FRIDAY
Since the smallie was going so well I decided to bring her to Limerick and after to Galway as I have a few times with no issues.
The smallie was very excited with her new panel and no sooner had we hit mallow did we got torrential rain.
We had a pitstop, checked for wet plugs and drove on. At a roundabout after Lim we had very low revs and she was back firing a bit so I pulled over, sought advice and we were on our way again.
I could not see thru the window due to B****** trucks destroying my poor smallie. The rain eased off and the smallie was behaving. i stopped in a garage in Lebane and the guy behind the desk must of jinxed me.........he said....lovley cars....do you have much bother??? I replied...she has been very good but a bit moody today, pay for the petrol and leave.
At the pumps and the smallie does not start. Knowing her quirks I decide to give her a moment and she will start BUT a pyscho appears shouting I'm a 'mechanic', takes over, and tells me the smallie aint going any where. He would tow me but the towtruck he had was also towing two other cars!! I explained I had breakdown cover but this guy was not listening. Soooo, I get into a towtruck with two random strangers, abandon the smallie and head for Galway wondering would I make it there alive??
On the way I discover the guys wheel and deal in cars...I become suspicious and imagine they have mentally sold my car. Paranoia takes over and I am writing their reg in my phone!
Get to Galway....Approx 3 hrs late for work (Told them the meeting in Lim ran very late) Hope my boss doesnt use this site! Hand my keys to the pyscho stranger who assures me the smallie will be fixed in no time and that he will drop her in. Thanking him for his assistance(scared to be rude due to his erractic reference to the word ****) I hand him the keys hoping the smallie will not end up in salthill or on fire. :twisted:
Go to work very stressed, couldnt eat and I had to wear electric blu shoes for the whole day (Not appreciated by boss!) since the smallie had my work boots.
The pyscho rang at 630 to collect me to bring me to my car. It was very dark, I had no idea where I was going, I had no witnesses so I text his reg to a few people in case I was on Crimeline next month!
Get to the car but he wants coffee...I want to get my smallie and get to my hotel :roll: Thank the random stranger and flee but he insists on leading in case the small has any probs.
Got to my hotel....got rid of pyscho on promise of meeting up at rally....NEVER :wink: Drank 2 bottles and shed a few smallie tears.
SATURDAY
Decide to leave work at lunch only to find the stranger cleaning my car by my hotel shouting f*** austin, f**** rover! Really scared, convinced him that I was cabable of driving home, thanked him (just in case he was a genuine helper or was going to butcher both me and the smallie)
The smallie was in great form (must of been REM album) and there was no traffic due to rugby. Made it to Lim in an hour and the at the first r/about she lost revs again so I was wishing for 3 feet but had to resort to using my left on the break (very amusing trying not to stop at a r/about)
We made it thru all the lights without stopping (St Anthony really helped here!) and headed for home.
In the right lane after blackpool s/c and the bitch died on the hill, first in the queue and made her mind up she was not going anywhere. Only 5 mins from home but the smallie had enough. Realised that other drivers are unaware what hazard lights mean. Rang Alvie who gave great advice...Open the window and stick ur fingers up at em all! Rang another friend who suggested I purchase a fiesta as they can take bullets. A bloke in a suit offered to charge my battery? I explained that my battery was fully charged but he insisted that he try and start the car assuming my blondeness must be the issue.
He sat in, turned the key while pulling the heater handle in and out!!! I could no longer control myself....laughed and explained to him that the heater would not start a mini!!!(Also hope that he does not use this site!)
Thought about doing the John Cleese scene but could not find a branch.
I gave up waiting and called the breakdown....praying it was not my usual friend. Alas it was himself....He towed her up...her battery died due to hazards and I said goodbye to the smallie. (Have a photo but cannot upload)
Arrived home after the worst 2 days thinking it was over til the towman called to say I could not leave my car in Ballincollig and if he left it near Gers I'd be lucky to get a wheel back! The last straw that broke the camels back......Alvie to the rescue.....Gave me Fergals no.....Mpi saved the day.Thanks Alvie.....Ferg ([pints on me
)
Finally, 2 bottles of red, someone says "sell the smallie"
Thru it all I realised that I could never cure the smallie sickness and cannot wait for Paddys and the May trip..I am not giving in even though everyone thinks I am nuts. (Never deny the insanity)
Smallie better, (Thanks G & Aidan) but needs a get of jail card for very bad behaviour.
Sorry about the very long post but I even found this sequence of events unbelieveable and needed therapy among my fellow mini addicted friends.
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