It is quite well known amongst family and good friends that we have been struggling with our vehicles ever since they were vandalized a few years ago.
It happened at a time when Johan was between jobs and the only thing he had to keep him busy right then was the CPF. He had many hours to put into creating documents that had never been available, putting structures in place and attending numerous meetings. He was so involved that the criminals heads turned and the police suddenly realized they may actually have to tow the line.
We believe as did the police, that the vandalism of both the astra and our bakkie were deliberate attempts as well as warnings for Johan to back off.
In any event both vehicles were literally given 'patch' jobs to get them up and running. We had a local chap in the area look at them both and at a minimal cost to us we managed to get them on the road again.
Once Johan was once again employed we had the astra sorted and at huge expense the bakkie eventually had a reconditioned engine fitted.
Neither of them have ever been the same though and if you read my blog you remember my tale of how the astra towed the bakkie for 500km when we moved here last year August.
Sadly the astra has been standing since December after the head gasket blew one Saturday morning shortly after going past an accident. We were towed home by some kind soul who lives in the area and here it has remained. I have put my foot down with a very firm hand about spending any more money that amounts to thousands on either vehicle. It is such a waste and I am disgruntled to say the least that the reconditioned engine fitted into the bakkie at huge cost, has never worked as it should have. It was supposed to give us an extra 100 000km on the clock and it didn't even last 2000. I give the chap who fitted it his due, he did come down one day at his own expense and he and his apprentice fiddled on it for most of the day. When he left he said to me it will never make another long trip but should be alright for town travel.
Well in the last month the town travel trips have become fewer and fewer as it has joined Smoky Robinson while it chugs up the hills.
My brother in law who is a very meticulous mechanic and always concerned for the well being of anyone's vehicle, offered to pull the engine out and try to give it mouth to mouth. So it was that last week he took a few days of his leave, bless his soul, and attempted to rescitate what has become a heart that skips s beat. The end result was much the same as one who may go for an operation and on the surgeon opening you up, declares there is nothing they can do but stitch you up again and give you a minimal prognosis.
I went after the market on Saturday to fetch our tired old lady, and as my brother in law tried to explain in a language I would undrstand, I felt I was back in the nurses station of McDonald ward when Dr Friedlander told me Mark had Cystic Fibrosis and he would not live past 5 years of age. The feeling was much the same and as I left I was instructed to let him know if I arrived home safely.
I did arrive home safely and as we chugged up the hill I was telling her, I know you can, 'I know you can', just like in the Thomas the Tank Engine books that I read to our boys when they were little.
So it is with a very heavy heart we acknowledge that as each day goes by and another trip to the office is undertaken, a little more life is taken away from her. I have no idea what will be in the future but we are survivors that's for sure and until then I trust that Gods timing will be perfect for us and all our needs.
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