The day of the MOT came around quickly. I'd managed to get some garage time in the night before to check it all over. It appeared fine - lights worked, battery charged, nothing too obvious to me.

The morning started well - I was up on time, out the house on time, and with little traffic on the roads, made it to the garage in good time. Then it started going downhill.

It started with me not being able to open the garage door - it got stuck on something, and only gentle persuasion with the right shoulder managed to shift it (and wake up the neighbours). I rolled the car out the garage, reconnected the battery, and started the car. Cough, splutter, dead. I'd forgotten to disarm the immobiliser. Not to worry, try again. The engine didn't catch though, it was like the battery was dead. I left it for a few minutes and tried again, and it just caught. Thank God...

All togged up, I set out on to the open road - my first drive with brooklands screens and mini-mirrors! It was virtually impossible to see anything behind me, I definitely need the centre mirror, and will think about fitting that as soon as possible!

I'd barely gone 200 yards, when, approaching a roundabout, I flicked the indicator switch and got the frantic high speed beep of a dead bulb. Not now... Nothing for it, but to push on - I don't have any spares back in the garage, but the MOT station will have something I'm sure. Glad I have my basic toolkit...

Nothing else went wrong, really, apart from the brakes not being very good, but I gave them a good workout to make sure the new pads were slightly bedded in. Something wasn't quite right, but the car stopped so I pushed on.

On arrival at the test station, I set about fixing the indicators. I checked the earths, nothing. Then, I swapped bulbs around to try to identify the problem - earth or bulb. And guess what? They were all fine after that. Not sure why, and I won't ask!

Watching the car being driven over the pit had my heart in my mouth. And then, after some minutes poking about, the tester came in and summoned me to the inspection pit.

Him: "Your car's got no brakes."
Me: "Yes it has, it stops perfectly well."
Him: "You have a go."
Me: "Ok"

So in I hop, and the pedal is even spongier than before... I press with all my might and just about manage to make the minimum braking efficiency, but can't lock the wheels. Perhaps it's the new pads...

So I scrape a pass, get my certificate and head to a post office to collect my tax disc! PING!

The handbrake goes... I just can't get a break.

Taxed up, I take the car back to the garage and leave it there for another time.

When I came back to the car, it turned out that the adjusting collar on the handbrake had slipped down the threads or was just not seated right in the first place. The part of the cable that went around the pulley at the lever end was also not seated in the groove properly, so a cable tie to hold it in place was employed, and I tightened it all up, and got a good four clicks.

Then I remembered I had to put the tunnel top on again... Ah sod it, I'll try putting it back on without slackening off the handbrake. And I manage! After much pushing, shoving and swearing, it goes on, and breaks the 12V accessory socket now flapping around under the dash!

Another test drive (via the Kent Weald meet) and the brakes were still not at their best. The pedal seemed to just keep going, and didn't pump up. According to the experts, this meant the master cylinder was leaking past the seals, not that there was air in the system. Not good news.

Back to the garage, tail between my legs, and on to the wanted forum to beg for another master cylinder.

I now have a replacement, and a hi-effort pedal too, which will hopefully reduce the travel a touch. Update to follow...

One day it will be finished!!!