Monday 28 November 2011

Ummmm

I'm not really sure what to blog about this week. There hasn't been anything exciting happen. I have done most of my Christmas shopping, got it in boxes ready to go, but need to add just one or two little things before I can send them. That has to wait until Wednesday (payday).

I spent some time on Sunday going through my filing cabinet, culling several years worth of useless rubbish. I had made some progress, when Fluffy came home and helped me. We got through it in no time. Then paid Dobby $10 to sit there and tear it into bits for the recycle bin.

Fluffy has been getting Terry ready for his first big adventure. He got the electric brakes fitted last week, and has installed the reverse camera and screen himself, plus the cable for the camera attached to the caravan. He also bought himself a small CB radio in readiness. I think we're set to go.

Chrisco hampers arrived last Wednesday. I told Dobby on 3 occasions to only open the red ones. When I got home she had opened every single one. Food was everywhere! She had just opened them and left the stuff all over the place. She had even helped herself to some of the food. We had a huge fight, and of course she blamed me for not telling her not to open the green ones. Sorry, what part of "Open the red ones" didn't she get??

So, I had to hide a lot of snacks or there would be nothing left. I gave her one packet of chips and said pour yourself a bowl, and put the rest away for tomorrow. When I got home she had eaten the whole packet. And she wonders why I get cranky??

Anyway. I put a lot of things in the caravan in preparation for Christmas holidays and the caravan rally this coming weekend. We have also bought a small popcorn machine and a children's Christmas stocking for raffle prizes. I am quite looking forward to this one. It's our annual Christmas rally. Hopefully I will have some great photos. Note to self - MAKE SURE YOU TAKE THE CAMERA!!

Dobby and I had morning tea with my lovely friend Marg on Sunday, and her friend gave me some Miller's teeshirts and pants. The pants don't fit (cause my butt has expanded heaps) but the tops will be lovely for the caravan. One is a brown and black striped number which I think I'll wear for our Christmas dinner with some black pants. Hope it's not hot, although this year we decided to cater and go to the pub instead of hiring a hall. Should be a lovely evening.

We have had a huge rat problem lately. Rats living in the tree beside our house, and down the back in the rubbish pile. So we bought some bait packets and put them up on the roof where they climb and in the tree. We haven't seen any dead ones but we know they have eaten the bait. On Sunday Roger caught 3 mice. The first he brought inside and the dog stole it. The second he brought inside and lost, which freaked Dobby out - she was disgusted! Eventually he must have found it because later when I was sweeping the dining room I found it dead beside the table and Roger sitting guard on the chair above. The third he didn't get to bring inside. Fluffy shut the door before he could. Then he dropped it and the dog scooped it up and ran away with it. Fluffy disposed of that one.

Last night Fluffy and I were sitting on the back patio enjoying the peace and watching TV. But we had more fun keeping an eye on the huge rat that was hanging around Ozzie's kennel. It kept going in behind it. Looked like it had some kind of deformity too, seemed to be limping. Anyway, it went behind the kennel, under the cupboard beside it. That's the last we saw of that one.

So, this week will be getting the last of the van ready (putting the last few things in, making sure the fridge is working and full etc). Fluffy is leaving early Friday to go up to Riverton, and Dobby and I shall follow Friday afternoon. Not sure what time I am finishing work, but it will take us about two hours to get there, so we'll probably go straight to the pub for dinner once we get there. I do like doing that. I don't get to ride in Terry on the trip up, but all the setting up and stuff is done before we get there. Only thing is, I don't like driving long distances by myself. I tend to get tired...

Anyway, hopefully next week's post is worth reading. Plenty of pictures then, including the mouse Roger was playing with inside!

Wednesday 16 November 2011

Win!

I was going to wait till the weekend to post this, but it looks like I'll be pretty busy, so I'll update a bit early. Most of you know this story already, but who cares!

So, remember how I said in my last post that we looked at the car on Saturday, and fell in love? Well, when we told the salesman we bought Shazza from he was quite upset and disappointed that a fellow Ford dealership could be so rude.

On Monday we found out that he had gone in search of this vehicle. He decided to purchase it himself (well, the business did), from Moughan Thiem Ford. They would not budge on the price (I'm not really surprised, it was a good price), so our sales guru bought it for their agreed price.

He arranged for a truck to take it back to Rebel Ford in Elizabeth, and they put it up on ramps. Turns out it had no rego, and the two front bearings (or was it bushes?) were cactus, so at their own cost, they fixed it up. They gave it a spruce up, and called Fluffy with the good news.

Over the phone they arranged to pay out our current loan, and refinance (at a better interest rate so we are actually paying less than we were), and it was all done.

Then last night, John, the salesman, brought his partner Samantha over and delivered:



Terry! John named him for us so we kept it :-)

I was just on my way out to take Dobby to Cadets when they arrived, but apparently they all sat at the table out the back while the paperwork was signed and details finalised.

They all had a few drinks and Fluffy even handed over one of his prized Spanish port bottles (well worth it too I might add!). When I got back we talked a bit more, then eventually they took our 380 and left. It was terribly sad to see her go.

John told us that one of his workmates bought our Fairmont, which was nice as it's going to a good home.

Fluffy and I then decided to go to the Maccas not far from Dobby's cadets, and sit and eat dinner. As Fluffy had been drinking I got to drive Terry first (feels privileged!)

We picked up Dobby and came home. Everyone was so happy to have Terry.

So it just goes to show what a little "can do" attitude will achieve. We were so upset that we missed out on our dream car. Fluffy had been looking for months for something, and this last few weeks we feared we just wouldn't find what we wanted. I tried to reassure Fluffy by telling him you'll know the car when you see it, and that's exactly what happened. We knew it as soon as we saw it.

We were so lucky to find someone who is genuine, and who seemed to really want to help. All the team out there were friendly and funny, and it made the whole experience pleasurable.

The offshoot for that is, although the car yard is way across the city, we are prepared to take both vehicles back there for servicing (they are right across from a shopping centre so no drama really!). And they have a rewards program. If we recommend them to someone and they buy a car, we receive a spotters fee.

We joked last night that we were going to drive up and down Port Road, past Maughn Tiem Ford beeping, waving and yelling "Look At Me!" haha.

Well, I'm sure I've bored you enough. I really just wanted to share our story. Sometimes things really do go your way!

Oh, and Dobby got her uniform last night too, what do you think?



Monday 14 November 2011

Changes

Well, today's probably not the best day to update my blog. Feeling rather down, cause, well basically I have a teenager! Anyway, I'll try make it interesting for ya.

So, this week saw a lot of changes. Fluffy has been surfing the used car sales pages for months, looking for something different to tow the caravan with. The Fairmont is a 2000 model, and won't last forever. But we still owe a bit on the Mitsubishi. Ideally, we would like 4WD to cope.

So he got a payout figure from the finance people, and we did some math, and figured we could spend a certain amount. He hit the pages with renewed vigour.

We were also deciding on what to do with the existing cars. Do we trade both in on a replacement, and look for something cheap and nasty for Dobby and I to drive, with the view to give it to Dobby when she has her license? Yes, probably.

The last couple of weeks have seen us look at a couple of possibilities. One was a Mercedes 4WD. Very nice. Diesel so the KM wasn't too important (they are considered not run in until 100,00km). We ummed and aaaahed, then kept looking.

Next to consider was a little blue Holden Barina for Dobby and I. Good price, low KM, neat little unit. So we decided to trade in the Fairmont and pay cash for the difference.

As it will be Dobby's, she has decided it's practically hers now. Pfft. I don't own a car now it would appear :-). Anyway, she has given her a name...So, Meet..... Shazza



It's a manual so it will be easy for Dobby to learn properly how to drive in. She loves it, and it's lovely to drive. We paid a deposit and made arrangements to pick it up Saturday.

But, with a caravan rally looming, and one we have to attend, the hunt has stepped up for a replacement for the Fairmont.

We looked at two Jeeps, but were advised that being short wheel base they would struggle with our heavy van, even though the tow capacity is supposed to be more than capable.

We looked at a Hyundai Taracan, but have balked at the $6000 replacement gearbox that a lot of this model seem to experience.

Next on the list was a Nissan Pathfinder. Nice vehicle. We took it for a drive, and it's quite nice. Close inspection shows it's been knocked around a bit, but overall a nice tidy car.

We were offered $14,000 for our Mitsubishi. Twice.

Then Fluffy found The One. We showed up on Saturday all set to sign the deal. We were looking at the most magnificent Ford Territory. A sweet blue colour all over, black suede look upholstery, low KM, and around our price range. Took it for a test drive, and were so excited. It has a cargo cage at the back, all the bells and whistles, turbo, looks real mickey mouse.

BUT they were only prepared to offer us $9000 for ours. What?? How can two different people offer $14000 and he only advise $9000. Wayne told him that's an insult. The smart alec, whom I might add we had to wait 15 minutes for because he was in the loo, just said, "well, if you think you can do better somewhere else, you're welcome to do that". So we did. We just walked out. We were all prepared to buy that car.

We were all almost in tears, let me tell you.

So, we went to pick up Shazza instead. The saleman there was very sympathetic. Another Ford dealer they are. And let me tell you, they were sooo nice. They bent over backwards to make our Shazza experience pleasurable.

They took Fluffy out to show him another Territory, which paled in comparison, though. They said if they don't have the car for us, they'll do their best to get one just like it.

He took Fluffy for a drive in this other Territory, too, and they have agreed to match the $14000 for our old car.

We agreed to think about it. Fluffy phoned the sales rep yesterday saying he had seen another similar vehicle, and the bloke told him they would have a look to get him something similar.

Well, after all this we had to then drive Dobby (in Shazza) to a sleepover way down South. So, we drove from home to Hahndorf, from Hahndorf up to Elizabeth, back home briefly, then down to Seaford Rise and back home. Felt like we were on the road all day!

Sunday, Dobby was away, and Fluffy went to work. I was invited out to a friend's place. We have only met person to person once, but been Facebook friends for some time, and she has a blog (check it out). I got to meet 6 of her friends, who are all mad keen quilters. I felt a bit odd barging in on their Christmas party, but I was welcomed, with gifts, laughter, great company, and great food too. Lots of it! Khris even made us all table runners and matching coasters. Now, I'll tell you, she asked me on Thursday what colour dining room I had... so that's how quickly she made my runner set! We had games as well, and the prizes were all things she had made. I scored two little bags, a pin cushion, and our Secret Santa Sisters gift was a basket of all sorts of goodies. So lovely!

Then by the time I got home Dobby was home. The evening was quiet, until Dobby started to get naughty. She wouldn't do something, can't remember what, so I threatened to take her laptop off her. She protested, got very nasty, and it turned into a fight. I ripped the laptop out of her embrace, and the mouse USB got broken in the scuffle. So Fluffy got mad too. Well, perhaps my mood may have misread him, but I thought he was angry at me for breaking it. I got that impression anyway, so we had a fight too.

Dobby called me all sorts of lovely things and stormed off to bed.

This morning was no better. She couldn't find a shoe, which had gone down behind her bed. She was throwing things around, and swearing, and blamed me for throwing it there (for the record, I didn't).

Anyway, I think I came to work to escape today. Hopefully the end of day will bring some good news. Keep you posted...

Sunday 6 November 2011

Visual art

So because not much has been happening (and SOL will be busy for a few days so probably won't get to read this post anyway) and also because I don't think anyone else actually does read them, I have decided to put pictures up instead. Next week I'll actually have something to blog about I hope.

So, enjoy the visual experience....