I used 4 (got it wrong on FB earlier) different bits of transport today …
Had a day off work to get the car in to the garage to get its wonky engine fixed. It’s been making a whizzy-slap/bang noise since last Tuesday, stuff like that needs checking out before you try moving the car again. First chance was today :
10am – Transport type 1 : start the car up again. It’s been a bit reluctant to start since the problem started but I “persuaded” it quickly. Then there’s a nervy trip across to Newport, trying hard to keep the discipline for a 50mph limit. Car drove fine 🙂 Brakes were ok and steering was unaffected. Just a loud bangy noise coming from under the hood.
The verdict on the car (so far!) is a faulty inlet manifold, which makes a lot of sense. It accounts for the bad starting, which was looking like a fuel/air mix that was badly off what it should be. It’s not the kind of thing that gets fixed immediately, unless the parts happen to be on hand.
What I thought would happen next is that I’d borrow a courtesy car for a few days … Oh well ! Best laid plans never survive contact with the enemy 🙂
Next step – Transport type 2 : I walk from the garage to the train station. Only 2 and a bit miles. I’m badly out of shape fitness wise but everything still seems to work. Left calf was screaming at me within a few hundred yards but I applied “Ignore it and it’ll give up complaining” theory 🙂
This gets me to Newport centre (not really sure if Newport is city or town). And a trap …
“Books for £1” says the sign in the window.
Doh ! I only bought one, Polar City Nightmare by Katherine Kerr. I enjoyed reading Polar City Blues quite a few years ago, so reading this pair should be good.
From Newport centre it’s the train back to Bristol, making transport type 3. It’s only a 20 minute trip but I still get a Jobsworth Fat Controller saying I needed to move out of the first class section and into the second class. Bit silly really, in another 10 minutes I’d have been off the train anyway. Sure, I was in the wrong part of the train but sometimes a little common sense is called for. Especially when first class is packed … with empty seats.
Irritating. Customer service is king, going the Jobsworth line tends to push people towards other forms of transport. So while I’ve been looking into bus as a valid alternate transport to work, I’ll be continuing to ignore the train option. Even though it’s convenient for getting to a couple of places I go to with work. So be it.
Transport type 4 is the bus again. I’d have walked home (couple of miles again) but I thought it was a shame to waste the coincidence of the right bus turning up just as I left the station :-).
I’m back home again now, a late lunch is all done and it’s now time to counteract the effect of calories burned by the walking. Yep – first Easter Egg of the year is about to get eaten 🙂
Addendum – just had the call to find out what the damage will be … £330 not covered by the paid for warranty. Grr. That’ll be the last paid warranty I buy !