I recently found myself in the position where the battery had discharged completey, due to a prolonged lack of driving the car. This means that neither the key-fob nor the internal switch will operate (they are both electrical).

Don’t panic! Pop open the bonnet, and on the passenger side (mine is a right-hand drive model) near the bonnet hinge there is a black plastic cover. Open this and there’s a small rectangular plastic cover under which is a fairly substantial terminal which connects to the battery in the boot. Attach your battery charging equipment here

Full details are on my personal blog here: The Beast Lives.

1. Swivel the Blue Oval Ford badge on the front of the car anti-clockwise. It pivots about a point on the left hand side of the badge, so push the right side of the badge upwards. This reveals a key-hole.
2. Use the ignition key to turn the lock fully to the left. The bonnet should pop up slightly.
3. Whilst lifting the bonnet itself, turn the lock fully to the right. This should release the bonnet.

Unfortunately there are no gas struts to hold the bonnet up, you need to deploy the bonnet stay, just like to you used to on old cars

Goodness only knows why this is so tricky to do. Perhaps Ford thought that something valuable or important would be kept under the bonnet. Surely if that was the case, anyone with nefarious intentions could gain access from the bottom of the car, up into the engine compartment?
This has been a Public Service Announcement from Dr Jan.

This is the first time for ages that petrol has been less than 90p a litre.

Most garages in Watford are competitive, so 89.9 should be generally available in the area.