Time for a brake break

So in a couple of weeks time Dave will be taking us off to France for a holiday, we have booked a lovely cottage on a working farm near Pluduno in Cotes-d'Armor. So stay tuned for lots of French adventures.

So having got an advisory at the last service that I would need pads and discs at the next service and having covered 6,000 miles since the service I thought I would check the pads. I found them a little low and although should be good for a few thousand more miles I decided to get the brakes sorted before we went away.

So a quick call to Dacia and a quote of £270 inc VAT fitted, I checked the labour time and was quoted 1.2 hours.

For many years prior to getting Dave I used a small garage in New Yatt called Storm Autos, run by a couple of cracking guys who always provided excellent service. So having checked my warranty I found that I could get them to carry out work on Dave as long as OE spec parts are fitted and they are VAT registered. Storm also told me if I wanted to source my own parts they are happy to fit them.

Thanks to a previous thread on DaciaForum I sourced a set of TRW OE Spec front vented discs for £15 the pair, I contacted my local autofactors and paid £27 for a set of TRW OE pads.

So off to Storm we went this morning, up went Dave on the 2 poster (also gave me my first chance to have a proper look underneath him) and 45 minutes later, new pads and discs fitted (Remember Dacia stated 1.2 hours).

After a bit of a natter about Dave, his plate, the EU referendum and a cup of tea I was back on my way home. And the charge £50 including VAT.

So that makes a total cost of £92, a massive saving over Dacia's £270!

Thanks guys.

Dave having a splash and a belated birthday present

Bank Holiday weekend saw us driving upto the Lake District after a quick overnight stop in Ironbridge.

When we arrived Saturday the weather was stunning and the lakes looked as beautiful as ever.

But in true Bank Holiday style it wasn't going to last and the following morning's dog walk was a little damp!

However the area still looked magnificent despite the weather.

All that rain did give me a chance for a little play though.

We also clocked up another milestone.

Back to the belated birthday, Dave was 2 years old at the beginning of the month.

So I bought him a little treat. I love these.