Finally got around to replacing the "backyard job" radiator hose with the "worth more than gold" OEM radiator hose. The car actually maintains a reasonably constant temperature now! (Although the water is looking a little murky, looks like the radiator itself isn't too healthy).
Got a big surprise when I received my AVM manual hubs from Milner, took a grand total of 6 days to travel 17000kms (10500 miles in the old money

)... most impressed!