i’m still freezing bloody cold just reading it lol!!!
newmercman:
Fun?Did you not read the story?
I think the words that Bullitt was looking for was “character building”. 
That’s when there were characters still around, as he said, we were very lucky to have done it in those days.
The lorries were pretty decent, apart from the cold and the mistake by the tyre fitter, even that past its sell by date Merc never missed a beat on that trip.
The roads were well worn out paths and decent eateries were everywhere.
We all used to meet up in those eateries and share stories and advice, the same happened in customs and at borders, you were never short of company or help if it was needed.
There were some weird customs amongst us, like changing tyres, in my experience every time I had to change a wheel my role was tea boy, the drivers that stopped to help did the graft, I just kept them supplied with a brew and tidied up after them.
Bloody good times and I made friends on the job that I’m still in contact with now and then there’s the extended network of kindred spirits on this forum that bring back old memories.
The time you have to remember is that if it all went fine there would be no tales to tell…
This bloke I knew asked me if I wanted to do a trip to Italy over Christmas… I was a bit short of cash and my wife advised me to go… When I got there it was an older Merc rather than the newer Turbo Star I was expecting… It was a load of antique furniture, so I was pretty light weight… I got sealed at Dover. went through France into Swiss… there was a bit of weather getting about but in general it was all going fine… I did the drop… a couple of collections and came home to my loving wife and appreciative family…
I know it was probably pretty crappy when it was going on… but at least you didn’t bale out like some would have done… and we all know at least a couple of those sort
I much prefer you version NNM defiantly a fair bit more stuff going on in it… It’s a good tale well told…
Such Fun !!!
Jeff…
I agree, those nightmare trips are the ones that are worth reading or writing about, the countless ones with no dramas can be condensed into a paragraph as you did above.
It’s why I don’t bother doing the diaries anymore, nothing to tell, I’m just running up and down the road.
I think the last one I did was when I got stuck in a snowstorm halfway up a mountain pass and when I jumped out to throw the tyre chains on I stood there watching my lorry sliding back down the mountain, plenty of drama that night and not an exercise I wish to repeat
Great read Mark one of those you look back and think WTF was I thinking even taking it out of the yard.
Still even 10 years ago it was a more intresting job was driving up river road last week see about 10 of our lorry’s all parked up on break everyone of them the driver sitting in the cab on his own reading the paper or on phone I pad etc would of always been in the cafe with each other years ago.
Mind you that’s socioty in general these days
Good story NMM, and excellently told.
I guess we all got ‘caught’ from time to time - normally when trying to help somebody out - but not as bad as you did here.
Thanks and best regards,
David
Cracking good read Mark, I thoroughly enjoyed it. Thanks for sharing.
ace story,same dung diff day stuff from times gone by…you could only imagine the Tosco types being confronted with the same scenario…or possibly you couldn’t, 
mushroomman:
newmercman:
Fun?Did you not read the story?
Yes, that sounds about right MM. Apologies to NMM, I wasn’t belittling your story. That sounded one nightmare trip. Im sure we have all had a least one bad one. 
Rick I was taking the ■■■■, not taking offence mate 
newmercman:
Rick I was taking the ■■■■, not taking offence mate
This is brilliant. Thank you!
Excellent tale Mark,
Reminds me of a few hairy adventures of my own many moons ago.
I drove several 1632s in the 1980s…fantastic truck in its day…ultra reliable and a lovely sound from the V10 when on full song and very well sprung. They gave a very comfortable ride on poor surfaces. The thermostats were definitely removed from your steed as I do remember mine had excellent heaters and the temperature gauge used to religiously sit just shy of the halfway mark. The only problem with the heater was the controls were mounted nearer the nearside of the cab and were quite a stretch to adjust from the driver’s seat.
I also recall you had to torque the wheelnuts and retorque them shortly after wheel fitment…otherwise it led to loose wheels…but I do remember the same precautions had to be taken with the LP 2024 I also ran.
It brought back great memories…looking forward to hearing more!
I couldn’t hear that lovely V10 rumble over the sound of my chattering teeth
Superb Mark. Well written.
Paul.
Very enjoyable Mark, have you any more tales from old? Solstor days perhaps?
Thank you all very much for the kind words, as it happens most of my career has been relatively trouble free…
However, I did work for some proper cowboys before I got a job at a reputable company and I do have a tale or two left up my sleeve.
I will start working on a little UK - Italy - Spain - UK trip that had more than its fair share of drama, again it was no fun while it was taking place, but a quarter of a century later it will hopefully be fun to read about.
Not sure this tale belongshere, but I did wish I hadn’t turned up that morning. I was driving a Transit subcontracted to a well known Pharmaceuticals factory in Thetford. I started deliveries to the hospitals in Banbury, Stratford on Avon, Leamington Spa, Warwick, Coventry, Walsall, then at the Queen Elizabeth got the message “Ring in when empty - urgent” I rang and said, still got 2 left Birmingham, walsall, Stourbridge, Solihall, Wourcester and Hereford on. “Perfect ring in when empty - got an urgent collection and delivery for you.”
Long story short - After Hereford, over Brecon to Cardiff Royal, picked up the base for an Artificial Kidney machine, Delivered to the Brompton in London, Back to Thetford at 5-30am following morning where there were 13 drops in London and Sussex/Kent ready to load. Dossed down for 3hrs then back on the road. Oh to be 23 yrs old again! Jim.
Did the heater work I’m the Transit?