Mervin update

Mervin is now looking better with his new seats and a clean up, the lettering removed and a few repairs done - like the back door now opens with the handle, and a high security lock has been fitted ot the back doors. Wednesday should see the start of the bodywork tidy up - the worse dents have been bashed out, and the filling and spraying started but not finished. For a £200 banger he's looking good.
Mervin has amazed me with his reliability so far, he drives like a dream and despite a tired sounding battery he never fails to start. Even better he is averaging over 50 mpg, which is more than I expected from a cube van.
Last week I used him for my park and ride scheme. This basically means I chuck my bike in the back of the van and drive the first 10 miles to work, then park up in Preston village before doing the last 6 1/2 miles by bike. 13 miles a day is about my limit until I build up my knee and calf muscles - a long term injury has left the cartlidge in my left knee totally knackered and the muscles have to work so much harder. This has lead to some comedy collapsing moments over the years where my leg has given way as I've been walking. It's more embarassing than it is painful - I sort of stagger suddenly as if drunk. My GP said I would just have to live with it as there was nothing to be done, but regular exercise seems to be helping in my opinion. I bought a stepper which I could only manage a minute or so on before my knee joint was on fire, but now I can go 12 or 15 minutes, I also got a stationary bike which has helped. With Mervins help I hope to use the cycle for work maybe once or twice a week for work (shifts permitting) and build it up so that eventually I might do the full 17 miles on the push iron.
In the meantime Mervin is proving very useful taking thngs to the tip, shopping and generally running about.
I discovered he has a very powerful alarm, and also a satelite tracking system (now defunct although the transmitter/reciever is still in place in the roof) I found the wiring for the amber beacons too, and it's still wired up to the switch. Guess what I've got sitting on a shelf in the garage? Yes, an amber beacon. That'll be another job to do then. I just need some ply to line out the load area and tidy that up and he'll be a very useful engine!