Preparations in full swing!

It feels like we have been preparing for a long time now but really we have just begun. The long haul of getting the ginger car in a fit state to get to the motorway (let alone all the way around Europe) is finally nearing completion. We have now started doing the fun stuff and stocking up for the trip!

The check list is impressive;

• Passports


• Driving Licenses - we are still waiting for John's new photo one - but not panicking yet...


• Insurance documents


• Car log book


• MOT certificate - got a nice new one!


• Medical insurance card


• Breakdown cover


• Roadmaps of Europe


• Sat Nav


• Headlight adapters


• Warning triangle


• Fluorescent jacket


• Spare bulb kit


• First Aid kit


• Fire Extinguisher


• Tool kit


• Crash Helmet for track day


• Red Bull and Buzz Gum!!!

There is also an "if you have space"

• Tyre weld or mini spare


• Spanner/socket set


• pliers


• oil


• cable ties


• gaffer tape


• water


• petrol can (with petrol in it!)


• spare fuses


• wheel brace and jack


• hose clips


• cooland hose repair kit


• coil of stout wire (to tie your exhaust on with when it falls off!)

We are taking EVERYTHING on both lists as well as some extras - oh the joy of an enormous boot!

• Haynes manual - bible for how to mend car!


• tow rope


• extra oil (special stuff for our old girl)


• pillow - for sleepy heads in the middle of night drive


• spare parts - hoses, spark plugs, etc


• mobile phone - for when we break down in the middle of the night/on top of a mountain!


• laptop - to keep you up to date


• Sports mix sweeties


• A big bag of GOOD LUCK

Fame at last!

John is famous! We have had a few mentions in various magazines, yesterday we received this months copy of Touchline magazine (it's the rugby magazine from Twickenham!) It's a really nice write up, John is very excited about it!

You may recognize the picture, it is the one we used on our website here. The picture was taken last year by the signpost that said "L'Alpe Du Grand Serre" (the start of the REALLY BIG MOUNTAINS in the Alps. Thats why John is looking excited and a little scared!

Back to this year at the moment everything is so far so good. The ginger car is now the proud owner of an MOT certificate and we had a short test run on Sunday. It went well but we have decided to fit a new thermostat and a new top hose on the radiator. The car was running slightly hotter than we thought it should (it had a new radiator last year so it isn't that) it is more a case of being on the safe side - we really don't want an overheating car on our big adventure! That means this weekends work is organised!

Update on Ginger...

It's less than four weeks before we set off and the ginger car is still in the garage! So far she has has had her electrics checked, her spotlights put back on, the cigarette lighter works again (and we need that for Sat Nav!!) and made the horn work again - we need that for the MOT!

We also had a bit of a problem with the battery draining itself overnight so obviously that was a top priority, I really did not want to ask a Ferrari driver if I could use his car to jumpstart ours every morning on the Cannonball Run!!!

Now every thing electrical is up and running so a big thank you to Phil Benson he did a brilliant job.

Now the car is at a different garage (Phil only does electrics)having last minute things done like a spot of welding on the sills, little bits and pieces and then an MOT. After all of that the car gets to come home and we get to test drive to make sure everything is ok before the adventure begins!

Would you like a pretty picture?

We have been framing canvas pictures for nearly a year now! We sell them in our shop and they are a great success. We can now offer them to our internet customers! And of course at the same prices as the shop, i.e. no postage and packing! The beauty of these pictures is that they are completely personal as it is your picture that we frame.

1. You email us the image you want.




2. You tell us the size you would like.




3. We print the image onto canvas.




4. We frame the canvas.




5. And we put it in the post to you!

The only things you have to worry about is making sure the subject in the picture is not too close to the edge, as the framing involves wrapping the canvas around the bars, we don't want to chop the top of your head off!!!

The canvas pictures have been very popular (especially in the run up to Christmas) they are also very popular for birthdays. We have also done christenings and this morning framed a picture celebrating cycling from John O'Groats to Lands End! Anything to do with sporting achievements is also popular, we have done pictures of everything from cross country running, equestrian to ballet! Have a look and see what you would like done! You can find out more information by going to our website http://www.kc-inks.co.uk/PHOTO_CANVAS_PRINTING/PHOTO_CANVAS_PRINTING/

This is so new we haven't even got a button on the front page - but it is so exciting I just couldn't wait to tell you!

YAY! We have success!!!

We had some really good news today! We are on the first page of Google!!!! We have been working very hard "behind the scenes" on SEO (Search Engine Optimization) and this is an incredible result!

We have been targeting certain key phrases they are:

• EPSON INK T0715



• EPSON INK CARTRIDGES T0715



• EPSON T0715 MULTIPACK INK

I know that this doesn't make a huge difference to you dear customer (because you are already here!) but it will do a lot to get our name out there to new customers. And we are really excited about that!