Engine Trouble

Yesterday evening my neighbour called in to offer me a car. My own was giving me a serious amount of trouble last week. I'd go as far as to say that it was, in my opinion, totally banjaxxed! Sam from across the way is a mechanic for an opel dealer. He knows all there is to know about an engine, especially if it' an opel vectra engine like mine.
First the offer of a car for a few weeks, then a quick look at the engine...."Bring it down to my place and I'll have a quick look at it!" ...Before I knew what was happening he had the whole engine ripped apart to find what the problem was and by God he got to the route of it in double quick time. Now I don't know much about engines so when someone like Sam starts ripping pipes out and tearing at manifolds I just sit back and agree with the man. You just can't argue with the master of his trade when he is mid flow. He was fast too... even with one or two neighbours stopping by to have a chat about every thing and anything.
I must admit I felt a bit like a young fella not knowing what to do or say with fellas I don't really know all that well. So after all the pulling and dragging with a few jokes and old tales thrown in he gave me a list with what was needed to be done. Thats why I'm here at this very moment waiting for my engine to be skimmed by Murphy's Engineering of Douglas Street. I know my engine head is in the right hands. How do I know this? Well the man in Murphy's had dirty oil all over his hands...always a good sign I think. If your willing to get that dirty you must know what your doing!
So I'm stuck in Cork for a few hours waiting for the job to be done and hopefully tomorrow my car should be formula one ready again. Looks like I'm stuck with it for a while yet. It has served me well through the years....sigh!!

Path to Cork

My older brother has always been up for a challenge and he was one of those people that has had a lasting and beneficial influence on my life. It may have been without him even knowing it but his input into the route of my life has taken me places I would probably not have gone. Firstly there was his interest in certain kinds of music and everything that came with it. It's amazing how one person can have such an affect.
I know that I have probably had a similar affect on him in regards to music also. We feed off each other. It's a thing thats in the blood...we feel the need to know what each is listening to...whats new on the scene? At the moment he is in the middle of preparing for the Cork city Marathon in June and I know he will do well. His blog www.pathtocork.wordpress.com is a minefield of interesting and witty facts of the ups and downs of his preparation. Check it out all you novice runners out there. I wish I could be there alongside him all the way to the finish but alas I will have to wait till next year.