Every Little Helps!!

Hello again everyone.
Unless you’ve started a 5 minute job on your Land Rover and it’s ended up taking several months (we’ve all been there) you will no doubt be aware that covid-19 has upset normal life somewhat, with nowhere being untouched by this - even us here in Shetland.
So, our series 2a marshal ambulance rescue restoration has had to be stopped.
Our chassis builder contacted us and told us that he has had to stop, which of course we fully understand.
The other problem we have is if you read my last article is that, the sheds currently being used to winter store boats where we intend to work are still full.
They are having to remain full and isolation will mean many boats will remain dry for the longest they have ever been since they were all trees or fibre glass.
So, there is no room in the inn for “Boudicca” (yes that’s the ambulances name)
Anyways, I have spent the last couple of weeks in isolation with the rest of the lucky part country, that is not on the front line and have been spending my time pacing around, annoying my other half and fighting over who gets to go out to the shop.
So, when I excitedly seen on a local Facebook page that a Tesco delivery driver sent out a distress call that read “help Tesco delivery van stuck in ditch”
What I actually read was, not far from me someone was in great peril and that only I, and my mighty defender could save them.
So I took off like a teenage boy who’d just been texted by his girlfriend “my parents are out *aubergine emoji* *peach emoji* *wink face emoji*“
Even after reading a comment on the post saying that a “ford ranger is on scene nobody need come”
I chose to ignore that. That is a lesser vehicle (even though we share the same engine.)
I eventually arrived on the scene seeing the Tesco van in a ditch with a plot twist.
The ford ranger had also ended up in another ditch on the opposite side.
“Just as well I’m here” I thought smugly. Fear not for I have arrived to save the day as I have done before!
So, feeling mighty, please remember I have not had a life recently (you shouldn’t have either) that has been anything other than the coop and watching the TV, so understand this was the most exciting thing ever.
I began by starting a brief investigation with the ranger driver (“what happened mate?”) it was then discovered in an effort to sneak past the stuck Tesco van, in order to get a straight, forward pull, he’d slid into the other ditch. Great! Now I can go full on double heroic action. His efforts to escape being stuck only dug him deeper, but 10/10 for trying to get out using maximum power!
I will save Tesco’s bacon (very bad pun intended) and then I will save the ranger, or so I thought.
I continued to assess the situation, if I smoked this would be the point in which I’d get my thinking cigarette out.
Tesco driver asked me “are you the guy that’s been sent by Tesco?”
“No I’m not, I’m much better” - is what I said to myself....
What I actually said was “No mate, but I’ll get you out”
I removed the shoelace that was being used to recover it by the ford ranger and attached my very own tried and tested strops and shackles.
I say Tried and tested because they have been used by many broken down and stuck landys.
Rigged up, in low box and locked in, I set off ready to be a hero, convinced it was gonna work then my defender just sat and spun all of its wheels. It was like I had tied it to a wall.
“Ohh fiddlesticks*” I said.
It was then a perfectly timed crofter and his trusty rusty Toyota hi-lux arrived on scene.
A vehicle, I’ll have to admit which is proven by statistics to have towed any Land Rover far further than it has actually been driven and is in joint first place with the AA recovery trucks.
The local crofter casually asked, “Do you need any help?”
Now, normally I’d have said something like “I’ve got a mate coming with another landy”
But these are strange times, so my brand rivalry was set aside and I asked him if he could attach his hi-lux to the front of my landy so that we could do a tandem tow?
As it is of paramount importance that people get their lavatory roll delivered amongst other things.
Immediately, as soon as the joint effort started with both vehicles pulling at the van, digging and clawing we got that van out and after we done that we got the ford ranger out.
Never underestimate a crofter with a rusty hi-lux and some wooden batons!

I know, I know, this story reads like I’ve driven over Everest, when really I’ve just tandem pulled a van and a pickup out a ditch, but please understand the significance of the fact I accepted help from a Toyota!
So, it kinda goes without saying that, if Land rovers are prepared to work with toyotas you cannot underestimate how serious covid-19 is!!

Anyway, (hopefully soon) this covid-19 situation will pass on and Land Rover and Toyota drivers can go back to hating each other, but for now at least, until normality can be resumed, we are oval allies.

All the best,
Callum.