As many of you know, I was first introduced to the programme probably twenty-odd years ago by my younger sister, Susie. I was out west for a Webb School reunion and Susie and I spent some time mooching around with family and friends in southern California. I am thinking it must have been 1994 because, if I remember, I had visited with Mom and Dad in Prescott and we had then driven across to Atascadero where Hope, I believe, was about thirty-seven months pregnant with the infant that became Greg. On that visit Steph & Hope introduced me to the Atascadero Red Light Roundup<\/a> as well as the first (and only) drive-thru grocery store I\u2019ve ever visited. Steph and Hope were in the process of selling their house in Fallbrook and, at the conclusion of my visit, Steph very kindly drove me down to Fallbrook where I was eventually collected by sister Sallie. Susie flew down from Portland and she and I spent a few days slowly migrating our way up the coast courtesy of a couple of lifts from friends of hers. (This was the occasion when Susie single-handedly stuffed up Sallie\u2019s septic system).<\/p>\n All during our time together Susie kept bleating on and on about a radio program she had started listening to \u2013 Car Talk on NPR. She kept telling me how funny these guys were, how the older brother, Tommy, could never remember last week\u2019s puzzler and how their signature sign-off was \u201cDon\u2019t drive like my brother!\u201d \u201cAnd don\u2019t drive like my brother!\u201d She was convinced I would love it and desperately wanted me to hear the show but every time it was on during our visit together we were busily engaged in something else (or we just plain forgot). So, I flew back to the UK none the wiser but I do remember wondering what all the fuss was about. When I got home I thought nothing more about it.<\/p>\n Until a month or so later when a parcel arrived from the Pacific Northwest. Inside were four or five audio cassette tapes, each of which contained one Car Talk show. Susie had carefully recorded them including turning the tape over during the half time break to catch the second (and third) half of the show. Within about three minutes of listening to the first tape I was hooked. Who cares about car advice and diagnostics, these guys were very, very funny, and I began listening to the shows on my daily commute to work.<\/p>\n At that time, Car Talk was not available in the UK and so I relied on Susie to keep me supplied. Every month or so a new parcel would arrive with the latest recordings. I was a bit concerned that she was breaking some sort of FCC regulation \u2013 surely recording something from the radio and sending it overseas must be some sort of federal crime! But, I wasn\u2019t about to ask her to stop.<\/p>\n After listening to a few episodes on my drive to work, I began sharing the tapes amongst my friends and colleagues. They also came to enjoy the show and there was occasionally some disagreement as to who should be first to receive the next batch of tapes.<\/p>\n Regular as clockwork, the tapes would arrive.<\/p>\n Most of the time.<\/p>\n Occasionally, there would be long hiatuses between parcels. Oddly, enough, these interruptions in service generally coincided with Susie\u2019s dating a new boyfriend and reordering her priorities somewhat. Eventually, though, the deliveries would resume and I could continue to develop my automotive knowledge and be thoroughly entertained along the way.<\/p>\n Eventually, of course, the programme became available on the net and now I download the podcast of the week\u2019s show anytime I want. The boys stopped broadcasting new stuff at the end of 2012 but they still put out a recycled show once a week which is still every bit as entertaining. Particularly when, like me, you can\u2019t remember last week\u2019s puzzler.<\/p>\n Thanks for all the laughs and don\u2019t drive like my brother.<\/p>\n For those of you who are not on Pam\u2019s Weekly Whiner mailing list, you might enjoy Steven White\u2019s video of the microburst at Lake George<\/a>. This gives you a much better idea of the extent of the damage caused by the storm in August. As Pam said in her note \u2013 count the number of times Sandy says, \u201cWow!\u201d<\/p>\n And finally, a couple of lousy photos from my phone of the rainbow we trudged through at Edgecote while walking Molly the other day. A bit damp but highly enjoyable at the same time.<\/p>\n Love to you all,<\/p>\n Greg<\/p>\n <\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":" Good morning \u2013 I hope it\u2019s fine wherever you are. We\u2019ve finally shaken off the jet lag and, alas, the warm tranquility of the California sunshine\u00a0is rapidly becoming just another fading memory. It\u2019s certainly been \u201ctranquil\u201d here but not quite perhaps so warm. Compared to southern California, it’s been positively parky\u00a0which has necessitated the deployment … <\/p>\n![\"Tom](\"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/www.stragnell.com\/befoulednews\/\/wp-content\/uploads\/2014\/11\/tom_and_ray.jpg?resize=525%2C359\")
<\/a><\/p>\n![\"Rainbow\"](\"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/www.stragnell.com\/befoulednews\/\/wp-content\/uploads\/2014\/11\/rainbow_01-300x225.jpg?resize=300%2C225\")
<\/a>![\"Rainbow\"](\"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/www.stragnell.com\/befoulednews\/\/wp-content\/uploads\/2014\/11\/rainbow_02-300x225.jpg?resize=300%2C225\")
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