135 - The week that was

Hey come back with my boat!!!!!!!!

Monday 9th January 2012

Weather: Fine and hot

Yep it certainly was a hot one here on the Goldie. So all the air cons were running at full blast. To hot for the beach, or even the Broadwater, so we will wait for when it gets a little cooler. Apart from that ,there is still a million holiday makers around, however we have managed to go to the shopping centre, without having to do battle with the cast of thousands.

Well lets move onto the saga about the wiper motor. Went to a mechanical man on the Goldie that has done some work on the Val before, and he tested the unit....and yep....she was dead alright. "But not to worry." he said, "I have a replacement here in my parts box." Yahoo!!!!!!!!! but typical of our luck, the electrics from my car to the wiper motor, did not fit the electrics for the replacement unit. Bugger!!!!!!!!

The dead wiper motor

See the mechanic man had the right motor for a VK Valiant, however I am to assume when the car was built, and even though badged as a VK, it had the model (wiper motor) for the VJ, that being the model before mine. I guess they (car builders) were just using up parts. Damn and Bugger all together !!!!!!

So then it was back to the spare parts man, who specialising in parts, and they also didn't have the VJ model either; but alas after a bit of scratching around, one was found. However that's not the end of the story. The unit has to be checked mechanically and electrically.....hey that's cool, because this unit is going to cost me the earth the moon and the stars. I have been told that the removal and fitting of the wiper motor is bigger than Ben Hur too. O'h well there goes my first pension payment.

The rest of the afternoon was spent sulking (he he!!!!!!!!)

Toooosday 10th January 2012

Weather: Hot and a little cooler than yesterday.

Hadn't had a call from the spare parts man, about the wiper motor, so as we going into Southport, we called in. No result yet on the testing. That's cool, we are not in any hurry as we will be here on the Goldie for a little while.

The big mansion in the middle belongs to Craig McDemott, a former fast bowler

in the Australian Cricket team in the 80 / 90 era.

Headed into Southport, but couldn't find a park, in the super centre, that the Bride wanted to go to, for some girlie things. So we came back home, had a bite to eat, and I went off for my "Poppy Pause"

The removals truck turned up to move Ann's possessions to Melbourne, around 8pm. Luckily Frazer and Kate were on hand as well. So all hands on deck, and within a short period of time all the boxes and bits and pieces were loaded.

The bride and Ann will head to Melbourne probably Sunday at this stage, and I will stay on the Goldie to hold the fort. I anticipate the bride will return about four / five days later.

At this point in time we will stay on at the house and house sit till further notice.

Wednesday 11th January 2012

Weather: Fine and hot

A real nothing day to day. Just laid around like a couch potato. I was going to work on the Val and the Van, but it was just very hot, especially with the wind.

Thursday 12th January 2012

Weather: Fine, much cooler, but windy

Spent the whole day nearly, trying to fit this bloody new door handle. Six hours later I gave up in disgust. I told ya I was as mechanical as a cock roach. The Valiant man I bought the handles off said, "it will take you about ten minutes"....ha ha ha....said I. The last time I fitted a handle was four hours that I can remember.

Just as I was about the throw towel in, I heard one almighty crack......feeeeerk......what was that!!!!!!!! Upon further investigation I found the mechanism that controls the opening of the door on the bottom door hinge, just decided to break up and fall apart.  What else can go wrong!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

One broken door hinge

So after a sore arse from sitting on the ground, and a sore back, plus every muscle in the body screaming for relief, I gave the fitting thingy away, hoping the whole saga will just go away. Mmmmmmmmm. Took Kate (the middle daughter of Ann's) and the her kidz to the hairy port

as they were heading back to Melbourne. Got back to the house about 8pm, so a quick red, followed by as equally quick ports, I soon sort of forgot about the dramas of today....tomorrow is another day.

Friday 13th January 2012

Weather: Fine and sunny

Yikkies!!!!!!!! the day no one likes. What are my chances, on Friday 13th. I have got to be in the firing line. No wipers, a door handle that won't play, a door hinge that is feeeeeeeked. Hold on to your hats, this could be a good one.

My favourite shop

So I said to myself, just ring the Valiant man! That I did, and he advised me to bring the car around and he will fit the door handle for me. Yep you guessed it............the handle was in and fitted in less than 10 minutes....damn. So I left the workshop, with a new door handle fitted, and may I add a new wiper motor. So I stopped off at Wayne's Workshop, made a time to have the wiper motor fitted, (Saturday 14th @ 9am.) Hey that's cool I said, hope it doesn't rain tomorrow.

Arrived back to the house and bingo.....the door won't open. Feeeeeerk again. So back to the Valiant man, and he frigged around with the lock again, and all was good. Headed on back home, and as soon as I was to get out of the car, the door lock did it again.!!!!!!!

The flash looking door handle

The dead one

So this time I did some investigations. It seems that all is good with the door lock, up until the door is locked internally or with a key. Once that happens, everything goes pear shaped. So I thought best I ring the Valiant man, and tell him I will be back again, after lunch..........only to find his phone has been disconnected. Feeeeeeerk it is definitely Friday 13th

Saturday 14th January 2012

Weather: Fine and cloudy

Went to the mechanic man, and had the new wiper motor fitted. Glad he did it, it would have been impossible for me. Only hitch the neutral zone is not working, which means when to turn off the wipers, the blades don't go back to home base. No big deal I will just have to remember to turn them off at the home base. The fitting only cost me $60.

The new re-conditioned wiper motor

From there I went back to the Valiant man, to see if we can get this lock working. After an hour of frigging around, still no result, so back there again on Monday to have some alterations done top the mechanism. Don' t care what has to be done, just as long as it is fixed.

This afternoon a lazy one, just getting ready in the mind to take the Bride and Ann to the hairy port for the trip to Melbourne on Sunday.  So I will be home alone for about a week.......now what trouble can I get up to!!!!!!!!!!!.

Sunday 15th January 2012

Weather: Fine and cloudy

Today we woke to a fairly heavy sky, as the bride and Ann's eldest daughter Sarah from Brisbane, spent a while getting Ann ready for the trip to Melbourne. Mid to late morning all was done, and all was ready to head to the hairy port.

The bride and Sarah standing, and Ann seated,

ready for the trip to Melbourne

I drove Sarahs' car, with some luggage, while Sarah drove Ann's car along with Ann and the bride. We shared the luggage. After arriving at the hairy port, we unloaded luggage and passengers, kissed cuddled and cried, and I left straight away and brought the "Benz" straight back to home.

Sarah stayed at the airport along with Ann and the bride, til they boarded the aircraft for Melbourne.

So at the time of writing this blog, I am back at the house on the Goldie, and the bride and Ann are half way through their two hour flight to Melbourne. Once they arrive in Melbourne they will be met by Kate (middle daughter) and Frazer (youngest son). Not to sure of the overnight abode of Ann and the Bride, but all will be revealed when contacted tonight.

At this stage I would imagine the bride will be in Melbourne settling Ann into the nursing home, till about Friday, of which, when she returns to the Goldie we will stay on in the house (house sit)

till we all decided the next step.

Someone has to do it

That means I' m now home alone. Yahooooooooooooooooooo!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! Austar, cricket, sports shows, lotsa beer, red wine and port, and be a full on couch potato.....ahhhhhhhh life's good.