Class of 14/15 Pass Out - Thursday 11th June 2015

A momentous day was reached today, with the Class of 14/15 taking their final exams and completing their City & Guilds Diploma, Level 3 Advanced Motor Vehicle Diagnostics Course. Very much a day of mixed emotions for myself, on the one hand happy having completed a 3 year programme of hard study and examination, yet on the other, saying farewell to a group of fellow students and Tutors with whom I have been in the presence of for the past 3 years.

The experience has most definitely been the re-making of me, and I would thoroughly endorse it to anyone who may be considering re-training, or wishing to gain additional knowledge and confidence as a result of it.  I continue to work for my current employer, however having now undergone this experience, I remain focussed upon attaining some form of employment within the field of Education, in whatever form that it may reveal itself.  Focussed and buzzing I remain - Thank you One and all very much indeed.

The Garage - Friday 5th June 2015

New Blue 2 Post Ramp to increase lift capacity

Not much in the way of automotive maintenance today due to garage re-furbishment work. I have been away for the past week visiting family for half term, and I was most surprised to return and find an additional 2 poster in the Main Workshop.  Clever bit of space management!

After initially assisting Dave refit a front bumper and grill to a Jeep Cherokee, I was required to sit inside the vehicle to operate the throttle and bleed the cooling sytem - Due to the width of the vehicle, an access issue became apparant and a slim volunteer was therefore required!  With the Jeep satisfactorarily road tested it was then down to paint stripping, scraping, brushing and mopping in readiness for a new coat of paint.

Dan on the Mop

We were assisted by a favourable breeze which assisted with the floor drying process, and then it was down to a bit of trigonometry in marking out the bays ready to be painted.

Andy "Pythagoras"
Kirby at work

After confirming satisfactory alignment and tolerances, it was time to mark out the bays with masking tape.

Anyone for
Badminton?

With all three 2 Post Bays marked out it was time to bring out the roller and pole, and a tin of very red paint!  Extremely smart!

Bay 1 nearly done

You missed a bit Dan!

Professionally timed "Photo-bomb"
by Jim! Outstanding agility and
ability!

Bay 2 was almost complete when the big hand was on 12 and the little one was on 4, whereupon I was required to be elsewhere. Due to the imminent cessation of College Studies next Thursday (final exam), I will be putting in some additional hours at the garage as;

a. I would otherwise go off the boil and lose focus, and;

b. I enjoy being there!  Great crew and experiences forevermore - thanks guys,  See you all on Monday and Happy Friday!