Song of the day: “The Caravan of Love” by the Housemartins, I think. Hmmm. Maybe I should check. Nah. Whoever sang it, it was the A-Capella version.
So...very little writing these past couple of days. Very annoying, I know, but that is life getting away with ya, I guess. The car thing has kept us incredibly busy. It feels as if I’ve been living in the friggin’ car trying to get everything arranged.
But I’m getting ahead of myself, aren’t I. Let’s start with yesterday where I subbed as a cab driver...or at least that was how it felt. Seriously, I’ve spent more time in the car yesterday and today than I have in the past six months. And that is saying something. Hah.
Anyway, yesterday started early with me heading for town hall to pay this year’s taxes...yikes. That hurts the wallet seriously. Gawd. Then I had to have copies of my passport and drivers license stamped, which cost a solid six bucks per stamp, thank you very much. I can earn money that way, jeez.
Right after I head to head down to town to check what I was supposed to do once I bought a new car, at which time I was informed that they could just change the details of the insurance and that would be it. So yeah, I was somewhat reassured when I got home and got to writing. Only managed three or four pages before it was time to head out to our appointment in town.
We were meeting with two sellers at the garage, so basically it was a face off between the Hyundai Atoz and the Opel Astra Merit.
First one was the Atoz, and the mechanic warned that the engine usually starts falling apart after 80.000 km. I liked the car, but let’s just say that it didn’t pass the test. Turned out that if we bought it fixing it was going to cost us ‘bout a thousand box to have it brought up to part, regardless of the fact that it had a new engine four or five years ago. Added to that, getting new parts would be incredibly expensive because it all has to come from Japan. *sigh*
So with that ringing in our ears...it was a family outing, the younger sibs and mom were there too...we waiting for the Opel. The seller arrived about fifteen minutes early and there we went, going over the whole thing again. Luckily this car came out of the test a lot better. The mechanic even said that it would a good choice because it was well maintained. There was about three to four hundred bucks of repairs, which had the seller agree to taking off about a hundred off the price, and paying half of the repair as long as we had it done at a garage where he could get a big discount.
And yep, we agreed to buy the Opel. I paid a deposit, we signed a little note and agreed to meet this very morning for the transfer. Which meant that we could finally go home and try to get some real work done. Like writing. The fact that I was just too tired to do much more than a page had me give up around midnight and head to bed. Seriously, buying a car is not my favorite pass time.
So anyway, this morning was another early one (a. I am getting too little sleep again b. I am not eating well. There just isn’t enough time during the day. My doctor would frown at me, I’m sure. *sigh*) because the vet was coming in to vaccinate the dogs. Now I would have liked to be there, but we had the appointment with the car seller, meaning that little brother and I headed out to meet with him and drive to the village to arrange paperwork. It’s a hassle over here in Spain, really. You need a gestor who arranges everything for a fee and that cost us another solid 160, darn it. (Usually transfer costs are for the buyer around here) But we managed it, and are now the owners of a new 2nd hand car.
By the time we got home the vet had finished with the vaccinations, meaning that they’re all set for another year or so.*Phew*
Afterwards I managed to sort through our tile piles, getting stuff ready for tenant’s future floor, before it was time for me to head for town again and arrange the insurance. Worked out fine, and the car is now officially insured. Since I was in town anyway, I drove past our garage to deliver the last bit of paperwork for the Daewoo. Oh, did I mention that the young mechanic working there asked if I could take the Daewoo from me if he took care of all the paperwork and gave me a free check up for my future car. Yeah, well, that’s what I agreed to. I saw no reason to send the little thing to the junk yard if it didn’t have to, and having a mechanic check out your car for free is a nice thing, to say the least. Heck, they even did both of them without charge, so I’m a happy gal. A friendly lot, over there, not to mention helpful. I’m very happy we found them.
Be that as it may, I dropped off the last paper, drove past the other garage (the one the seller insisted on) to see how the new car was doing and the mechanic was working on it. I assured the feller I wasn’t trying to rush him, but only came by to check if replacing the belts was on the list as well. It was, so I left and headed home. Oh, you never guess who I saw walking beside the road for the past three days, or so. Yep, the seller of the Daewoo. Guess business is not going well enough for him to cruise in his big ass car. I can’t say I’m sorry to see that, considering that they didn’t treat us at all right. (Heard a similar story from the mechanic, who got screwed over by them as well.) If they had treated us right, I wouldn’t have hesitated to return, as it is...well, we’re all set. Hah.
Which brings us to now, a time when I really should have been working on the book, but since I am scatter brained from being all over the place for the past couple of days, I figured I might as well do this blog first.
Oh, good bit of news is that my dogs didn’t make a fuss at all during the vaccinations, so, yay. They just might learn after all. Hah.
Friday, June 24, 2011
Thursday, June 23, 2011
Cars up the wazoo
Song of the day: “I will survive” by Gloria Gaynor. From my point of view it is very appropriate. Jeez. At the moment I just want to go to bed and pass out for a bit. Right after I eat half a bag of cornflakes to fill the pit that is supposed to be my stomach. Seriously, I’m friggin starving and for the past hour or so my stomach has been wondering whether my throat’s been cut. Aaaargh.
I didn’t have time for it today…heck, didn’t have time for it yesterday either.
Which means I need to explain, don’t I?
Well, yesterday was a doozy due to the fact that I had to go out way too much. It started early with Sally who had to go to the doctor and since the Daewoo is gone I had to drive her there. This meant that I had to wait for her to be done, which took two friggin’ hours that would have had me scream if I hadn’t been smart enough to take pen and paper with me. I managed to get down a solid scene. Yay.
It did make me incredibly grumpy when I got home, in particular because tenant also needed help, which took another hour and by then the entire morning was gone. So I took some time to get started, but I did finally manage to get down to the basin terrace where I spent the majority of the afternoon writing on “V.L.” The scene I wrote in the car and part of another one, so, another yay, right here. *sigh*
There was some gardening, naturally (not as much as I’d like) and harvesting, and cooking, which is incredibly boring to write about, but the zucchini soup was great. I wish some was left, but on the way up a large portion sloshed over dogs and ground alike. Bye bye soup.
I really should take some time to do some decent cooking again, though. The days are just not long enough for frivolous things like food, unless I make them.
But anyway...the afternoon was cut in because Sally needed a lift to her new job, only to need another one three hours later. That was when (after dropping her off) big brother and I, along with Dani headed out for a jog. I was in serious need to let of some steam, and I think I actually managed a relaxed run, rather than using all those muscles I’m not supposed to use. I mean it, it went well. Didn’t pull anything, didn’t lose my breath too fast, so it felt pretty awesome by the time we got back to the car and called it a day.
Good thing I managed to get to bed early too, because it allowed me to get up early this morning. We made to appointments, you see, to see a Renault Kangoo and a Citroen Berlingo. The latter had our favor, right until this afternoon it turned out that the add lied and that to look at it we’d have to go a solid fifty miles, which wasn’t worth it.
The other one, well the price wasn’t right after all, so that got canceled. It wouldn’t have been bad if that meant that we could stay home, but mom found an Opel Astra Merit that should be affordable. So we went there instead to look at it (did I mention I hate car shopping. I do. With a passion!). Personally I didn’t like it all that much, in particular not the seller, nor the idea the car gave, but what the heck, I will hardly ever drive it, so...whatever.
On the way back (we have an appointment at our garage tomorrow to see if we’re not buying a barrel) we came upon a Hyunday Atos (similar price to the Opel, and much more likable in my eyes, hah) whose owner showed up within fifteen minutes of calling. There will be two appointments at the garage tomorrow, where we’ll hear what the mechanic says.
Of course, the potential buying of a new car means that I will have to get up early tomorrow morning to get my registration form at city hall, and while I’m there I’ll have to pay taxes for 2010 as well. Home taxes, roads, garbage, etc. Very tiresome, but it needs to be done.
While mom and little brother dropped off Sally this afternoon, I had to pick her up again, right before big brother and I headed out to get gravel. With a little luck we’ll manage to pour concrete in tenants room one of these days. And when that is done maybe her new kitchen floor, which is high time.
Not much writing today, only a couple of pages that brought me up to one third of the book. Yay. I wish there’d been time for more writing tonight, but it’s already past midnight and I have to get up in time.
Okay, Knight II’s making a racket and I need to get ready for some serious zzzzs. Gotta go.
I didn’t have time for it today…heck, didn’t have time for it yesterday either.
Which means I need to explain, don’t I?
Well, yesterday was a doozy due to the fact that I had to go out way too much. It started early with Sally who had to go to the doctor and since the Daewoo is gone I had to drive her there. This meant that I had to wait for her to be done, which took two friggin’ hours that would have had me scream if I hadn’t been smart enough to take pen and paper with me. I managed to get down a solid scene. Yay.
It did make me incredibly grumpy when I got home, in particular because tenant also needed help, which took another hour and by then the entire morning was gone. So I took some time to get started, but I did finally manage to get down to the basin terrace where I spent the majority of the afternoon writing on “V.L.” The scene I wrote in the car and part of another one, so, another yay, right here. *sigh*
There was some gardening, naturally (not as much as I’d like) and harvesting, and cooking, which is incredibly boring to write about, but the zucchini soup was great. I wish some was left, but on the way up a large portion sloshed over dogs and ground alike. Bye bye soup.
I really should take some time to do some decent cooking again, though. The days are just not long enough for frivolous things like food, unless I make them.
But anyway...the afternoon was cut in because Sally needed a lift to her new job, only to need another one three hours later. That was when (after dropping her off) big brother and I, along with Dani headed out for a jog. I was in serious need to let of some steam, and I think I actually managed a relaxed run, rather than using all those muscles I’m not supposed to use. I mean it, it went well. Didn’t pull anything, didn’t lose my breath too fast, so it felt pretty awesome by the time we got back to the car and called it a day.
Good thing I managed to get to bed early too, because it allowed me to get up early this morning. We made to appointments, you see, to see a Renault Kangoo and a Citroen Berlingo. The latter had our favor, right until this afternoon it turned out that the add lied and that to look at it we’d have to go a solid fifty miles, which wasn’t worth it.
The other one, well the price wasn’t right after all, so that got canceled. It wouldn’t have been bad if that meant that we could stay home, but mom found an Opel Astra Merit that should be affordable. So we went there instead to look at it (did I mention I hate car shopping. I do. With a passion!). Personally I didn’t like it all that much, in particular not the seller, nor the idea the car gave, but what the heck, I will hardly ever drive it, so...whatever.
On the way back (we have an appointment at our garage tomorrow to see if we’re not buying a barrel) we came upon a Hyunday Atos (similar price to the Opel, and much more likable in my eyes, hah) whose owner showed up within fifteen minutes of calling. There will be two appointments at the garage tomorrow, where we’ll hear what the mechanic says.
Of course, the potential buying of a new car means that I will have to get up early tomorrow morning to get my registration form at city hall, and while I’m there I’ll have to pay taxes for 2010 as well. Home taxes, roads, garbage, etc. Very tiresome, but it needs to be done.
While mom and little brother dropped off Sally this afternoon, I had to pick her up again, right before big brother and I headed out to get gravel. With a little luck we’ll manage to pour concrete in tenants room one of these days. And when that is done maybe her new kitchen floor, which is high time.
Not much writing today, only a couple of pages that brought me up to one third of the book. Yay. I wish there’d been time for more writing tonight, but it’s already past midnight and I have to get up in time.
Okay, Knight II’s making a racket and I need to get ready for some serious zzzzs. Gotta go.
Monday, June 20, 2011
Faking it
Song of the day: “Country Roads” by...well, not John Denver. I heard it on youtube with some sort of line dancing group and it was great. Only bad thing is that it was blaring in my head the moment I woke up, and it sounded as if the stereo volume was way too high.
But anyway, I’ll get right to it without (too much) dawdling.
Once again a busy couple of days. Take yesterday, for instance. While mom and the youngest sibs were at the market we took the opportunity to pour concrete on the drive sweep.
While grandpa and big brother finished that, Dani and I hauled bricks and concrete blocks into storage. Turns out Bambi (crossbreed) has been watching us haul stuff for the past year or so, and decided that it was time he offered a helping hand. Turns out he picked up and carried about a hundred red bricks to the middle of the dog paddock and laid out his brinks in some intricate pattern that made me ask grandpa what he was doing laying the bricks out like that. Seriously, I could barely believe that Bambi did it, but there you have it. He did. I took pictures so maybe, someday we’ll figure out what he was trying to make. Hah.
As it was, it took me about half an hour to stack everything again. And no, I didn’t put it back in the same place. Duh. I ain’t THAT stupid. They’re now nicely stacked on the concrete blocks in the upper dog paddock. Soon I’ll start stacking the roof tiles there as well, along with outside tiling. The mess in the old horse paddock is driving m friggin’ bonkers.
In-between, I hauled up bags of cement to grandpa. Had piled three in the wheelbarrow, but apparently I was stronger than the wheelbarrow, because the wheight threatened to go right through the wheel. *sigh*
There were laundry batches, of course, along with that kick boxing session I mentioned the other day, which worked out splendidly. Seriously. It was the first time since last autumn that I was able to do it barefoot (though I paid for it dearly afterwards, stupid foot!) instead of on sneakers. My balance is so much better barefoot than it is when I wear shoes. *sigh*
I was in excellent form, thank you very much, even managed to double some of the exercises. Yay.
This morning, due to a late night, I overslept by a friggin’ hour, which was weird, to say the least. Made me rush through all the morning rituals, and less able to enjoy the strangely cloudy weather.
More laundry (is there ever not?) in the morning and at the end of the day I dug some more behind my cabin. At least there are parts now where I hit rock bottom, meaning that I’m getting there. Yay.
In the morning there were some plants left to water, if only due to the fact that the day before we didn’t manage to do it all before nightfall.
Wrote six and a half (wonderful) pages for V.L. Yesterday...which is good, because I just don’t have the time today. Went great, the scenes just flowed from my hands and were rightWhich brings me to the business of today. First of all, it started out fine with some work in the yard. We made constellations of reed to support the melon plants, which were starting to choke each other...and the Chinese cabbages. The constellations are a new idea and we’ve no idea if it will even work, but it’ll be interesting to find out, won’t it?
Then, after some chores, such as working on the ladder for the back of the Land Rover, harvesting zucchinis and tomatoes, and sorting through storage, it was time to head for town to meet with the guy who has a Ford Fiesta for sale. First we had to go to the garage, though, where the Daewoo was. I had to sign a paper to have it towed to the junk yard. Then they showed me a 2nd hand car in the back that they’d sell to me for 900, if I want it. I told them I already had an appointment to look at the Ford, so the mechanic started explaining to me what I needed to pay attention to.
First of all, apparently Ford Fiesta’s are known for having problems with the starter, so the first thing I had to check was if the tubes were hot. If so, the owner had already started the engine to prevent us from knowing there was a problem. Next there was the suspension. While driving over bumps, if there were creaks and Gawd knows what else, getting new suspension in would cost me 130 per wheel, or something. So that was a no no. Lastly, after test driving it, I should open the oil lid and if blue-ish fumes came out, I should just turn around and walk away.
Now that was fun instructions. Always good to know that, so we went there, (fifteen minutes early, in fact) and I went through the motions of checking the bottom (Not too much rust, etc.) and saw lots of denting, but otherwise it looked fine. The wheels had been painted, and though there was quite a bit of cosmetic work to do, the overall impression wasn’t bad.
The guy arrived, and I followed the mechanic’s instructions. Funny bit (apparently I’m good at faking it) the first thing he asked me was if I was a mechanic. Seriously, I almost burst out laughing. Then the test drive came, and some more looking at the hood, and so on. I can honestly say I didn’t dislike the car. It was very stable on the road. The steering was a little heavy, sure, but it steered well, and the brakes were new. So was the suspension. All the filters had been replaced, and (the owner’s a mechanic, hah) he basically said that he never had a single problem with the car.
Personally I like the car, and I would probably go for it if our mechanic agrees that it’s a good buy. But since mom will be driving it most, and she likes the Citroen more (it has an AC btw), and since little brother thinks both cars are a bit too small, we probably will keep on searching for a bit. Hah.
When we got home, we heard that grandpa forgot to close the gate of the little courtyard up by his apartment and tenant’s bungalow. This meant that Tadaika and some of the other pounced on tenant’s little Olivier (Ollie) and even pierced some skin. Poor little mutt. He’ll be okay, though. They’re sturdier than they look, those little dogs.
Luckily, before we left I’d put on tomatoes to boil, so I only needed to add some spices to have spaghetti and fresh tomato sauce for dinner. I was starving after all. It’s too late now to do much more writing, but I succeeded in writing this at least. Let’s hope I’ll have more time for real writing tomorrow.
But anyway, I’ll get right to it without (too much) dawdling.
Once again a busy couple of days. Take yesterday, for instance. While mom and the youngest sibs were at the market we took the opportunity to pour concrete on the drive sweep.
While grandpa and big brother finished that, Dani and I hauled bricks and concrete blocks into storage. Turns out Bambi (crossbreed) has been watching us haul stuff for the past year or so, and decided that it was time he offered a helping hand. Turns out he picked up and carried about a hundred red bricks to the middle of the dog paddock and laid out his brinks in some intricate pattern that made me ask grandpa what he was doing laying the bricks out like that. Seriously, I could barely believe that Bambi did it, but there you have it. He did. I took pictures so maybe, someday we’ll figure out what he was trying to make. Hah.
As it was, it took me about half an hour to stack everything again. And no, I didn’t put it back in the same place. Duh. I ain’t THAT stupid. They’re now nicely stacked on the concrete blocks in the upper dog paddock. Soon I’ll start stacking the roof tiles there as well, along with outside tiling. The mess in the old horse paddock is driving m friggin’ bonkers.
In-between, I hauled up bags of cement to grandpa. Had piled three in the wheelbarrow, but apparently I was stronger than the wheelbarrow, because the wheight threatened to go right through the wheel. *sigh*
There were laundry batches, of course, along with that kick boxing session I mentioned the other day, which worked out splendidly. Seriously. It was the first time since last autumn that I was able to do it barefoot (though I paid for it dearly afterwards, stupid foot!) instead of on sneakers. My balance is so much better barefoot than it is when I wear shoes. *sigh*
I was in excellent form, thank you very much, even managed to double some of the exercises. Yay.
This morning, due to a late night, I overslept by a friggin’ hour, which was weird, to say the least. Made me rush through all the morning rituals, and less able to enjoy the strangely cloudy weather.
More laundry (is there ever not?) in the morning and at the end of the day I dug some more behind my cabin. At least there are parts now where I hit rock bottom, meaning that I’m getting there. Yay.
In the morning there were some plants left to water, if only due to the fact that the day before we didn’t manage to do it all before nightfall.
Wrote six and a half (wonderful) pages for V.L. Yesterday...which is good, because I just don’t have the time today. Went great, the scenes just flowed from my hands and were rightWhich brings me to the business of today. First of all, it started out fine with some work in the yard. We made constellations of reed to support the melon plants, which were starting to choke each other...and the Chinese cabbages. The constellations are a new idea and we’ve no idea if it will even work, but it’ll be interesting to find out, won’t it?
Then, after some chores, such as working on the ladder for the back of the Land Rover, harvesting zucchinis and tomatoes, and sorting through storage, it was time to head for town to meet with the guy who has a Ford Fiesta for sale. First we had to go to the garage, though, where the Daewoo was. I had to sign a paper to have it towed to the junk yard. Then they showed me a 2nd hand car in the back that they’d sell to me for 900, if I want it. I told them I already had an appointment to look at the Ford, so the mechanic started explaining to me what I needed to pay attention to.
First of all, apparently Ford Fiesta’s are known for having problems with the starter, so the first thing I had to check was if the tubes were hot. If so, the owner had already started the engine to prevent us from knowing there was a problem. Next there was the suspension. While driving over bumps, if there were creaks and Gawd knows what else, getting new suspension in would cost me 130 per wheel, or something. So that was a no no. Lastly, after test driving it, I should open the oil lid and if blue-ish fumes came out, I should just turn around and walk away.
Now that was fun instructions. Always good to know that, so we went there, (fifteen minutes early, in fact) and I went through the motions of checking the bottom (Not too much rust, etc.) and saw lots of denting, but otherwise it looked fine. The wheels had been painted, and though there was quite a bit of cosmetic work to do, the overall impression wasn’t bad.
The guy arrived, and I followed the mechanic’s instructions. Funny bit (apparently I’m good at faking it) the first thing he asked me was if I was a mechanic. Seriously, I almost burst out laughing. Then the test drive came, and some more looking at the hood, and so on. I can honestly say I didn’t dislike the car. It was very stable on the road. The steering was a little heavy, sure, but it steered well, and the brakes were new. So was the suspension. All the filters had been replaced, and (the owner’s a mechanic, hah) he basically said that he never had a single problem with the car.
Personally I like the car, and I would probably go for it if our mechanic agrees that it’s a good buy. But since mom will be driving it most, and she likes the Citroen more (it has an AC btw), and since little brother thinks both cars are a bit too small, we probably will keep on searching for a bit. Hah.
When we got home, we heard that grandpa forgot to close the gate of the little courtyard up by his apartment and tenant’s bungalow. This meant that Tadaika and some of the other pounced on tenant’s little Olivier (Ollie) and even pierced some skin. Poor little mutt. He’ll be okay, though. They’re sturdier than they look, those little dogs.
Luckily, before we left I’d put on tomatoes to boil, so I only needed to add some spices to have spaghetti and fresh tomato sauce for dinner. I was starving after all. It’s too late now to do much more writing, but I succeeded in writing this at least. Let’s hope I’ll have more time for real writing tomorrow.
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