Weekly update - looks like its weekly updates while we still have the dark nights & I can't do anything during the week.

Took the other back panel out to find the nearside seatbelt mounts and pulled the carpet up so that I could see where best to have the strengthening plates welded on the floor. All seems clear enough. After some advice from Club 80-90 members again (cheers Ben, MetalMickey & anyone else I've forgotten), I took the rear pillar vents off on the outside & found the dimples for the shoulder loop mountings. Drilled a pilot hole through these and will cut the hole needed for the mounting plate nut to poke through. Will sort this once a Q Max hole cutter has been acquired - £12 on eBay - & then I can get up to Pauls to have the necessary welding done and the lowering done.

Finally took the old bed brackets out - another set of not very tight nuts/bolts. Have got a buyer for the old bed too. A bloke called Rob from Club 80-90 (hi, Rob - I know you read this!) wants a metal frame to replace the wooden set up he has at the moment and will be picking up at the end of Feb. Will have to get pics of the hob/oven and bucket seats sorted soon. Might be able to sell these on via Club 80-90 too - all funds gratefully received..........

eBay has seen some activity - bought a 3-way 12v socket & USB charger that will fit into the kickboard on the drivers side. Handy for coolbox, chargers, etc. Also watching a storage unit that seems ideal to site behind the drivers seat and bidding on a surfboard style table. 2mins 28 secs left - hang on.........................won it for £34. Need to pick up from Bury so will have a drive up there one night this week.

Will post some pic of the progress inside once belt mounts are done.

Finally got busy yesterday. Took the old bed out - rather worrying just how loose the old bolts were (mental note: use some kind of locknut when fitting new one) but at least it came out easily. Pulled the carpet lining off the back panel on the driver side & removed the panel to look for the seatbelt mounts. The bottom set of 3 holes are there for the bracket that holds the reel but no captive nut at the top for the shoulder loop. Ordered some plates from Brickwerks to be welded in. Best advice from Club 80-90 forum is to mount these behind the panel with a hole for the nut & puddle-weld them in for a neater finish. Will get Paul to do this when doing the lowering. Should be easy enough to thread the belt either over the top of the panel or cut a slot & fit some little plastic trims that I ordered when I got the belts so some progress there.

Measured up for the new back cushion from VolksWares & posted the template off. Delivery probably in about 3 weeks so want belts ready by then. Should be done nicely for half-term so I can start working through the list of Stuarts mates who want a drive round. Seem to me that a bus is the modern take on sweets & puppy dogs for luring young boys..............

Bought an awning - Khyam Driveaway XC. Pretty much the same design as the Navigator Kombi I've been looking at for months but £60ish cheaper. Khyam come well recommended on the Club 80-90 forums so happy enough to jump in.

Speaking of Club 80-90, it's a great website. Loads of advice, a sprinkling of characters and fellow obsessives. Look forward to meeting up at various shows - wonder if my usual social autism will get in the way. Coolbox or fridge definitely needed to keep my "social skills" cold.................

Mum on standby to make curtains - going up t'hills tomorrow night to see her for a measure up. Ann (my lovely wife) is still insisting on styling the interior so will be on the hunt for material soon.

Budget is stretching a bit but should be ok. Might not have the exhaust gold-plated now

Have finally ordered the bed & cushions - another £575 - got £40 off though as willing to wait until early Feb for delivery. This gives me time to sort the belts out.

Did an MPG test too - brimmed up, drove 100 miles over a few days (mix of town/motorway), brimmed up again & did the maths. 23mpg - not as bad as I'd feared for an old 1900cc and I suppose long steady motorway runs will improve upon this.

Been having trouble getting a spare ignition key cut. Have had to leave the key with a Local Shop (for Local People & that comparison isn't too far removed from the truth) and he/she/it is going to see a guy tomorrow who supplies blanks to see if they can find one. Suppose most shows will have specialist key cutters there so will have to try not to lose keys before DubFreeze on 20th Feb if no luck at The Local Shop.

That's that for now - will be taking out the old bed over the weekend & looking for the seatbelt mounts, weather, family & knees permitting................

All the ordered bits have arrived - Stus bedroom looks like a car parts shop as the boxes pile up in the corner. Will be ordering bed today & booking into Pauls garage for next week to get the lowering done.

Have had a look behind a couple of the trim panels in the back - no insulation - so will be doing that myself before fitting bed & belts. This should keep us all toasty when camping & further reduce noise when driving. Job list gets longer & longer though - as does the one inside the house - so will need a new full days to attack them both. Half Term hols in Feb look favourite.

Nothing since 12th Dec? What a lazy boy I've been................

What to report? Received the engine bay unit that fitted straight in & has deadened a lot of the engine noise. We can talk to each other on the move now as opposed to shouting. Overhead unit does not fit a T25 so I'm chasing the eBay seller for a refund. Not too bothered if he won't though as I'm pretty sure I got a bargain & could re-sell at a profit once I can stir myself to start listing things.

Have bought 50mm lowering kit & will get this fitted asap. Fitted new door mirror & light guards myself (can do anything that just involves a Phillips screwdriver). Thermal blinds & leisure battery kit has arrived, rear seatbelts are on their way, and have chosen upholstery for rear seat/bed. Will get this ordered early next week along with bed frame and foam. Going to strip out old bed asap & have a crack at fitting the new one myself along with the belts - money saved now will be a bonus in coming months.

Looking to make first show DubFreeze at the end of Feb - stay over if all done, day trip if not.

That's all for now - belated Merry Christmas to anyone who reads this (does anyone?) & a Happy 2011 to all..............except the coffin-dodger in her Peugeot 206 who pulled out in front of us on Chester Road yesterday. At least she proved that the brakes really do work although we got so close that I couldn't see the back of her car under the nose. The lights work too as I proved by chasing her for 400 yards on full beam. She didn't register that either - probably just saw Jesus beckoning her home. Elderly independence is one thing but I'd bet any amount that her reflexes & road awareness on her best day is worse than any of ours with an illegal amount of ale inside us. Doug Stanhope did a bit where he said that you should be allowed to take a drunk-drive test where if you can pass the test at a certain level, you get a license that allows you to drive up to that level. A little fatuous I know but hopefully you get the point....................

PS: snowy Bus pic included. Didn't really expect to pull off a handbrake turn but managed it - Stu turned a little green but he'll learn