Aaron Donohoe

Wow I’ve lasted a month - that’s three weeks longer than I thought! Anyway, feck all happening in Donohoe Towers at the moment. Just usual the monotonous humdrum activities which are drawing me closer to boderline insanity. I’ve decided to drop some bits as it wasn’t going down too well, either way the Videos and jokes weren’t fitting in with the post as a whole. Still needs must, stiff upper-lip and all that:

Tooth Ache: Having been carefully dodging the dentist for many years following some ‘experiences’ in my younger years I fret that I will have to straddle their chair once again - well I don’t know if you straddle or just lie there? Either way I just like saying straddle, and I’ve a whopper tooth ache which needs some fixin’. My last dentist was a Frank Spencer type, I went for a filling and came out with an extraction! Anyway, my new dentist looks a bit like Moe Syzlak…

Motoring: Some more car crusades me bucko’s. Have been whoring away under the bonnet of my car the past few days pulling things off ( ) and putting things in. Got through a sizable chunk from my last blog post in reference to what my car needs for NCT, such as new key, battery and a service. Previous owner must’ve been a dirty fucker as the engine, outside and inside of the car are manky - need a paint scraper to clean it!

Feeds: Have to sort out my feeds, they’ve gone mad. The blog feeds have disappeared since the move so I’ll have to get the sorted. Was thinking of sorting out a Feedburner account - make it easier on everyone. Also have to sort out Google Reader it’s gone wonky again, it’s time to send those threatening letters to Google HQ again

IWA: Well the Irish Web Awards were held the other day, meant to go myself but I’ve been too busy to get the chance to . Looks like it was a good night, technical glitches and all…!

A bit brief and slightly delayed…but it’ll do!

Nothing got to do with web development, but motors instead - I can hear the groans already! Anyway, gave the car a once over with a fine tooth comb to see what needs doing, or what will need doing soon. Came up with a shortlist of the following:

Replace Head Gasket - new gasket kit, shims and have to get head skimmed. Will also replace water pump, thermostat, aux. belt & cambelt whilst I’m here. No ‘mayo‘ under oil filler cap, or oil in water, but failure on outside of Gasket as leaking oil between block and head.

Radiator Hoses - I noticed that the radiator wasn’t holding any pressure, and coolant levels had dropped considerably. Tried to bleed radiator - open bleed screw and squeeze hoses, but when squeezing bottom hoses I could feel something inside and it was slightly perished. Only a few Euro, and held on by a jubilee clip. Will give me opportunity to change coolant and and bleed system thoroughly - will be done during HG replacement.

Full Service - Oil is a bit grubby, last service was 2 years ago, so I’m sure it’s well overdue. It hasn’t been driven on the oil, but leaving it idle with the oil in it isn’t good. Needs new spark plugs, HT leads, new battery and new filters. Will also clean block and dress engine whilst I’m here (have to impress NCT guys)

Wheel Bearing - Front wheel bearing is humming slightly. On its way out, better to change it sooner rather than later…I don’t want my front wheel overtaking me - I don’t need to know how robust my brake discs are!

Brakes - Life still in pads, but they will need doing in the near future so will do them now whilst I’m doing the Wheel bearing. Could do with adjusting handbrake cable too.

Other - Bodywork needs a tidy, two dents - one on drivers door (minor) and one on boot lid (big enough), will probably pull the one on the door out with a suction cup, but the boot lid might be difficult as it’s on a curve - but might be able to beat it out! Will look 100x better with a good wax and polish and I’ll run over it with a clay bar also.
Need to reattach the rear view mirror and tidy the mess the former owner left the electrics in - home fitted radio and speakers…which look rubbish, I’ll tidy the wiring and put them somewhere more discreet. There’s also some cheap Halfords “GX” badges on it, I don’t need my car to have a fake veneer on it!

It’s a list alright, most would probably scrap the car, but I’m doing the work myself and all will be done around the time of the Head Gasket replacement. I’ve done one before so I’ve a good idea of what I’m doing, costs will be kept to a minimum, I anticipate to spend around €150-€175 on parts and accessories, and seeing as the car was free it will only owe me around €450 (inc. tax).

On another note, I’m afraid I’m up to my old tricks again RE: Vintage Buses. I’m off to inspect a potential preservation project in the next couple of days, I’ve promised myself that I’ll focus headlong on my Leaving Cert, but if it comes to it, and it does come my way, I’ll put it into storage until next June.

It is with great relief that I can say that I’m a free man for three months! I finished up for the last time on Thursday with Business - both History & Business exams went very well in my opinion, came out of both of them after an hour and a bit really happy with what I submitted.

Of course, here I am whining about a few summer assessment exams, while there are Leaving Cert students nationwide who are pulling their hair out and cramming those last bits in! I have a few friends who are doing the Leaving Cert this year, although they are grand on the facade, they are pretty stressed and worried. I’ve only done my Junior Cert a few years ago, and found you calm down after the first exam - although it could be a different story with the Leaving Cert, as unlike the Junior Cert you’ve to study for it!

As soon as I was finished, I was ushered into work by ‘the boss‘. He had bought two new coaches and had no one to help move them, although I haven’t a license for a bus, I have got one for a car. So my job was to drop him to the dealer to pick up the first bus, and follow him to our depot, then do the same for the second one. I felt very honoured, as not everyone is allowed to drive Steve’s classic S-Class Merc!

I’m presently waiting for a few call backs on job applications, I’ve put a few fingers in some pies, as I want to make some money this summer. I now own more vehicles then I did last summer, so that means more expense. I also have the burden of Car Insurance, increases in Petrol prices (although I’m considering getting a Diesel) and I’ve to pay more for my hosting as I’m presently moving all my websites onto a new hosting account - a master reseller account.

Also, you may note I’m somewhat getting into this Twitter thing. I’m presently experimenting on some services and plugins for Twitter, such as Twitterfone and Twitterfox. There are more, but I’ve either dumped them or haven’t yet tried them, I have intentions on doing a review on them shortly.

I’m way to bust lately to be blogging, I just had a spare half hour to throw up a post - not even on the computer neither. I’m blogging on the laptop whilst doing a history essay and renewing a few domains at the same time - who says men can’t multi-task?

Between school, and other online work I haven’t the time to blog, I’ve three websites to get up in the next few weeks - I’ve a habit of starting (designing) and not finishing them, the arduous task of making the content! I also want to get a portfolio online to showcase my work (what little there is!).

In the time since I’ve last blogged I’ve gotten on the road to nowhere, I’ve ‘acquired’ my first car - and two days later acquired my second car . Both Fiat Punto’s, I know you’ll be gritting your teeth at the unreliability and cheap feel of them, but I got both for free - one a 1999 1.2 60S from ‘Payne in the Arse‘, which needs a new camshaft and some other minor work, and the other a 1997 55SX from my uncle - he bought it for my cousin to start driving and she had other ideas. It was a wreck when he got it, but as he’s a mechanic he put a new engine into it, 5 new tyres and a fresh NCT.

So now I’ve motivation to get my Full License, which I hope to get come June. I would have done more driving lessons - if Irish School of Motoring hadn’t ‘lost’ my file after I paid for 5 hours of lessons and only partook of one! For shame ISM!

And on another note - we’ve painted the bus! My uncle (same one who gave me the Punto), gave his time to paint and buff the bus, a big job. We’ve only got it white so far, and we’re awaiting a sign writer to apply blue and navy striping and logos. The pic below is of it in Greystones on Saturday 5th of April 2008, still requiring completion - needed corner trim, wheel trims, a good waxing and striping.

For those who are interested, we’re organising a run upto Belfast in the above bus for a show held up there annually. It’s not an anorak event, but a gathering of vintage cars, buses, trucks and anything else with Irish heritage. Click here for more info.