My potted side of the story....
0200: Finally finish packing and take a couple of pics with the car pretty much ready to go for the 0515 meet.
0210: Remember Ken's email about sucking eggs... What docs to take for the Gendarmes. Like reg and insurance docs etc.
0215: Locate XI file and dig out docs.
0215:07: Note with horror that MOT has, literally, just expired. Not next week. Not after the weekend, but just now!
0215:09 - 0215:45: F**********************************###%*%#%*}*%@@@@@@****%%#%###%#%#%
0220: Email Ken. Go to sleep. Nothing can be done right now.
0500: Catch up with boys. Insults well deserved.
0900: Rebook ferry for that evening. Designed to arrive in France at first light. Not the CLM campsite at midnight!
0945: New MOT issued. XI was flawless, as usual!
1000: Boys send pics of car deck, empty chair in bar etc etc. Feeling very sheepish, but things are looking up.
1400: "You might get here before us!" Ken has had a fuel pump failure just outside St Mere Eglise!
1410: I'm just leaving to see my girlie in Salisbury. Only another 49 mins of driving to Portsmouth. Offer to pick up a pump. Boys remind me that Burlen are in Sarum. One call later, and a pump is put to one side. Fast drive down to make Sarum before they close.
1630: New pump safely stowed. Lovely place they have there, and met a very nice chap who had just purchased Nick Swift's XI. Bet that goes like stink!! Pointed him in the direction of this place.
1645: Dinner, chill etc etc.
1930: Blast off for Portsmouth. Massive misfire on M27. Oh no!
2030: Nurse SKK into queue. Some amazing hardware is being assembled!!
Check under the bonnet and find a split vacuume hose end, and pipe dangling. Taped up with help from other gentleman drivers. Memo: order new part.2230: gingerly take the lowest XI in history onto the ramp up into the ferry. Many many eyes watching for grounding. I am confident, because the Nissan GTR is saw in the queue was only a Rizla thickness on the ground and he got on!!
2300: Underway!! Settle into my recliner for the night, with my ham wraps and a coup,e of apples.
0600: wake and notice we are approaching Caen port. Time travel!! Ace!
0610: Start up and edge the XI into the sunshine on a gorgeous French morning....
To be continued....