Boring news;
the Polo is now fixed (after having to charge the battery because it didn't start. It's sat for months before without the battery dropping, so it hasn't drained any since parked after going 173 miles without an alternator. It answers the question of how much more was left in it

). Most work was done by my father because he decided he wanted to - in 30°c+*, uv 7, minimal shade

- but bolts that hadn't been touched since it was built twenty years ago coming out with no problems whatsoever certainly made life easier, especially when some were blind and the engine needed to be lowered a tad.
* It's still 24°/feels like 29° now
