A day in the life of....

[NathCarr91]

So I've been on the forum for a couple of years now and when I first arrived, I was so nervous to post anything, but you are all so warm and friendly and welcoming, and it's really helped build my confidence posting pictures I have taken. I know most of the people here just by forum name and thought it would be cool to pop a post up and see what everybody does on a daily basis (when they're not photographing) and get to know people a little better.

So I'll start it off, I'm Nathan or Nath or Nat (which ever you prefer) 31 years old live in Cumbria (lake district) and when I'm not photographing, i'm working on cars. My partner and I run out own vehicle bodyshop mainly doing classic car restoration. I do the exterior of the car and she does the interior/upholstery we've been doing it on our own for 6 years now, and I've been doing the job for a total of 17 years. Here's what we've been working on this last couple of months.


PXL_20230708_082649438.jpg PXL_20230708_120021184.jpg
So this is a little bit more about me, great to see what everybody else gets up to when they're not here and would love to see pictures.

Bonus game for guessing the correct make model and year of the vehicle im restoring.

[Trev B]

Great workmanship Nat, look forward to seeing the finished product both outside and inside. You must be the youngest member on here, I always think most of us on here are geriatric antiques - I'll await incoming on that one,
For my tuppence worth, I'm retired, sort of I don't know how I found time to work. I left school and became in apprentice electrician, did not like that and Joined the Royal Marines. After completing Commando training I served in various Commando Units both home and abroad eventually joining another outfit from where I finished my military career - almost literally. While in the military I took a filming course and on coming outside joined a educational film unit as a film cameraman (16mm), specialising in wildlife and environmental subjects. Eventually going freelance with video while at the same time writing a weekly wildlife column for a local publication - something I continued to do every week for the next twenty-five years! I live in a remote location in East Devon with my wife of forty years, Sandra. We met when I was in the military, it never worked out I was away a lot, she did not know where I was too, I could not tell her. Twenty years later we bumped into each other again and started where we left off
I've always had a passionate interest in wildlife from my early childhood days, having had a camera of some sorts since the age of ten. I have a substantial amount of land which I manage for the benefit of the wildlife within it. I was awarded my MBE in the 2000 New Years Honours for Services to Wildlife. So, that's me for what it's worth.

[NathCarr91]

Thanks Trev appreciate your kind words on the current restoration. Just finished painting the last of the panels today, so tomorrow is a big day as the refit starts and the window guy is coming to put new front and rear screens in! All being well, it will be MOTd on Tuesday .

I am absolutely in awe of your story Trev, it sounds like you've really lived and followed your passion in life. I think it's absolutely amazing that you and Sandra bumped into each other again later in life, it's weird how life can work out like that. It was obviously a sign! I think as well a huge congratulations on your MBE! Such a massive achievement. I just told my partner Lisa your story and she said it's brilliant that you have a passion for wildlife. Lisa very much loves all creatures great and small, so you and her would get on very well.

Thank you so much for sharing Trev
p.s......surely I can't be the youngest

[NathCarr91]

For anybody who might of been interested, finally got the restoration finished. It was a Mercedes E class 250d. Back to its former glory now.

Around 300 labour hours
15 litres of paint
And gallons of coffee


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[NathCarr91]

PXL_20230724_140858554.jpg side shot

[Trev B]

WOW, fantastic Nat, you can be truly proud of your workmanship - just stunning

[NathCarr91]

Thanks Trev , really pleased with this one, got a complete clean sheet on the MOT as well so that was an added bonus (in my experience an MOT tester usually finds something to list as an advisory) but not this time.

On to the next one now.....Volkswagen Mk2 golf. This one is my own, and it's been sitting for 4 years in the workshop, it's put new arches, rear valance and a sill on it, and then I've left it. Just never had the time to finish it. But it's time to do that now. Lisa has been working on the interior and done something spectacular to it. They are the nicest seats I've ever seen. White leather with purple piping, and purple tartan centres and company logo embroiderd into the head rest.......so I guess the paintwork needs to be special. It's not going back to original this one. It's going to be my own unique artwork

Thanks for checking back in on it Trev, appreciate it

[Trev B]

Thanks Trev , really pleased with this one, got a complete clean sheet on the MOT as well so that was an added bonus (in my experience an MOT tester usually finds something to list as an advisory) but not this time.

On to the next one now.....Volkswagen Mk2 golf. This one is my own, and it's been sitting for 4 years in the workshop, it's put new arches, rear valance and a sill on it, and then I've left it. Just never had the time to finish it. But it's time to do that now. Lisa has been working on the interior and done something spectacular to it. They are the nicest seats I've ever seen. White leather with purple piping, and purple tartan centres and company logo embroiderd into the head rest.......so I guess the paintwork needs to be special. It's not going back to original this one. It's going to be my own unique artwork

Thanks for checking back in on it Trev, appreciate it

Look forward to seeing the finished Volkswagen and how about a little look at Lisa's work on the interior of the Mercedes

[Daisy M]

Looks like this has been the Nat and Trev show, so thought I would join in.
Daisy was the nickname I earned during my 29 years in the Fire Service, started life after school as a baker for four years getting a City and Guilds. Then had enough and joined the brigade. Rose to the rank of Sub.Officer in charge of a one pump station in Bristol city, loved it. Retired and eventually moved to Scotland twenty years ago, when after writing a small manuscript of my life in the service as I missed it so much and took up photography as a hobby along with carrying on fishing as I have all my life. Love life, wife and our two boys, one in New York the other in Ayrshire.

[NathCarr91]

That's brilliant David, thanks for joining in and sharing .

Such a great story and a huge change in career from baker to fire fighter. Great to hear you wrote a manuscript to, I bet that's an interesting read!

Me and Lisa absolutely love Scotland and spend most of our weekends going there as it's only 10 minutes up the road for us to cross the border (we live in Carlisle) so we often explore south Scotland. Which part of Scotland do you live in?

Sounds like you have the same hobbies as I do, photography and fishing, although admittedly I haven't been fishing for around 7 years now. I sold all my fishing tackle and rods etc after hitting a hard time financially. I used to do course fishing on method feeder and also fish a few matches on a pole. On a plus though I'm looking to start purchasing stuff again as I'm getting that fishing itch I want to scratch.

What kind of fishing do you do?
Great that you have an excuse to visit New York regularly, do you go often to see your son?

[Bill53]

Wow! What a fantastic job you've done there.
Looks magnificent.

[ST-EOS]

Nice work on the Stuttgart Taxi, the paint job looks good. I'll look forward to seeing the Golf interior.

[Coolcat]

Hi Nat,

Super job on the Mercedes

A brief overview of me

Well, I was born in Scotland when my parents lived there. Dad was in the Navy serving on our Polaris Nuclear deterrent. In his case, HMS Resolution.
We lived in Helensburgh and then Rosyth until I was 3. Then we moved all the way down to Plymouth in Devon.

On leaving the Navy my Dad joined the London Fire Brigade and we moved to the smoke (My parents both come from North London) for a few years and then moved to Hertfordshire.
In the early 80's we moved to Clacton in Essex and that is where I still (mostly) live.

My other half and I also own a 33' motor boat which we moor in Norfolk on the Broads. We try and spend time up there as much as we can so it is our second home so to speak.

I worked for over twenty years at the same company as an Electronics Engineer until 2017. Then I had the chance to turn my photography hobby into my job and started down the road as a commercial freelance photographer.

Since then we have installed a purpose built studio/office in our garden and my photography includes portrait work for people and pets along with the commercial/product photography, including classic cars for Car&Classic auctions.

My passion for personal photography lies in Motorsport so I can be often found frequenting Brands Hatch and Snetterton amongst others. Often a pilgrimage up to Knockhill in Fife for the British Touring Car Championship is also made. Hoping to make it up there again next year.

Oh, I better mention the other thing in our lives...........Our 6 cats that often feature on these pages!

[Trev B]

Hi Nat,

Super job on the Mercedes

A brief overview of me

Well, I was born in Scotland when my parents lived there. Dad was in the Navy serving on our Polaris Nuclear deterrent. In his case, HMS Resolution.
We lived in Helensburgh and then Rosyth until I was 3. Then we moved all the way down to Plymouth in Devon.

On leaving the Navy my Dad joined the London Fire Brigade and we moved to the smoke (My parents both come from North London) for a few years and then moved to Hertfordshire.
In the early 80's we moved to Clacton in Essex and that is where I still (mostly) live.

My other half and I also own a 33' motor boat which we moor in Norfolk on the Broads. We try and spend time up there as much as we can so it is our second home so to speak.

I worked for over twenty years at the same company as an Electronics Engineer until 2017. Then I had the chance to turn my photography hobby into my job and started down the road as a commercial freelance photographer.

Since then we have installed a purpose built studio/office in our garden and my photography includes portrait work for people and pets along with the commercial/product photography, including classic cars for Car&Classic auctions.

My passion for personal photography lies in Motorsport so I can be often found frequenting Brands Hatch and Snetterton amongst others. Often a pilgrimage up to Knockhill in Fife for the British Touring Car Championship is also made. Hoping to make it up there again next year.

Oh, I better mention the other thing in our lives...........Our 6 cats that often feature on these pages!

Nice story Jeff, we must have been following each other around! I served at Rosyth, not as a Sub-mariner but 'Behind the Wire'! then onto Plymouth - Stonehouse.

[NathCarr91]

Wow! What a fantastic job you've done there.
Looks magnificent.

Thanks Bill, appreciate that