In Lieu Of Anything...

[magicaddict]

...productive I can do at work, and as it's lunchtime, an update.

I'm not sure how this is supposed to work, but where I come from, one can only learn what is available to be taught, be that by a person or by documentation. So, when I am presented with a problem that hasn't been seen before and answers immediately occur to the highly experienced people (after pausing to see if I knew the procedures, also not documented, already), it makes one feel rather useless.

I hate being the newbie at work who doesn't know anything. I hated it at HMRC, I hated it at Nationwide, and I hate it here. Other than documenting every little idea someone has, I'm not exactly sure how I should start learning, either.
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Two weekends ago I was going to buy a Vauxhall Astra. A special edition called the ECO4, which combined having a turbocharger with obscene fuel economy (by detuning the turbo slightly and putting aerodynamic skirts around the base of the car, I understand). This car was in Southampton, right up until the morning I was planning to go.

Then some bastard bought it.

By now, my resident automotive expert raiyden had arrived to size up my intended purchase, and it seemed a pity to waste his expertise. Cue finding a well appointed and clean looking Golf Estate (a little larger engine, a little older, a little more mileage and a little less economical, but it was a Volkswagen) for a reasonable price...in Manchester.

We can make that, we reckon. It's a mad Saturday, after all.

What followed was possibly the longest day trip Autotrader has ever inspired. We arrived at the address of the "business" (it was a trade seller) to find the dodgiest housing estate in the country. Leaving helbling in the car, doors locked and with her hand on the 9 button of her mobile, raiyden and I ventured forth to find the guy in charge waiting for us.

Selling the car from his front drive.

When he went to turn the car on, it took two attempts to get it started. When he went to pop the hood, the bonnet release handle fell off. There was a piece of black electrical tape covering a permanently illuminated brake warning light on the dashboard. The interior of the car looked as though someone had died in it. The dealer wouldn't let me drive it at first, but insisted on getting it warmed up before he let me behind the wheel.

When we got back, we thanked him for his time and said no thanks. He refused my outstretched hand and walked away. raiyden and I departed for the car before he returned with an offensive weapon.

So, this weekend...

Having decided that a six hour round trip was pushing it somewhat, I narrowed the search and happened upon another Astra, this time in Warminster. This one came from a dealer with a showroom, a store front, and more than one car for sale. He replied within an hour of my emailing him, and answered his work phone with, "Good afternoon, Warminster Motor Company" rather than, "Yeah?". This one, we felt, might have a little more potential. Fine, it wasn't ECO4'd up, but it was still a fraction less than ten years old and had done a fraction under a hundred thousand miles. For a diesel, that's all okay.

This guy greeted us with a smile, on his dedicated shopfront, in an area that didn't look like a DMZ. He showed us round the car, dumped ten years of service history on to us and listed the faults he thought there were with it (which he planned to remove in the MOT he would give it when he sold it to someone). It had had a few new things done already, and when we spotted a tiny crack in the windscreen he said he'd do that as well.

Most importantly, I felt, the bonnet release handle did not fall off when pulled.

So I have now bought a car, which I am picking up on Thursday evening after it's been MOT'd. Emma and I are a two car family, who went to the gym on Sunday morning. We will soon be moving into a two bedroom property in Cirencester (just as soon as we find one), and will set about badgering the landlord to let us get a cat. We're going for a minibreak to the Lake District this weekend.

When the hell did all that growing up happen?

Comments

[pujaemuss.livejournal.com]

*laughs* Very disconcerting, this whole adult business.

And I think you made the right choice not buying the Manchester one.

PJW

[xanthipe]

Growing up is insidious. One day you're playing with Lego, the next day you're paying bills and discussing life insurance (but still playing with Lego). Which just goes to show - no matter what else is happening, always find time to play with Lego.

Huzzah for getting car number 2 sorted though :)

[same-difference.livejournal.com]

Agreed (I need more lego).

Growing up seems to be all about finding the time for lego, with everything else.

Also congrats on acquiring car number 2.

[dbexx.livejournal.com]

Good grief, I feel your pain on the being the new guy thing. At my place I occasionally ended up in tears of frustration, sometimes over the difference between the words "pigment" and "stainer". Yes, it was that bad.
Stick with it.

Glad to hear about the car :)

[valient-starr.livejournal.com]

I'm glad you are still alive, and also for getting a car.