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... and I ain't done yet...
Showing posts with label Olivia. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Olivia. Show all posts
Driving in Cars with Girls
Olivia took a trip to Cape Town this weekend to meet a fellow Landy Owner. blogger and friend of Favourite Man.
Going there was easy. The South-Easter was behind us, and the petrol guage barely moved. Sun was up, day was lovely, and off we went puttering along at her happy speed of 60km/hr.
Got there, had a super time.
Coming home was a very different story. Firstly - night. Late enough night (ie, after 10pm) for someone my age to say "should be in bed already". I'm not at all fond of driving at night, especially when it comes to my contact lenses drying out constantly and me not being able to see too well. I'm bad at judging night distance, and don't relax into the driver's seat at all from start to finish. The smallest distractions set me on edge even more.
And then, 15 minutes into the trip home, we came across a huge traffic jam. Caused by a fresh accident - which in turn was caused by some serious over-speeding.
Half-way across the oncoming lane opposite Grand West Casino was what was left of a Toyota. The engine was lying a ways down the road... The occupant/s were very much dead. On the other side of the road was a reasonably new Jaguar. That guy was trapped and about to be cut out with the jaws of life as we passed, but otherwise was concious and OK. I refused to look into either car as I drove by, as I know how images stick in your head. But it was a very very bad one. And you can be sure it had me on full alert for the rest of the trip home.
Of course one can only do one's best on the roads - and sometimes it's the other idiots that are the problem. Those that drive drunk or speed or generally are stupid. And we were passed by a good few while we pottered along.
Or rather, struggled. On the way back we were going into the wind in a vehicle that has all the aerodynamics of a block of flats. Every gust has an effect. Every blast pushes against all those straight up and down bits, catches in the roofrack, drags at the aerials. I had such a grip on the constantly moving steering wheel to keep us going straight that by half way home my right shoulder had cramped up completely. Being Olivia, it was eyes on guages all the way, as well as watching the bonnet (which came loose again the other day as I got to work, and could do so again at any time). My body feeling every vibration, hearing every sound to detect anything out of the ordinary - and eyes still straining to see. It was a slow, hard trip home - and the fuel guage dropped like a stone as we burnt up petrol against the gale.
But we made it home safely. We pulled in to the parking bay in one piece, and for that I am very grateful. There are others who didn't...
Going there was easy. The South-Easter was behind us, and the petrol guage barely moved. Sun was up, day was lovely, and off we went puttering along at her happy speed of 60km/hr.
Got there, had a super time.
Coming home was a very different story. Firstly - night. Late enough night (ie, after 10pm) for someone my age to say "should be in bed already". I'm not at all fond of driving at night, especially when it comes to my contact lenses drying out constantly and me not being able to see too well. I'm bad at judging night distance, and don't relax into the driver's seat at all from start to finish. The smallest distractions set me on edge even more.
And then, 15 minutes into the trip home, we came across a huge traffic jam. Caused by a fresh accident - which in turn was caused by some serious over-speeding.
Half-way across the oncoming lane opposite Grand West Casino was what was left of a Toyota. The engine was lying a ways down the road... The occupant/s were very much dead. On the other side of the road was a reasonably new Jaguar. That guy was trapped and about to be cut out with the jaws of life as we passed, but otherwise was concious and OK. I refused to look into either car as I drove by, as I know how images stick in your head. But it was a very very bad one. And you can be sure it had me on full alert for the rest of the trip home.
Of course one can only do one's best on the roads - and sometimes it's the other idiots that are the problem. Those that drive drunk or speed or generally are stupid. And we were passed by a good few while we pottered along.
Or rather, struggled. On the way back we were going into the wind in a vehicle that has all the aerodynamics of a block of flats. Every gust has an effect. Every blast pushes against all those straight up and down bits, catches in the roofrack, drags at the aerials. I had such a grip on the constantly moving steering wheel to keep us going straight that by half way home my right shoulder had cramped up completely. Being Olivia, it was eyes on guages all the way, as well as watching the bonnet (which came loose again the other day as I got to work, and could do so again at any time). My body feeling every vibration, hearing every sound to detect anything out of the ordinary - and eyes still straining to see. It was a slow, hard trip home - and the fuel guage dropped like a stone as we burnt up petrol against the gale.
But we made it home safely. We pulled in to the parking bay in one piece, and for that I am very grateful. There are others who didn't...
Oops
Last night Favourite Man and I decided to indulge in a spot of off-roading in Olivia. There's a place nearby that has a good deal of steep hills, challenging dirt tracks and tight turns. Of course Olivia handled them all in her stride, chugging along happily up and down the mountain.
It was also a bit of a photo-op chance to catch a few good shots of my truck.
We crested the hill just as the sun was setting - a perfect view of mountain and truck, so I trundled off into a knee-high field of long grass and hunkered down for a good view.
Back in the truck I picked two ticks off my clothes - a reminder that there are bugs in wild places. And then the hayfever set in... worse than I've ever had it! Within minutes my throat had completely closed, my ears were zinging and sounds were muted. Nose running, sneezing incessantly, I grabbed an Allergex from the handbag in the hope it would kick in quickly.
It didn't.
Another Allergex at home got stuck under my tongue to be absorbed by the soft tissues as quickly as possible. Still I couldn't breathe, couldn't swallow, couldn't hear and felt like I was living in cottonwool. Not at all good. By the time I hit the sack for bedtime my uvula was swollen down into the throat making swallowing near impossible without choking. (Still on the mend from a head cold and sore throat hasn't helped)
I slept with my mouth open last night. I'm pretty sure Favourite Man heard me snoring all night long. Today I still have swallowing issues, a runny nose and "padded" hearing. This hayfever session is taking more than a little time to end!
So lesson learnt - if you're going to suffer for your art, make sure you're stocked up on Allergex...
It was also a bit of a photo-op chance to catch a few good shots of my truck.
We crested the hill just as the sun was setting - a perfect view of mountain and truck, so I trundled off into a knee-high field of long grass and hunkered down for a good view.
Back in the truck I picked two ticks off my clothes - a reminder that there are bugs in wild places. And then the hayfever set in... worse than I've ever had it! Within minutes my throat had completely closed, my ears were zinging and sounds were muted. Nose running, sneezing incessantly, I grabbed an Allergex from the handbag in the hope it would kick in quickly.
It didn't.
Another Allergex at home got stuck under my tongue to be absorbed by the soft tissues as quickly as possible. Still I couldn't breathe, couldn't swallow, couldn't hear and felt like I was living in cottonwool. Not at all good. By the time I hit the sack for bedtime my uvula was swollen down into the throat making swallowing near impossible without choking. (Still on the mend from a head cold and sore throat hasn't helped)
I slept with my mouth open last night. I'm pretty sure Favourite Man heard me snoring all night long. Today I still have swallowing issues, a runny nose and "padded" hearing. This hayfever session is taking more than a little time to end!
So lesson learnt - if you're going to suffer for your art, make sure you're stocked up on Allergex...
A little while back I mentioned something about seeing my name in print soon. Well the word is out. Click here.
Tip Jar
There's a new button to the right of this blog - a MoneyBookers "tip jar". Planning Olivia's adventures is turning into an expensive business and I've realized I can't do it alone. If you'd like to contribute to keeping the adventures coming, leave her a tip! The more tips, the more adventures - and the more you'll have to read right here... :-) You can send your tip in any currency, from anywhere in the world.
Olivia thanks you - see you off the beaten track!
::update::
So.. what's in it for you? Well, for a donation of 10GBP/USD or more, I'll send you something by Real Snail Mail from the adventure you helped to fund. It could be a postcard, it could be an item found along the way, it could be anything! Go on - when last did you get snail mail? :-)
Olivia thanks you - see you off the beaten track!
::update::
So.. what's in it for you? Well, for a donation of 10GBP/USD or more, I'll send you something by Real Snail Mail from the adventure you helped to fund. It could be a postcard, it could be an item found along the way, it could be anything! Go on - when last did you get snail mail? :-)
The way forward
With Olivia sorted (basically), I find myself facing today with a sense that I've taken a deep breath. It's hard to describe. It's as if I once again have space to imagine, dream, plan and do. I can get around to all the things that I've neglected - from looking after my family and home to sorting out the path ahead. There are items on my to-do list that require urgent attention, but at the same time I'm looking forward to having enough time to spend with the people that matter, the ones I love.
Bundled in there is a need to put into practice my "executive decision", and it's not going to be easy. I'll need to get my headspace right and put in a good deal of effort if it's going to work. And I'm determined it has to - yet another incident today has cemented my decision in a big way. Call it a "road sign", a pointer in the right direction.
So I'm by no means going to be slacking off now that I no longer need to rush home, get into my dirtiest clothes and dive under a Land Rover. Life's just going to look a little different as I forge ahead to what I have planned.
Bundled in there is a need to put into practice my "executive decision", and it's not going to be easy. I'll need to get my headspace right and put in a good deal of effort if it's going to work. And I'm determined it has to - yet another incident today has cemented my decision in a big way. Call it a "road sign", a pointer in the right direction.
So I'm by no means going to be slacking off now that I no longer need to rush home, get into my dirtiest clothes and dive under a Land Rover. Life's just going to look a little different as I forge ahead to what I have planned.
Fresh Air
If you're not in the habit of reading my other blog, you may be interested to see how I arrived at work this morning.. ;-)
Yes, still alive
Some of you are getting worried that I may have perished... :-) Nope, still here. The thing is this - the love of my life has been occupying all my time and attention, and any leftovers go to sorting out Olivia the Landy. Screen-time is minimal, the computer gets turned on merely to upload pictures to a Land Rover forum as work progresses, and then it's back to the arms of my dream man and the innards of my dream ride.
So yes, I'm still alive. And kicking (butt). It's just that blogging is taking a very serious back seat for the forseable future!
So yes, I'm still alive. And kicking (butt). It's just that blogging is taking a very serious back seat for the forseable future!
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Dammit
Another forced work-from-home day, with frustration and stress. Yup, Olivia didn't want to get going this morning. After 3 hours I gave up.
So here I am - thankful my laptop comes home with me every day. I've got more than enough to do! But it gets to me when I can't turn up as planned, when I miss meetings and appointments.
Yet...
I've realized everything happens for a reason. Even the seemingly bad stuff. I can't see the really big picture, stuck as I am at this surface-level. But there's a reason she didn't go this morning. Perhaps it was to avoid an accident, or to teach me some golden lesson, or simply because this is the way it needs to be today. I don't know. But accepting there's a reason behind everything makes it a lot easier to deal with.
So that's how I choose to see it.
Even if there are occasions where I end up kicking tyres in annoyance.
So here I am - thankful my laptop comes home with me every day. I've got more than enough to do! But it gets to me when I can't turn up as planned, when I miss meetings and appointments.
Yet...
I've realized everything happens for a reason. Even the seemingly bad stuff. I can't see the really big picture, stuck as I am at this surface-level. But there's a reason she didn't go this morning. Perhaps it was to avoid an accident, or to teach me some golden lesson, or simply because this is the way it needs to be today. I don't know. But accepting there's a reason behind everything makes it a lot easier to deal with.
So that's how I choose to see it.
Even if there are occasions where I end up kicking tyres in annoyance.
Good News / Bad News
The good news is I can walk today. Although I had a rough night, the leg's better this morning. Talking of rough nights, there was a bit of excitement around midnight in our complex, with security and neighbours chasing someone up and down until the police arrived to cart him off. Will try get the whole story later today.
The bad news is that I have to walk today. Something blew up in Olivia's engine as I turned on the battery this morning - in a cloud of white, ozone-smelling electrical smoke. Not good. But I don't have the time or mental energy to think about that yet. Becuase in an hour's time it's my first-3-months work evaluation!
The rest of my life will be sorted out later.
The bad news is that I have to walk today. Something blew up in Olivia's engine as I turned on the battery this morning - in a cloud of white, ozone-smelling electrical smoke. Not good. But I don't have the time or mental energy to think about that yet. Becuase in an hour's time it's my first-3-months work evaluation!
The rest of my life will be sorted out later.
Eina
I'm not a pain wimp. I can take a lot without moaning. But tonight I'm sitting at my desk basically unable to move. I went from bed to here earlier and then sat and cried for 10 minutes. Lying in bed was a mission too, trying to find a position that didn't hurt.
And why?
Because I made a mistake getting out of Olivia earlier. I spent a few hours removing storage from the back (T - how long did it take to put in? :-) ) as a final "lightening" exercise and chance to clean her out thoroughly and see what I'm working with. As I finished up, I was climbing backwards over the spare in the back when I slipped. My shins bounced off sharp British steel as they headed toward the far-off tar - where I landed heavily. And nearly screamed (I don't scream neither... not even when there's a rain spider in the shower).
Right through the jeans were two very large scrapes, already turning black around the edges and so painful I just stood there swearing and trying not to cry for a few minutes. But I still had to get the storage sections across the road and stacked up at home, so did that while tears streamed down my face and I bit my lip.
Back home I hobbled up stairs and took a photo as proof (yeah, life with digital cameras!), then sat down and tried to breathe. Going back downstairs to make lunch was torture, but I had to do that and check 2 final things on Olivia before the rain arrived.
Thereafter I attempted a nap - and did get one once I'd found a way to lie where my feet weren't pulling on my legs in funny positions. But when I got up again the pain was like nothing I can remember. Not giving birth (had "laughing gas" to help with that), not having my pelvis cracked and tailbone broken in a big car smash years ago, not even breaking my baby toe. Perhaps time has dulled those memories.
I can't stand on my left leg. I can't move it without using my hands, and then it comes at a price. I hope I haven't broken it or cracked the bone. All I know is it's bloody sore, it's got pins and needles when it's not throbbing, and I don't plan on getting up if I don't have to.
Will I be able to maneuver a honking big Landy to work, trudge up stairs and sit in a chair all day? Remains to be seen. One step (scuse the pun) at a time. Got to get through the night first.
And why?
Because I made a mistake getting out of Olivia earlier. I spent a few hours removing storage from the back (T - how long did it take to put in? :-) ) as a final "lightening" exercise and chance to clean her out thoroughly and see what I'm working with. As I finished up, I was climbing backwards over the spare in the back when I slipped. My shins bounced off sharp British steel as they headed toward the far-off tar - where I landed heavily. And nearly screamed (I don't scream neither... not even when there's a rain spider in the shower).
Right through the jeans were two very large scrapes, already turning black around the edges and so painful I just stood there swearing and trying not to cry for a few minutes. But I still had to get the storage sections across the road and stacked up at home, so did that while tears streamed down my face and I bit my lip.
Back home I hobbled up stairs and took a photo as proof (yeah, life with digital cameras!), then sat down and tried to breathe. Going back downstairs to make lunch was torture, but I had to do that and check 2 final things on Olivia before the rain arrived.
Thereafter I attempted a nap - and did get one once I'd found a way to lie where my feet weren't pulling on my legs in funny positions. But when I got up again the pain was like nothing I can remember. Not giving birth (had "laughing gas" to help with that), not having my pelvis cracked and tailbone broken in a big car smash years ago, not even breaking my baby toe. Perhaps time has dulled those memories.
I can't stand on my left leg. I can't move it without using my hands, and then it comes at a price. I hope I haven't broken it or cracked the bone. All I know is it's bloody sore, it's got pins and needles when it's not throbbing, and I don't plan on getting up if I don't have to.
Will I be able to maneuver a honking big Landy to work, trudge up stairs and sit in a chair all day? Remains to be seen. One step (scuse the pun) at a time. Got to get through the night first.
Up or Down
It's one of those days. The kind that could throw you completely into the dumps if you let it.
I had a funny feeling I should ask my boss for a lift to work today (he lives just down the road). But, being the stubborn "me do it!" chick I am, I thought - nah, it's not raining, O's going OK, let me just drive there myself. Well.... yes, just near work Olivia cut out. Darn fuel starvation again! Not an empty tank this time, fortunately.
So there I was in howling gale-force wind, holding the front door out of speeding-by traffic with one hand, and undoing things under the driver's seat with the other. Needless to say pretty soon I was both covered in various grades of dirt/mud and smelling rather distinctly of petrol. One colleague saw me on her way past and phoned to check I was OK. Two others stopped by to see if they could offer a lift. And then my boss turned up in his big 4x4 and towed me to work... Olivia's now standing out in the shopping mall parking area, awaiting:
a) a replacement fuel filter
b) a check of the fuel pump and fuel lines for blockages
c) a thorough check-through at lunchtime (hell, I'm already dirty, a little more won't matter)
I may need to get a lift home with the boss tonight, leaving poor O overnight (in hope and faith that she'll survive it), and come back bearing spares in the morning. But I hold out all hope that I can sort her out over lunchtime.
So it was late to work, dived right in, washed off whatever fuel I could manage - but I'm still slightly perfumed with the stuff and dusty around the edges. Oh well.
NOW... I could see this as an Absolute Disaster. The entire day ruined, down the drain, not going to look up.
or
Well there's an alternative way to see it. Just part of the adventure. Another challenge to sink my teeth into and work through. An "added extra" to give a shot of excitement to what would otherwise have been a pretty routine day.
Life's a journey. It's filled with a multitude of experiencies. You can choose to either moan about the ones that come your way, or simply live them fully, "sucking out the marrow" of whatever learning curve you're hitting. Guess which one I'm doing.
::update::
Perhaps it's the post-lunch slump (during which I didn't get her going). Or the fear of leaving Olivia in a public parking lot overnight (when she's been voted "car most likely to run" between the two I own). But as part of the "living fully" I think I'm going to indulge in a slight bit of woe-is-me. Just a small down-dip before I shake it and find another bright side to look on.
I'm wondering exactly how many bright sides I need to find today though. The other stuff is just going to have to be pushed away for now.
I had a funny feeling I should ask my boss for a lift to work today (he lives just down the road). But, being the stubborn "me do it!" chick I am, I thought - nah, it's not raining, O's going OK, let me just drive there myself. Well.... yes, just near work Olivia cut out. Darn fuel starvation again! Not an empty tank this time, fortunately.
So there I was in howling gale-force wind, holding the front door out of speeding-by traffic with one hand, and undoing things under the driver's seat with the other. Needless to say pretty soon I was both covered in various grades of dirt/mud and smelling rather distinctly of petrol. One colleague saw me on her way past and phoned to check I was OK. Two others stopped by to see if they could offer a lift. And then my boss turned up in his big 4x4 and towed me to work... Olivia's now standing out in the shopping mall parking area, awaiting:
a) a replacement fuel filter
b) a check of the fuel pump and fuel lines for blockages
c) a thorough check-through at lunchtime (hell, I'm already dirty, a little more won't matter)
I may need to get a lift home with the boss tonight, leaving poor O overnight (in hope and faith that she'll survive it), and come back bearing spares in the morning. But I hold out all hope that I can sort her out over lunchtime.
So it was late to work, dived right in, washed off whatever fuel I could manage - but I'm still slightly perfumed with the stuff and dusty around the edges. Oh well.
NOW... I could see this as an Absolute Disaster. The entire day ruined, down the drain, not going to look up.
or
Well there's an alternative way to see it. Just part of the adventure. Another challenge to sink my teeth into and work through. An "added extra" to give a shot of excitement to what would otherwise have been a pretty routine day.
Life's a journey. It's filled with a multitude of experiencies. You can choose to either moan about the ones that come your way, or simply live them fully, "sucking out the marrow" of whatever learning curve you're hitting. Guess which one I'm doing.
::update::
Perhaps it's the post-lunch slump (during which I didn't get her going). Or the fear of leaving Olivia in a public parking lot overnight (when she's been voted "car most likely to run" between the two I own). But as part of the "living fully" I think I'm going to indulge in a slight bit of woe-is-me. Just a small down-dip before I shake it and find another bright side to look on.
I'm wondering exactly how many bright sides I need to find today though. The other stuff is just going to have to be pushed away for now.
On Commuting by Landy
Yes, I made it. Eventually. And only slightly shakey on arrival. Mentally making notes all the way of "things to do"...
So here are a couple of observations:
1. Half an hour of turning a key may give one a small thumb-blister. Or at least a sore spot.
2. It takes a while to start and warm up a Landy - or at least this particular Landy. Attempting to close the door will lead to "prairie-dogging" (or "meerkatting" in South African terms) by the neighbours, who are trying to figure out what all the banging is about.
3. The "boiling water trick" may or may not help. Probably doesn't. Will save the boiling water for coffee instead.
4. While starting a Landy, you get to watch the sun rise and the stars fade to the point where lights are no longer required. (And then an hour into work you have to rush out and check that you DID actually switch them off earlier - no pushing that thing!)
5. Don't rush it. The yellow line is your friend! :-) Even if traffic builds up behind you a ways... Leaf springs do, however, transmit every hit of a line marking reflector. Just call them mini speed-bumps.
6. What takes half an hour in the Ford will take an hour in the Landy. So be it.
7. A 6-point turn is required to exit the parking space at home. A 4-point manipulation is required to get into the parking spot at work. Thank goodness for surrounding empty ones...
8. Charl no longer has the oldest car in the parking area. A Landy is HUGE compared to everything around it! It's huge compared to the Freelander that was parked next to it yesterday too. No wonder no-one tried to cut in front of me on the way here, and let me turn where I needed to. :-)
And so on to the working day. The trip home awaits, but a whole lot later.
So here are a couple of observations:
1. Half an hour of turning a key may give one a small thumb-blister. Or at least a sore spot.
2. It takes a while to start and warm up a Landy - or at least this particular Landy. Attempting to close the door will lead to "prairie-dogging" (or "meerkatting" in South African terms) by the neighbours, who are trying to figure out what all the banging is about.
3. The "boiling water trick" may or may not help. Probably doesn't. Will save the boiling water for coffee instead.
4. While starting a Landy, you get to watch the sun rise and the stars fade to the point where lights are no longer required. (And then an hour into work you have to rush out and check that you DID actually switch them off earlier - no pushing that thing!)
5. Don't rush it. The yellow line is your friend! :-) Even if traffic builds up behind you a ways... Leaf springs do, however, transmit every hit of a line marking reflector. Just call them mini speed-bumps.
6. What takes half an hour in the Ford will take an hour in the Landy. So be it.
7. A 6-point turn is required to exit the parking space at home. A 4-point manipulation is required to get into the parking spot at work. Thank goodness for surrounding empty ones...
8. Charl no longer has the oldest car in the parking area. A Landy is HUGE compared to everything around it! It's huge compared to the Freelander that was parked next to it yesterday too. No wonder no-one tried to cut in front of me on the way here, and let me turn where I needed to. :-)
And so on to the working day. The trip home awaits, but a whole lot later.
Manbag
It's been a weekend of hard slog, but Olivia is running. Or at least she did pretty well on the 2km trip to the shops and back. With slight fear and trepidation I'll take on the commute tomorrow morning, slow and steady, keeping to the side of the road so speedy, irritable, road-rage folk can zip past me - and making sure my toolbox is close at hand. There's a nifty place to store it right between the front seats - makes a good arm-rest at the same time.
This afternoon I was doing a once-over, ensuring I've got everything I need so I don't stumble out the door and forget half of it in the dark.
And I came to the conclusion I need a Manbag.
You know the type - handbags for men. Smart, roomy, and not particularly frilly.
Here's why.
In my handbag at the moment I have:
Camera (in padded carry-case with shoulder strap)
Wallet (or "purse", seeing I'm of the female gender) - with credit cards, business cards, ID book, all that
Notebook (listing a lot of stuff, from our prepaid electricity number, to random phone numbers, Land Rover part numbers, and Olivia's to-do list)
Chequebook in cover (cover needs replacing)
Keys (Ford, front door, 2x LARGE Landy bunches with battery keys attached)
Small hairbrush
One galvanized wheel bolt from Olivia so I can go get the right size socket when I see them
Weighing down the interior side pocket is:
Dentyne gum
Lipstick and lipgloss x 3
Mini flashlight
Extra set of Ford keys
"Feminine hygiene" emergency item
Even smaller notebook (actually pages with "a note from Michelle" printed on - courtesy my mom, years ago)
Pen
Exterior small pocket contains:
Address book
There's a cellphone storage pouch too, but I'm not using it, cos it likes to open randomly and dump my cellphone on the floor - a feat I can accomplish perfectly well without help, thank you.
All this in a normal woman-sized bag. No wonder the bottom corners are starting to pull away from the sides and my shoulder gets sore walking the mall!
Which has led me to conclude I need a Manbag. Or a small backpack. Something that's got storage space, is sturdy and strong, and doesn't mind being chucked behind Land Rover seats or on the floor of a Ford (should that particular beast ever work again).
Not terribly ladylike, I know! But hey - I'm a practical chick. Will keep the ladylike stuff for those rare occasions when I totter around in my killer heels (the ones that look like they come with a matching whip).
This afternoon I was doing a once-over, ensuring I've got everything I need so I don't stumble out the door and forget half of it in the dark.
And I came to the conclusion I need a Manbag.
You know the type - handbags for men. Smart, roomy, and not particularly frilly.
Here's why.
In my handbag at the moment I have:
Camera (in padded carry-case with shoulder strap)
Wallet (or "purse", seeing I'm of the female gender) - with credit cards, business cards, ID book, all that
Notebook (listing a lot of stuff, from our prepaid electricity number, to random phone numbers, Land Rover part numbers, and Olivia's to-do list)
Chequebook in cover (cover needs replacing)
Keys (Ford, front door, 2x LARGE Landy bunches with battery keys attached)
Small hairbrush
One galvanized wheel bolt from Olivia so I can go get the right size socket when I see them
Weighing down the interior side pocket is:
Dentyne gum
Lipstick and lipgloss x 3
Mini flashlight
Extra set of Ford keys
"Feminine hygiene" emergency item
Even smaller notebook (actually pages with "a note from Michelle" printed on - courtesy my mom, years ago)
Pen
Exterior small pocket contains:
Address book
There's a cellphone storage pouch too, but I'm not using it, cos it likes to open randomly and dump my cellphone on the floor - a feat I can accomplish perfectly well without help, thank you.
All this in a normal woman-sized bag. No wonder the bottom corners are starting to pull away from the sides and my shoulder gets sore walking the mall!
Which has led me to conclude I need a Manbag. Or a small backpack. Something that's got storage space, is sturdy and strong, and doesn't mind being chucked behind Land Rover seats or on the floor of a Ford (should that particular beast ever work again).
Not terribly ladylike, I know! But hey - I'm a practical chick. Will keep the ladylike stuff for those rare occasions when I totter around in my killer heels (the ones that look like they come with a matching whip).
Buy a Horse
It looks like Olivia will be a daily drive sooner than expected. After charging the Ford's battery overnight, it started first time - then died.
Tried again - oil cap popped off, smoke coming out of the hole... BIG problems!!! This isn't a simple repair, but rather one massive issue, and the Ford isn't going anywhere soon.
So today I have to get going on Olivia. Her battery's being topped up, my toolbox is out, the bonnet is up, the oils/greases are about to get a look-see and by Monday she has to be on the road. Or I'll be begging lifts off random colleagues...
I had planned a bit of grocery shopping. I am supposed to be at a birthday party tomorrow. I should have dropped off some goodies at the Waterfront too. I have a hundred-and-one things to do that require transport. All of which are not going to happen this weekend. Unless I can make some exceptionally speedy repairs, which is going to require one HUGE learning curve.
So - it's a case of fix car, or buy a horse. Car it's going to have to be (though a horse may be a whole lot less hassle).
Tried again - oil cap popped off, smoke coming out of the hole... BIG problems!!! This isn't a simple repair, but rather one massive issue, and the Ford isn't going anywhere soon.
So today I have to get going on Olivia. Her battery's being topped up, my toolbox is out, the bonnet is up, the oils/greases are about to get a look-see and by Monday she has to be on the road. Or I'll be begging lifts off random colleagues...
I had planned a bit of grocery shopping. I am supposed to be at a birthday party tomorrow. I should have dropped off some goodies at the Waterfront too. I have a hundred-and-one things to do that require transport. All of which are not going to happen this weekend. Unless I can make some exceptionally speedy repairs, which is going to require one HUGE learning curve.
So - it's a case of fix car, or buy a horse. Car it's going to have to be (though a horse may be a whole lot less hassle).
Front-seat ponderings
Needing some peace and quiet about an hour ago, I headed off to go sit in Olivia and think. Which can go either way, quite frankly.You can get all inspired and enthusiastic, clear the head, sort out the world's problems and still get back in time for lunch.
Or you can start to realize you know next to nothing about Landies, and are hardly worthy of owning one, fiddling with one, or driving one. Made even worse by walking to the shops and being overtaken by a gorgeous blonde in a stunning shorty Defender. These things happen.
On the other hand there's the sterner stuff, the determination to get it right - dammit - in spite of feeling like a lost fart in a perfume factory when it comes to fixing that 8-page list of things that need it. I'm kinda vascillating between the two today. Almost overwhelmed by the list, yet knowing I have to do this, and do it fast.
(and then one hears a vehicle going by that sounds considerably worse than either one of one's own... and feels a lot better.. :-) )
This weekend there are a few car things I have to get done. On both Ford and Landy. I've found a nearby supplier of Landy parts at a decent price, but anything requiring cash is going to have to wait for a week. Instead I'm focusing on the stuff I can do now, without having to have spares on hand or new tools or expert opinions. That, I think, I can manage.
I'll earn my way to Landy-owner worthiness, come hell, high water, or rivers of grease.
Dangerous
The trouble with reading LRO magazines is this - you suddenly start getting brain over-drive. All sorts of ideas, questions, what-if's, thoughts, all churning around in the grey matter soup until the 5-day headache you're still dealing with only gets worse!
I'm just getting started on sorting out Olivia, there's a good few pages of to-do's on my list, but it's very very easy to get carried away. Or so I'm learning. There are many things I have to do, more that I want to do, and a couple that would be awesome to do. Then there are the things I haven't even considered doing - and thus the LRO-reading comes into play.
They love to feature reader's Landys, ones that have been sorted out in ways that I haven't even heard of (not that that's too hard to accomplish, with my minimal knowledge). Add in an awesome resident expert (my go-to) with even more ideas and is it any wonder my head feels close to exploding?
Solution? Write everything down. Ask in little pieces. Think first, before asking. Chuck asking some things altogether. And read copiously just in case the answers are right there in front of you.
Then take a long break away from anything Landy and a few deep breaths so you can cease feeling overwhelmed.
I'm just getting started on sorting out Olivia, there's a good few pages of to-do's on my list, but it's very very easy to get carried away. Or so I'm learning. There are many things I have to do, more that I want to do, and a couple that would be awesome to do. Then there are the things I haven't even considered doing - and thus the LRO-reading comes into play.
They love to feature reader's Landys, ones that have been sorted out in ways that I haven't even heard of (not that that's too hard to accomplish, with my minimal knowledge). Add in an awesome resident expert (my go-to) with even more ideas and is it any wonder my head feels close to exploding?
Solution? Write everything down. Ask in little pieces. Think first, before asking. Chuck asking some things altogether. And read copiously just in case the answers are right there in front of you.
Then take a long break away from anything Landy and a few deep breaths so you can cease feeling overwhelmed.
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Gym se Voet!
(if you don't understand the heading, ask your nearest South African - there's sure to be one close by)
I spent the whole of Tuesday working on Olivia. Mostly climbing on her and reaching up to bolts way above my head. Then a bit of wrestling with things that had rusted together, and pulling on stuck stuff. Crawling on teak roofrack boards on my hands and knees, and a slight bit of heavy lifting.
Needless to say I was stiff the next day! Even turning over in bed that night picked out all sorts of bruised bits and scrapes I hadn't seen. I'm still noticing cuts on my hands at odd times.
But there's nothing like working the muscles to get them back into use again after they've siezed up - even if your legs wobble in near collapse while you're at it (I never realized how many stairs we have!).
Tonight it was back to sorting out the last few struts that need to come off. I finally had an extra pair of hands (bribery does wonders), but they still took some doing. And this weekend will be more of the same. I'm on a roll - I'm doing as much of the "free" stuff as I can, while I can.
Who needs gym when you have a Landy!!!
I spent the whole of Tuesday working on Olivia. Mostly climbing on her and reaching up to bolts way above my head. Then a bit of wrestling with things that had rusted together, and pulling on stuck stuff. Crawling on teak roofrack boards on my hands and knees, and a slight bit of heavy lifting.
Needless to say I was stiff the next day! Even turning over in bed that night picked out all sorts of bruised bits and scrapes I hadn't seen. I'm still noticing cuts on my hands at odd times.
But there's nothing like working the muscles to get them back into use again after they've siezed up - even if your legs wobble in near collapse while you're at it (I never realized how many stairs we have!).
Tonight it was back to sorting out the last few struts that need to come off. I finally had an extra pair of hands (bribery does wonders), but they still took some doing. And this weekend will be more of the same. I'm on a roll - I'm doing as much of the "free" stuff as I can, while I can.
Who needs gym when you have a Landy!!!
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