My Life That Happened In… #6
… March 2024 Part 1
I am on holiday at the moment. This week is the wife’s birthday.
A New Family Member
Saturday 2nd. I was a bit stressed out today after a few days of searching for a new car. But we may have fallen for a wrong’un.
I spent a few days working through a list of cars, that were cheap on insurance and road tax. Also ULEZ compliant. Eventually, I devised a list of about eight to ten cars and widdled it down to one, the Kia Picanto.
A few days later I had more or less picked the one I was going to get when I decided to have a random look at some other cars, and that’s when me and the wife fell hard for this car.
This is our new car: Fiat Panda 2014. The wife has named her Buddi for the time being.
I want to make it clear from the start. I know nothing about cars. But I should have seen the red flags when buying the car. And I did, during the whole process of buying the car. I was getting overwhelmed by everything that was happening. But I didn’t care. I wanted my Panda. Or did I feel compelled to buy it from the pressure around me? Gently pushing me along so in reality I had no choice in the matter…
Anyway…
I did take a family friend along with me. That was the best decision ever. He was a significant help. Making sure I understood what I needed to do If I bought the car.
What I read online, in the advert, and what I read, in the paperwork wasn’t the same. I was feeling stressed with everything that was happening. But all I could see was I wanted that car. The problems it has, I can fix. Or pay someone to. And that’s what I intend to do. But first I had to get her home.
Stressed
Now. I have driven cars before on my own, but this was different. It was mine. Plus including what had happened before. So the drive home was a bit stressful. Driving a car, I had never seen before. Learning the little quirks, on the go. It was not a pleasant experience. But I made it. But then the idiot in me. As I was still feeling stressed. Thought: I know, I could pick the wife up from work.
And of course, that’s what I did. So, after a pickup, a trip to the shop, and a little bit, of freaking out. We finally made it home. I was able to relax and destress.
To conclude, I have to improve on my nemesis hill starts.
Tiffany
Monday 4th. As I commenced my journey home from a doctor’s surgery in Basildon. The sound of a massive CLUNK! Brought me to a standstill. Tiffany my chariot broke down. And it’s all my fault. I didn’t look after her as much as I should.
The wife was expecting me home so I could take her to the crematorium. This wasn’t going to happen. She went, on her own, while I waited for the breakdown service to arrive. RAC arrived about an hour later. And after some fiddling and having to buy some chain lube. This was because as quoted “As dry as the desert.” I was able to ride home again.
I have her serviced and M.O.T. in a couple of weeks so I won’t ride her until then and I know she is a lot better.
Claiming My Parking Space
Before going to the doctor I checked on Buddi and noticed something on my windscreen. A note demanding that I stop using my parking space. So, when I returned home, I responded kindly.
Let’s Help Buddi
Tuesday 5th. Service day for Buddi. I went with the “major service” to hopefully deal with most, of the issues. I also needed the front tyres replaced. This was all going to be done by a Halfords garage. Which, luckily is only a five-minute walk down the road.
So, how did she do? Nearly everything seems okay. I was told, I would need to get the Calipers replaced sometime, down the line. I should also consider getting the exhaust replaced. Having seen the prices, I am looking to purchase the items online. This would be cheaper than what the mechanics are charging. I would only pay for the labour.
There are a couple of cosmetic things, I want to fix also but I am having trouble finding one of the parts.
The Wife’s Birthday Day Out
Thursday 7th. Today is the wife’s birthday. It had already been planned that we would be going to Chatham Docks. They have a tour. You walk around the sites where the filming of the BBC show Call The Midwife is produced.
I have seen a few episodes and the odd clip here and there. So I know about it but my wife loves it.
This was also our first big trip with Buddi. I have to admit I was a little nervous.
As we were a little early out of the door. I needed some petrol, also my first fill-up. Exciting! We headed to the nearest Petrol station. While we were there. The petrol station also has a car wash. So I opted to have a mini valet. She did need a clean, especially the hub caps. This took us up to the original time, we were going to leave the homestead.
We headed to Chatham Docks.
As I haven’t bought my Android auto headset for Buddi yet, I relied on help from my wife’s phone to give directions.
The Docks
Arriving at what we thought was the place, but it turned out, we were at the wrong entrance. So, eventually finding the right entrance. We found ourselves here:
After getting ourselves settled we walked towards the entrance. This place is massive. So massive in fact that people have homes on the docks.
As you enter you are greeted by the hallway above and going to the left you enter the information room, the shop, and even a restaurant. We found another shop and canteen, around the docks. We didn’t stay for the food but I bought some sprinkled chocolate buttons.
Having a wander around the shop we found out, that was where you bought and collected the tickets.
Morris Minor
Eventually, we went to the meeting point next to a submarine. The meeting point was an old Morris Minor.
A lady named Helen, an ex-nurse, took on the role of tour guide. Clothed: in the clothes that are worn on the show.
There was a group of about twenty. Mostly women. And the men, including myself, were there to support the other half. Don’t get me wrong I completely understand why the wife wanted to go: Being an honourary geek myself. I also enjoy visiting places, when I can, where my favourite TV and movie shows were made. Today was the wife’s turn. And I get a bit of exercise and fresh air.
Disappointed
The one thing even I was disappointed with was that Nonnatus House wasn’t there, even though they showed photos on the site. The home of the midwives is located in Surrey and the public has no access. I wasn’t the only one disappointed.
We’re Walking
The tour started and it was a walk around some buildings. Helen pointed out various things each location represented to the show and engaged with the people she was leading. She had a book with photos. To help point out the areas we were at. From the battleship, we started at, to the rope factory, which is the Dock’s main business. That also appeared in the show.
The wife seemed to have enjoyed herself and bought a book and some other memorabilia, from the gift shop. I also bought a rope keyring to place on my new car key.
The Secret Room
As part of the tour, we were allowed access to a room set up with the props from the show. Some of the sets as well.
The tour finally, came to an end. And it didn’t feel like it lasted ninety minutes. So that’s a good thing?
The tour was okay. But, it would be best if you were a fan of the show. To appreciate the sites. The price is steep for what you get. But that is substituted by the fact, that you can stay as long as you want and tour the rest of the dockyard. It gets pointed out that other areas are used for filming that you can visit afterwards. But, it still should have been part of the tour.
Mainly because: the distance of travel, during the tour, isn’t that far, a distance of, to the end of the road and back. I know more elderly fans generally slow everyone down. That was the case on our tour. It did feel like a cop-out.
Next Stop
The wife had one last request before we went home. So, it was off to IKEA. The wife wanted to try the plant-based meatballs. And also look at some plants. So, that’s what we did.
I made a little bit of a pig of myself. But I didn’t care. We were enjoying ourselves. We had one more visit, before we headed home, to the plant section of IKEA.
We found a decent selection. I still wasn’t able to find the plant I was after. But that didn’t matter, the wife was happy and we went home.
I was tired after the day of driving. It is something I have to learn and improve on. But I will get there. After getting home and resting, we had cake and ice cream. The wife had bought a cake a few days prior.
I will leave it here for now, I will see you in Part 2.
