Hello folks ... I've finally gotten around to dropping y'all a line. (I arrived in country in mid-October, but I just moved into my flat and got my internet connection two weeks ago, and I've been kinda busy since then, trying to get the place organized). I saw the post about all the great autox results, CONGRATULATIONS to all the great MINI drivers!

Lucy hasn't arrived yet, but she should be once again motoring around on English soil by the end of next week. I'm to go pick her up on Nov 30th. So far I haven't found a buddy to drive with me back to Cheltenham ... yikes! The pickup area is about a half-hour outside of London (so it's a 1.5-2 hr drive, depending on traffic) and I haven't done any driving here yet!! I'll be attending a Thanksgiving party this weekend though, hopefully I can convince someone there to come with me.

I don't really miss Hawaii yet, but I do miss all my MINI friends. I had so much fun at autox and talking about MINIs and stuff at MINI events. I hope everyone is doing well. :smile:

I plan on sending out regular mostly humorous e-mails to family and friends about my experiences here in da UK. If anyone would like to be included on that mailing list, PM me with your e-mail address and I'll put it on my list.

Happy Motoring,

MINIangelD

P.S. Stoopid question - do MINIs in the U.S. have turn indicators on the side of vehicle, or is that chromy bit above the front tires just a chromy bit? Thanks.

 

Yep I have a nice orange blinker right above my front wheels, Need to upgrade it to Black.

 

MINIangelD,

We miss you. Even at autocross we miss you.

Good to hear you got there safely and soon you'll get your MCS.

Let us know how you are doing and if you find any neat UK MINI stuff.

 

Howdy Angel! So how's jolly old England? Last time I was there was 20 years ago, but I had a blast!

Please be careful driving on the roads in the UK as you have a LHD in country with RHD's. It'll be quite interesting to pull up next to another MCS and the driver is literally right next to you!

Take care and check in frequently!

 

England is treating me pretty good. Today we had our first snowfall for the winter! Nothing accumulated, though (doesn't usually pile up in this part of the country). The snowflakes were big and heavy, so heavy that I could hear them hitting the window. (No, it wasn't hail ... they were floating. ) I heard somewhere once that the bigger the snowflake, the warmer the temperature, so that should give you some indication that it's not really all that cold (probably in the upper 30s).

 

From Hawaii to London?? Now thats a big change. What r u doing in the UK? So what part of London are you living in? I know driving in Central London is a pain. The tube is the best way to get around in the city.....unfortunatley that means less time driving

 

You could "hear" snowflakes hitting your window? Unbelievable.
With my loud exhaust I can't even hear my stereo! Well, maybe a little.

Maybe you have "good" ears. I have damaged hearing from working summers in the Dole pineapple cannery a long time ago.

I've been to London twice the last few years to visit MINI dealerships. Might be neat to stop by one to say hello and appreciate the differences. They don't have many new MINIs, mostly used ones which they call-
"Cherrished" MINIs. Yeah, right. They are used. And in London even the used ones are expensive.

Hopefully you have some reasonable insurance rates from the US. People often complain of the higher rates in the UK for the MCS.

 

I came here on a job transfer. I am living in Cheltenham, not London, but I am taking the bus to work, as it is the best way to get to work due to the lack of parking around here. So even when Lucy does get here, I will only be driving on the weekends.

Minihune, I got my insurance from GEICO's overseas division, and it's not too bad, it's about how much I was paying in Hawaii (also a high insurance rate area).