Friday 21 November 2014

Gillian's Adventure

Yes, those are the exact words the husband used to describe last Friday’s happenings. My almost-14-years-old car hasn’t been going well at all and we were told at its last service that it wouldn’t pass the next MOT in December. So we have prepared ourselves for the demise of my trusty little car. As you can see from the pictures it was also my trusty, extremely dirty, little car.

Last Friday was the day set to take the car on its final journey to the scrap yard. A journey of about twenty miles from where we live. We set off at about 10 a.m., intending to leave the car and then go to Banbridge for coffee in the Greenbean. The husband decided to drive my about-to-be-scrapped car while I drove along behind in his car. We didn’t want to go too fast because the old car wasn’t going well. After about seven miles the husband suddenly swerved onto the wrong side of the road. I couldn’t believe my eyes! He immediately headed back to the right side of the road and I realised that the passenger side front wheel had come clean off! The husband managed to run the car onto the grass verge and come to a stop. I stopped behind him and we tried to think what to do. We’re in the AA so calling them would be a good place to start but neither of us had reception on our mobiles. So I drove to the nearest town, about two miles away, and made the call to the AA. I was informed that the call would cost me 14p per minute. It didn’t really matter how much it cost; I had to make the call!
 
 

Tell me; is the Northern Ireland accent really so hard to understand? First it took several attempts for the person I was speaking to get the membership number correct. He then asked me what was the problem. I told him that the wheel had come off my car. He thought I said that the wing mirror had come off! I really wanted to ask him if he thought I was some dumb woman who would call the AA because she’d lost her wing mirror. But I didn’t. Firstly because he probably wouldn’t have understood what I was saying and secondly because it would have cost me 14p a minute for the pleasure. The conversation continued, slowly, as I tried to explain where the car was located. Between Rathfriland and Castlewellan. That was too much for him. I had to start and spell the place names! Anyway, we finally got it all sorted out and he told me I was a priority case because the car was in a dangerous place. I could expect someone to come out without an hour.

I drove back to where the husband was waiting with my poor three-wheeled vehicle. We found a suitable wee place, that was well off the road, to pull the husband’s car into. And we waited. And waited. And waited. Thankfully I had my knitting in the car. I actually carry two projects in the car these days; knitting and crochet. During daylight hours I can crochet but when it’s dark I knit. Now I know we were stopped there when I could have crocheted but I had taken the crochet project out of the car because I’d run out of yarn. Unknown to the husband, I intended to buy more on our way home! Anyway, I started knitting. This is a simple blanket project made up of different coloured strips of garter stitch, 25 stitches wide. During the time we waited for the AA I managed to knit approximately two hundred rows! Yes, we waited a long time. I drove back to Castlewellan and phoned again and I was told they’d be out in ten minutes. It actually took about two hours in the end before the pick-up van came.


After that things happened quite quickly. They loaded my poor old car onto the back of the van – it took several attempts but they managed it eventually – and then we made our way to the scrap yard. This is an amazing place and so busy. I’ve never been to one before so it was very interesting.  This is my car on weighbridge - first weighed while on the pick up van and then the van was weighed when my car had been lifted off. My car weighed less than a ton so I was allowed £70 for it. Not a lot really. The petrol tank was half full as we’d re-fuelled before realising that the car just couldn’t go on any longer.
 
 

Look at this heap of scrap metal; that’s where my car is destined! The men working there thought I was very strange to take photos of all that was going on. The husband told them I was sentimental! I have to admit that I felt a little bit sad going away and leaving the car there.


There she is beside her final resting place. They decontaminate all vehicles before they are crushed. It's all very environmentally friendly!


Well I really hope that I won’t have quite such an adventurous day any time soon. Having the wheel come off is quite enough to satisfy my adventurous spirit!

I'm very pleased to welcome my new followers. Thank-you all, old and new, for reading and commenting on my blog. I'm looking forward to reading what you think of my little adventure.

27 comments:

  1. Wow, that's really been an adventure, unfortuantely a bad one... I've had my car for 8 years now, it's my very first one, and I'm not surprised to read that you were sad to leave yours behind.
    About the accent, I'm not a native English speaker of course, so I may not be the best one to answer your question; in all fair honesty I can tell you that I really love both Irish and Northern Irish accents (not to talk about Scottish!), I think you folks speak in such a musical way, if you know what I mean, I just love listening to it! It sounds strange to me that someone who speaks English as their first language should have all these problems understanding you, though it's something that happens here too, sometimes, between different regions speakers...

    ReplyDelete
  2. I am very glad you and your husband are ok. Just as well the road you were on was a small country road. I love the Northern Irish accent (there is probably many different ones!). No one ever understands me when I talk on the phone, particularly the mobile phone. It is a frustrating sometimes and it knocks my confidence (non English native speaker). 14 pence a minute for something that you already pay a monthly fee is a bit steep! Have a lovely weekend. xx

    ReplyDelete
  3. I don't know about your accent but here too we have people on the phone to help us in this such situation and it takes so long time ....and they behave as they're stupid but it's probably for lasting the phone call so you have to pay more. ! Glad to know that you're ok and sorry for your car ..... Take care !

    ReplyDelete
  4. That was quite a day! Good thing you packed your projects, it would have driven you nuts sitting there with time on your hands! Everything sure looks lovely and green in the background of your car photos.

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. When you get as much rain as we do everything is green!

      Delete
  5. Oh Gillian a quite traumatic day for you both, well done for staying calm and making the most of the time spent waiting-we crafters are resourceful. Our second car is also 14 years old-hoping for 2 more years fingers crossed.
    Your reply to Chris's comment made me chuckle-Wales is green-very green!, rain, rain and more rain all day today-yuk!.
    Hope your weekend is betterHelen

    ReplyDelete
  6. This really was an adventure. I'm so glad nobody was hurt when the wheel came off. How scary! I remember once saying goodbye to a car that was old and that I had hated with a passion. I couldn't wait to see it go. They offered me $200 for the scrap metal and I said, SOLD! I assume you'll be getting a new car now? Enjoy.

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Probably not get a new one for a while - I have use of my dad's car when I need it and my husband has his.

      Delete
  7. Phew, that was quite an adventure! Like Jennifer, i'm glad no one was hurt.

    ReplyDelete
  8. Oh my goodness, you poor thing. It all sounds very stressful indeed. I am glad that it made it to the last day, but I wish that it had made it all the way before conking out. I hope that you won't have any more car issues for a very long time! xx

    ReplyDelete
  9. Good grief Gillian - where to start. Firstly thank goodness you and your husband were safe - I can't imagine how scary that must have been to see him swerving across the road like that. Follow that with no reception - then to add insult to injury fourteen pence a minute!!! So glad you managed to get something from it though - fascinating pictures of the scrapyard and two hundred rows on your blanket. Let's hope you have a nice UNadventurous week this week x Jane

    ReplyDelete
  10. I think that's quite sad. My car is about fifteen years old now and won't go on much longer, I'll be sad to see it go, I think you made the decision just at the right time though given that it ended up on three wheels. Well done to your hubby for managing to control it.

    ReplyDelete
  11. You were lucky - a very unpleasant experience indeed. I'm glad you are both OK.

    ReplyDelete
  12. Hi Gillian! Ouf, what an adventure!!! Glad your husband and you are both ok, that's the main thing. Good job you were both driving together like that!!!! I also had the wheel come off a car once in Aldershot, it happened after a cross road and luckily I managed to stop the car ok. Scared the living daylights out of me. Just so you know, you are not alone.
    Shame you don't have a car at the moment, but I'm sure you will work something out. And good job on having something to knit whilst you had to wait! (Always be prepared!!! Yeah, the scouts got that right!!!)
    Hope things will quieten down a bit now...
    Ingrid xx
    http://myfunkycrochet.blogspot.be

    ReplyDelete
  13. I am kind of surprised to know that native speakers of English like you do have such an accent trouble! You know, when we were staying in the UK, we had trouble understanding and making understood all the time...so I understand your frustration. Hope you will have your new car soon.

    ReplyDelete
  14. Goodness, what drama! I am very glad to hear that no-one was hurt during the wheel incident, that could've been nasty. My husband is from Durham and always complains that no-one down south can understand him. I love that you had knitting in the car, very organised! x

    ReplyDelete
  15. I was crying a little while reading your post. I get very sentimental when saying goodbye to an old car and feel unbelievably guilty about leaving it behind. It's a bit like leaving a pet at the vets (I'm terrible!). I have been through a similar situation with that company and was lucky enough in the end to have the Police turn up and put in a call too (the side of a major motorway with a two month old baby in the car might have had something to do with it!), however I was disgusted with the way I was treated. Suffice to say, I changed companies. I hope you find your next driving partner very soon x

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. That was an awful situation you were left in. I'm sure you were very relieved when the police came to help.

      Delete
  16. Blimey! Scary stuff, thank goodness there was no other traffic around. Bummer having to spend ages waiting for the AA, but great knitting opportunity :)
    Jillxo

    ReplyDelete
  17. Thank God you are both okay and there was room for your hubby when the car veered. Phew! I would still be shaking after an incident like that. I was pleased to read that you keep both knitting AND crochet in the car! hehehe I wonder whether you found any long lost treasures in the old car before the scrap yard got it. People usually find small coins and chip crumbs between the seat cushions when they clean their cars...I wonder whether you found stitch markers or loose threads in yours?
    I was surprised that your car was off to the scrap yard after only 14 years old. My car is 19 years old and still going strong, still roadworthy, but then my car doesn't have to withstand snow every year either. Very interesting, but may your future adventures be less exciting! ;-)

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. There were loose threads found in the old car but if there were any coins then the hubby got them! Snow an ice play havoc with our poor cars - as does the salt/grit that they use on the roads to try and keep them driveable.

      Delete
    2. Salt and grit: say no more. Condolences on the loss of your old car and wishing you happy and safer drives with a new car!

      Delete
  18. I just replaced my 15 year old car because my mechanic warned me I might lose a wheel - so happy you didn't get hurt. And now I am glad I listened to him!

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Always a good idea to listen to what a mechanic says about your car!

      Delete
  19. Somehow I missed this post until I saw your link to it in your newestate post. But despite losing your trusty travel companion, so much to be thankful for, right? I'm very glad your hubby reacted well and quickly. Whew!

    ReplyDelete

Thank you for leaving a comment. I really appreciate you taking the time to do this and I read them all. I will try to reply as soon as possible to any comment that needs a reply.