Adventures with Mr. Hogg

     "Why is there a shovel under the bonnet?" Mrs. Hogg was clearly puzzled as to why her husband's latest automotive acquisition was held together by garden implements. Joe and I looked at each other while Mr. Hogg attempted to allay his wife's fears.

     The day before I'd picked up the phone to hear,"Rrrrrobert, could ya give us a hand tomorrow? M. Hogg's thick Scottish brogue was unmistakable and generally meant that I was going to spend a weekend helping haul yet another broken hulk out from behind some barn. The last time it had been an MGB so rusty we had to lash the two ends of the car together with wooden beams. He'd really only wanted the overdrive but the owner, sensing an opportunity to get some free yard clearing done, had insisted that the entire car go with it.