[Madpaddy]

My work requires that I have to go on a six month training course starting next October or so. I will need a car for this because public transport in Ireland isn't so much a joke as the complete series of Monty Python's flying circus.

I toyed with the idea of renting a car but this would cost thousands for that length of time. However, .... (insert preferred deity here) is good. My wife's friend has just bought a new BMW mini cooper and her old car is a 1988 Toyota Starlet with a 1 litre engine. She brought over her new car last night to show us (I did a great job pretending to be happy for her - the wife would have killed me if I started my usual PO rant). The friend has a problem though - she was going to have to pay to get rid of the old car. I told her I would take it off her hands for nothing (amn't I lovely). This thing is a piece, and I really mean, a piece of shit. 2 years ago I wouldn't even have accepted a lift in this thing, but I am so proud to have obtained a mechanically sound vehicle which will get me out of a bind for nada, zero, nothing.

I would like to thank peakoil.com for changing my perceptions and saving me a fortune.

[Sys1]

LOL

[Jack]

Congratulations! That's a great way to solve a problem!

I confess that I'm a bit jealous; I've always wanted to see Ireland - really see it, over a period of several months, or more - but various commitments have prevented it.

Enjoy an extra helping of potatoes for me, please!

[Madpaddy]

Jack,

Do you like the potatoes, mashed, fried, boiled, roasted, baked or sauteed.

[Aaron]

Our pleasure Paddy,

BTW - I'm told our family line comes from an Irish carpenter immigrant, & is a misspelling of the name Dunlop, which I am told is a physical place in Ireland.

Any knowledge of Dunlop?

[Madpaddy]

Aaron,

Dunlop is a family name based mainly in the North East part of Ireland. I don't know if you have heard of the famous motorcyclist Joey Dunlop.

http://freespace.virgin.net/yer.maun/career.htm

Never heard of Dunlop as a place though.

I do however know many Irish carpenters

A phenomenal amount of guys I know who did carpentry emigrated to America including my wife's uncle who has a successful business in California.

[Aaron]

Well this would have been over 150 years ago so you might not have known him.



We actually still have his original tools, (which he apparently fashioned himself).

I was told Dunlop refers to a place outside Ayrshire and means roughly "hill around the bend".

[UncoveringTruths]

Congrats on your shitbox. Thats what me and my buddys called these types of cars in highschool. We would modify these cars by cutting the roofs off and drive them around town till the wheels fell off.

[Madpaddy]

Yeah, Shitbox just about covers it but shitheap would be more accurate.

Ayrshire, Aaron is in Scotland but the Irish did rule that area back in the 6th century or so. Dunlop means muddy hill I think.

[Permanently_Baffled]

Hi Paddy.

I have to join Paddy in thanking PO.com , not just because it has completely changed how I look at things, it has probably saved me from going bankrupt! (about a year ago I was about to blow my savings on a nice new car , now I am concentrating all my resources on clearing the mortgage before things get messy!)

As a result I still drive a 1996 ford escort with 120,000 miles on the clock which I share with my wife. It needs £500 a year maintenance but hell this is better than blowing £20000 on a car amd then have to hand it back when I get thrown out of work!)

Well done and thanks to Aaron/Dan and all the PO crowd!! When I am debt free I shall send a significant contribution through on paypal!

PB

[Aaron]

$this->bbcode_second_pass_quote('Madpaddy', 'Y')eah, Shitbox just about covers it but shitheap would be more accurate.

Ayrshire, Aaron is in Scotland but the Irish did rule that area back in the 6th century or so. Dunlop means muddy hill I think.

[Jack]

$this->bbcode_second_pass_quote('Madpaddy', 'J')ack,

Do you like the potatoes, mashed, fried, boiled, roasted, baked or sauteed.