Wednesday 6 January 2016

Service

The car has gone in for a service this morning - its first since we only bought it a year ago this week.   It has gone in to the garage where we bought it in Northallerton, which is twenty five miles away, so quite a chore taking it in.   The farmer has returned home in a Corsa courtesy car; no mistaking that as it is writ large in white letters along the side.  An hour and a half's journey there and back, but that's the price you pay for living way out in the country.   And a price well worth paying in my opinion.

I suppose you can say that it has just about got light this morning, although that is arguable, and the rain is coming down as it has done almost constantly for the past few days. With our first Christmas jig-saw (Van Gogh's Bedroom at Arles) finished I think this afternoon while waiting for the call from the garage to say the car is ready for collection, might be spent on the second one.  This is a beauty with a selection of chickens, ducks and geese all over it. But the border, where every piece is more or less identical (a strip of blue round the edge), is proving difficult.   Now that the base outside line is finished I have suggested that we work up from that and leave the outside to take care of itself as and when we get to each line of pieces - surely it will be easier that way.

Typing that last line reminded me of my Aunt Jessie's favourite remark on hand-washing ' you need only wash the back's of your hands, the fronts will take care of themselves.'

20 comments:

Gwil W said...

We recently had a courtesy car for a couple of days from a garage. A pine marten got under the bonnet and bit the cable to the computer. We read on the internet that you can prevent this by placing a ticking clock in the car. If we give anybody a lift they laugh at our old clock perched on the dashboard. Today is a bank holiday here.

Dawn said...

My car is due her service end of the month so Martin will take her back for the week and leave me his, fancy doing a jig saw but I know better than to start one no time at present, we have mist this morning with occasional sunshine makes a change not having waterproofs on,

Heather said...

Contrary to your Aunt Jessie's advice I realise that I always wash the fronts of my hands and hope the backs take care of themselves. Hope the journey to collect the car will be made in passable driving conditions. We are having Spring today but everywhere is still absolutely sodden so there is no chance of any outdoor work.

Anonymous said...

Talking about changes - cars are much more reliable nowadays - so many fewer breakdowns - though I agree rather boring driving all over to take it in for service.
We avoid the problem by not having a car at all!

Joanne Noragon said...

I have never been a fan of puzzles, but I love Aunt Jessie's observation.

Wilma said...

What do you do with your puzzles after you have completed them? Do you take them apart right away or admire them for awhile first? And do you do them again or pass them along?

jinxxxygirl said...

Love jigsaw puzzles Pat. Unfortunately i'm the only one.... I wish hubby enjoyed them. I do get one once in a while. I don't care for the ones that are of a photograph. I prefer the ones of paintings ...Wysocki(spelling?) is a favorite..Hugs! deb

jinxxxygirl said...

My gosh that is a good question from Wilma... what do you do with yours once you've finished?? I would love to find a few people who love to do puzzles and have a puzzle swap...lol I tried that once on my blog but no one took me up on it...lol

Doc said...

Yuck........ I dislike having to service the cars and my new one is long overdue. We love doing jigsaw puzzles and are currently doing one of the Charles Wysocki called "Remington The Horticulturist"

Simon Douglas Thompson said...

Pine martens attacking car engines? Just wow. And then being dissuaded by ticking clocks? Double wow!

John Going Gently said...

Unfortunately many nurses i know subscribe to jessie's dictum

Maria said...

Has anyone tried a wasjig? Wasgij literally is Jigsaw backwards, and you build what the characters on the box see. I give my jigsaws to charity, but I haven't done any lately. I should drop a hint to family members.
Greetings Maria x.

Dartford Warbler said...

Twenty five miles IS a long way to go for a car service. I expect The Farmer enjoyed the drive though.

Terry and Linda said...

I love that last line!!! Made me smile out loud!

Linda

Cro Magnon said...

After a wonderful Autumn, we have just now entered into a period of rain, and I believe it will start to get cold in about a week's time. I knew it couldn't last.

Penny said...

Sounds just like jigsaw weather, would love to do one in the heat but haven't a hope until George (6 month old cat) gets older, jigsaw pieces would be just too much fun.

potty said...

My Nanna used the 'wash the corners of the floor and the centre will take care of itself'.

meigancam01 said...

I am delighted to read this article.!!
Thanks for sharing.

Stuart said...

BBC gardener Geoffrey Smith (of sainted memory) used to say "Sow your seeds round the edge of your flowerpot and the middle will look after itself." He had the wisest, if not most subtle, of sayings: "If you know of a gardener who can't say he has improved his soil year on year, then he's not worth knowing." I still miss him.

Madonna Gentry said...

Good luck with the car repair. It's hard to find a good and reliable garage these days. I agree; I rather drive a few miles more to a reputable one than having to return to a bad one again and again. Plus, getting a courtesy car is a great additional service - not every garage offers this.