graham M V

You guys are making me feel lonely up here!

How 'bout that blast round the Lakes guys, get those brakes properly bedded in!
Neil McGurk

Hi Steve,

Rest assured that there's plenty of MG action going on down here. I'm over on the Kent border, so a fair bit east of Farnham.

You will be blissfully close to the Hogs Back brewery in Tongham: www.hogsback.co.uk

I'm not sure if you're still working, but those of us with plenty of leisure time are members of the Surrey Wanderers, a lunch time roving natter that convenes on the second Wednesday of the month. After coffee we do a scenic drive, generally about 30 miles, then have a pub lunch.If you're interested, contact Piers Hubbard at piers.hubbard@talk21.com You probably know Piers and his nice blue 1600 MkII already.

I'm not sure which will be the nearest natter to you but there's one at Ripley, just the other side of Guildford.

Cheers

Malcolm
Malcolm Eades

Malcolm, yes, I am retired. The roving pub crawl looks good. I will drop Piers an email.

Graham, it looks promising. I was born in Southgate and lived in Cockfosters. I also have family in Cuffley. My daughter and partner have just bought a property in Mill Hill set in 5.5 acres. He is planning on building suitable garaging for his cars and wants me to help out with maintenance, so I will be a regular visitor to the area.

Small world.

Steve
Steve Gyles

Steve
Welcome South-Let me know when your around Cuffley- I can show you the sites!!! we hav a few MGs here plus plenty of E types etc -Graham is not far away half an hours drive
Paul
P D Camp

I restored my first MGA (782 GTW) in a lock up garage in Cuffley around 1970.

At the time I lived at home with my parents near the Rising Sum in Hammond Street and it was the nearest place I could find to rent a garage.
John Bray

John

Are you still in the area? My parents moved in 1974 very close to the Wagon & Horses (why do we Brits always relate to pubs?!) on the site where Leefe Ribinson shot down the first Zeppelin in the first world war. My brother's family still reside in Cuffley in Tolmers Gardens.

Steve
Steve Gyles

Ken Clay, seeing your post on this thread I thought of posting a note for you if you dont mind me doing so. I have the original gearbox oil seal which, If you can email me your address, I will put it in the post for you. The guy I bought it from had only one left in the box. He sure wont have any more of these, not made by British Leyland.
Rgds

Frank
F Camilleri

Steve
The Pub on the site of the Zeppelin ( Actualy a Shute Lanz airship) is The Plough -The Waggon & Horses is in Goffs Oak
Paul
P D Camp

Steve,

These days I live in the village of Clophill accross the border in Bedfordshire near Old Warden which you probably know.

I still return to that part of the world meeting up with old freinds. Next meeting is the 'Woodman' at Wild Hill a few miles west of Cuffley.

I did once stop and look at the Zeppelin or as Paul has suggested Shute Lanz memorial whilst on my bike, seem to recall there is no parking so difficult in a car.

Where I now live is near to the airship hangers at Cardington and its nice to see them fly over occasionally. Very quiet.

Having just moved myself, may I wish you good luck and I bet your garage is finished before mine.
John Bray

Paul

You are right. Not sure why I said the Wagon & Horses. It was Cranfield Crescent at the back of pub where they lived.

Steve
Steve Gyles

Hi Steve,

Welcome to the sunny south, hope you enjoy your stay here!

I live just down the road near Portsmouth, Hampshire so I guess that makes me your neighbour. It’s a pity you weren’t down for the New Forest Run last week.

Richard
R A Evans

Hi Steve - nearly time for you to go "Darn Sarf" to "Sarrey" so we need to meet for that farewell drink - perhaps Neil can make it over the border into Lancashire to join us if we meet further up the other side of Preston? cheers Cam
Cam Cunningham

Steve
Small world We lived in Cranfield Crescent from 1964-1972 prior to moving to Hanyards Lane
Paul
P D Camp

Paul

Actually it was 1972 when my parents moved there. Number 50. I got the year wrong. 1974 was when I came back from 4 years in Germany.

Steve
Steve Gyles

Cam

Good to see you for a farewell drink and sandwich today. See you and other northerners at future MG events I hope.

Cheers

Steve


Steve Gyles

Hi Steve, Yes -good to see you before you head off to your new life in Surrey - hope it stays dry for your 250 mile drive on Thursday with no top or side screens! Keep in touch and hope we can meet up again next year - possibly at Silverstone with the rest of the MGA gang.


Cam Cunningham

Steve Gyles writes: "I was taught to pronounce garage as 'gararge' not 'garidge'; potato as 'potarto' and tomato as 'tomarto'!"

That don't sound like no BBC English to me! Isn't that what the upper crust is supposed to speak in London? That's as bad as President Kennedy talking about Cuber. (Cuba.)
David Breneman

You sussed me Dave. That's what comes of being married to a direct descendant of the aristocracy - Robert Harley 1579 to 1656. Harley Street in London is named after him. Although he was Master of the Mint for Charles 1 there is no money left in the family to buy me more MGAs! All they have left is a ruined castle in Herefordshire.

Steve
Steve Gyles

Hi Steve
Great to hear you're moving down in our direction. I'm in the Portsmouth area myself. You will now be able to try some of our regular events for a change; like the South Downs Run, Arundel, MG Era at Brooklands, Phoenix Inn at Hartley Witney Friday natters (where the MGA Register was started) as well as the classic New Years Day meet there, in fact there's something on every week end at the moment. So hope to meet you some time Steve, instead of just reading what you say...
Pete
Pete Tipping

Steve - My grandmother, who was very much into genealogy, told me that we were distant relations to the Queen herself (and, of course, the Kaiser as well). Funny thing, though, Great Auntie Liz just won't return my phone calls. Some relatives are such ingrates! :-)

Seriously, there's a portrait of her taken at her coronation that's the spitting image of my mother at that age. Of course that, and three dollars, entitles me to cup of coffee at any Starbucks!
David Breneman

Dave

I had the pleasure of meeting the Queen just before I retired from the RAF. I made the faux pas of telling her she smelt (probably why I retired shortly afterwards!).

I was introduced to her, then escorted her around the airfield, presenting various airside departments to her, such as air traffic control, fire department, medical personnel, etc. When we got to the military police, two of their alsation guard dogs went absolutely berserk, barking away at her. I remember saying to Her Majesty: "They can probably smell the corgis ma'am." She replied: "yes, I am sure they can."

At least I have still got my head.

Steve
Steve Gyles

Steve, Glad to see that Pete has mentioned the Phoenix Inn natter; delighted it is still going. I used to attend in the early 1970s(!) when we owned our previous MGA and I was stationed in Aldershot(jumping out of perfectly serviceable aircraft). Good luck with the move and I hope to catch up with you when my 'A' is back on the road. Stonehenge only an hour West... Shane
Shanerj

I am now a southerner.

Interesting 250 mile journey south. Very hot journey. Sat at 70 mph (3000rpm) all of the way in convoy with the other half in the Merc, with a couple of breathers. Temp stabilised at 165, oil pressure at 59. Unfortunately, encountered a horrific crash on M25 and temp slowly crept up - not used to that up north! After 20 mins of virtually stationary traffic following 4 hours of driving I decided to pull on to the hard shoulder to cool off. It seemed pointless sitting in the queue wearing the clutch out and watching the temperature creep up etc. I had not been there for more than a minute when a Dove Grey MGA 1600 shouted across to check I was okay - many thanks if you see this post.

As you know, I have the sports windscreen, so no hood nor sidescreens. I simply used ear plugs. It was just as quiet as sitting in the Merc. Listened to the radio quite happily with the volume right up. Could not even hear the engine. I wondered why everyone was looking at me in the traffic queue and it was only when I removed an earplug that I realised just how loud the radio was! Try it, quite effective.

Wind blast was minimal with the sports windscreen, just a slight blast in the nape of the neck, a little on the forehead and outboard arm.

Steve


Steve Gyles

Welcome to the smoke Steve. Your A will enjoy the warm dry climate in the deep south!
Graham M V

HI Steve glad your move went ok, how about some pics of your new abode with the MGA parked outside of course


Gordon
g c pugh

Gordon

It is 2 phase. Taking a rented flat while we look for a suitable garage, workshop and, oh yes, an attached house!

Steve

PS. The flat has a garage, so the car will be okay.
Steve Gyles

Hi Steve, good to hear that you had a safe journey and that the A held up well. Hope to see you again next year - cheers Cam
Cam Cunningham

Shane,

My late airplane mechanic used to say, "there's no such thing as a perfectly serviceable aircraft."

Ken
k v morton

Welcome to the South Steve-glad the journey went well -you will soon learn to avoid the M25 !!
Paul
P D Camp

Just checked my fuel figures. Many of you will know my saga of the slow release brakes I have suffered for the last few years. The combination of sorting them out, plus a decent long run has resulted in an improvement from 22.5 mpg to 32.7 mpg. Very happy bunny.

Steve
Steve Gyles

And Best Wishes from us! Happy house hunting. A disused motor-service centre sounds like the answer! Something with an extensive forecourt for parking mates cars, a bowser down the side, a water tap and air hose connection near the front roller-shutter door, a four poster hoist and extensive racking, bins and storage capacity. Given the slow but inevitable plod to older person status, a conveniently located toilet would be well considered. Oh, and a space for two or three potted plants out front, to soften the concrete and give the illusion of a garden. If your wife were to accompany you it may be prudent to look for something with a compact little apartment above.

Good luck, Barry
Barry Gannon

Barry

Her indoors had a good laugh. The ‘If’ is now ‘IF’

With a bit of luck the underground fuel tanks may have something left in them. Could be worth more than the entire accommodation.

Cheers

Steve
Steve Gyles

Just noticed that now you have moved "Darn Sarf" everyone seems to be replying to your thread! Forty odd replies so far.

Is it that MGA owners down there are puzzled why someone would actually go back there after living in the North and feel sorry for you?

Do they think that you have been away for so long that they think you are now really a Northerner and they wonder what it would be like to actually meet one?

Or maybe they are just as friendly in Sussex as I have found them to be everywhere in the country.

Hope you enjoy your move Steve, it sounds like you are going to be made really welcome down there.

Colyn


Colyn Firth

This thread was discussed between 13/06/2010 and 30/06/2010

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