How's your week been then?
Posted by: Officer DBL on 08 November 2007
I thought it would be nice to have a thread where we could offload the trials and tribulations of the week. We could get issues off our chests, and maybe, just maybe, gain a few words of support from kindred spirits in return.
Here goes. My car was serviced and successfully put through the MOT in April. Since then it has been in and out of the garage as they have done their utmost to be completely ineffective in locating, diagnosing and providing a remedy to a persistent droning noise it has been making since the service. In the last three weeks they have replaced:
All four tyres
Front ns hub bearing
Both front track rods
Rear suspension ball joints and bushes
A complete front bumper
A complete front wing
The cause of the persistent drone has finally been attributed to the front tyres, and replacing them has fixed the problem. That is the good news. The rest is not so good.
The rear tyres had to be replaced as they had gone bald on the inside edge due to the rear suspension being worn; rear suspension which, whilst spotted at the service, was not picked up as an issue at the MOT. The garage advised I could leave the work until 2008 when it would be needed to pass the next MOT. In the meantime it would not cause any problems with the car. At all.
The track rods were replaced free of charge by the garage as they were embarrassed to admit that when the rear suspension was done and rear tyres replaced, they forgot to do the promised wheel alignment, so didn’t notice the seized track rod ends.
The ns hub bearing was replaced as the senior technician thought he could hear a rumble which he had misinterpreted as my persistent drone. The obvious solution here was not the corrective solution.
The replacement of the seized track rod ends corrected a steering wheel misalignment, but caused the persistent drone to be louder and the steering wheel to shimmy when braking. In frustration I took the specialist technician for a drive in the car to make sure he could hear the drone I was banging on about, and to experience the steering wheel shimmy.
The garage rang me on Friday to tell me they had solved the problems. A new set of front tyres was the solution, and both the drone and the shimmy had gone. Delighted I looked forward to picking up my drone free/shimmy free car. That was last Friday. I still don’t have my car back. Why? The eagle eyed amongst you may have noticed the mention of the new front bumper and wing earlier in the post.
When the garage was returning my car to the customer parking section having kindly washed it, another customer reversed into my car, demolishing the front bumper and wing. The garage said not to worry; they would put things right at their expense.
Today they rang to say my car was ready. The new bumper is nice, they said, and the wing is sorted out, they said. The new bits have fresher paint, they said, so they may look a little different to the rest of the car, they said.
I am now looking forward to an interesting conversation with the garage this evening.
Kind regards
Rob
Posted on: 21 November 2007 by Rockingdoc
My Saab 93 Aero convertible failed its MOT on a leaking power steering system. Needs v.expensive replacement. Out of warranty obviously.
Saab have agreed (without any argument) to do the whole job, parts and labour, free.
I like Saab.
My father died last week, but this was a good thing as he had advanced Alzheimer's disease. Great Highland funeral too while we're on the whisky theme, although I didn't imbibe.
While at the funeral, someone drove into my parked hire car and stuffed in the rear end. Left a note on windscreen with their details (genuine!).
Got home to find wife's car had been driven into while parked in our road, needing new door and wing. Note again left with all details.
Life seems pretty good.
Posted on: 21 November 2007 by Officer DBL
The Christmas lights were switched on last night in Belfast, and this coincided with the opening of the annual Christmas Market in the grounds of the City Hall. I had a stroll over there at lunchtime and had garlic mushrooms with onions and cream from one of the European vendors that make the market such a success. They were delicious and I look forward to trying something else tomorrow. The market is here for the four weeks up to Christmas so I have the feeling that I will be giving it my lunchtime patronage most days.
A 200’ diameter big wheel has also been erected in another section of the City Hall grounds. It looks impressive enough, especially when all lit up, but its not inviting enough for me to venture onboard for a ride. There is a VIP cabin that can be hired (for a price ££!). It comes complete with tinted glass, leather seats and air conditioning. And just in case the 15 minute ride becomes boring, a DVD player is provided.
I have just booked a Christmas lunch for the team at a local restaurant – Zen. If offers Japanese cuisine and promises to be a hit with the guys. I like squishy!
So, other than the rain bucketing down in, well, buckets, this week is turning out to be quite pleasant.
Posted on: 30 November 2007 by BigH47
Capercaillie concert cancelled on Thursday which was a blow.
Visited the dentist today to have a lower rear molar removed. 1/2 a result ie half a tooth out, still have to go to hospital to be put under to have 2 roots taken out. She did say that the bad part of the tooth is out. Novocain is now wearing off and the results of her 1/2 hour pulling and pushing are beginning to be felt. Still the flu fels better today, maybe I've been distracted.
Posted on: 30 November 2007 by Mick P
BigH47
Go to bed and stay away from the PC.
Posted on: 30 November 2007 by BigH47
When I want advice from you I'll ask. Till then F off.
I know just the sort of response you'd expected etc etc yawn yawn.......turn the record over.
Posted on: 30 November 2007 by Malky
Is that an uncharacteristic display of compassion Mick, or do you have a hidden motive?
Posted on: 01 December 2007 by Cymbiosis
I broke a tooth last week BigH. I can't see how it can be saved, so I guess I may well be in for the same fun and games

Anyway, at least mine doesn't hurt at all so far!

And.......It's a bright and sunny day outside.
Kind regards,
Peter
Posted on: 01 December 2007 by Chillkram
Bit of a bargain those SBLs, Howard!
Posted on: 01 December 2007 by BigH47
You watching me?

I do hope they are, going up tomorrow, all being well.
Posted on: 01 December 2007 by Chillkram
quote:
Originally posted by BigH47:
You watching me?
Don't worry Howard! Just watching SBLs not you! But I'm not ready to buy just yet or you might have had competition.
I'm sure you'll not go wrong at that price!
Mark
Posted on: 02 December 2007 by Onthlam
quote:
Originally posted by Graeme Hutton:
So far terrible.
PC motherboard and power supply failed needing total replacement the result being over three quarters of my photographs, including 100's of family memories, are now in digital neverland. (mental note: back-up more often).
And this morning a very close friend died after a brave struggle with cancer at 37.
All in all not the best.
Graeme
Thought mine was shit.
Sorry for your loss.
Marc
Posted on: 04 December 2007 by living in lancs yearning for yorks
Wednesday - 2 hours in a marketing meeting wishing I wasn't there
Thursday - panto practise in the evening (oh yes it was) - came back depressed as we were all rubbish!
Friday - nothing much to report except that my wife has announced she'll never speak to the builder again after the way he was with her on the phone... (I was avoiding speaking to him as I reckon I'm very likely to lose my temper with him) - I even bought some flowers for her (v rare occurrence!)
Saturday - visited dad (third stroke, can barely communicate at all), friend (achilles tendon gone twice in two months!) and sister in law (cancer, 50% chance of lasting 5 years) - it wasn't as bad as it sounds (except for stepmother trying to be helpful with advice re what to buy my wife for Christmas and daughters picking up trashy jewellery that wasn't at all suitable)
Sunday - younger daughter threw up on the way into church (we turned up an hour early by mistake)
Monday - put the hifi together for first time since moving (hurrah) didn't work to start with (boo) now it does (hurrah although I'm not sure what I did different) but it sounded poo to start with (all been turned off and in boxes for 11 weeks) - seems to be sounding a bit better this am (left on last night but still need to lavish some set up care on the new-to-me SBL's)
Tuesday (today) - elder daughter threw up 4am, couldn't get back to sleep afterwards
(PS not trying to compete with anyone! All in favour of looking on the bright side

)
Posted on: 04 December 2007 by Timbo
Getting really busy up to Christmas - don't know why, my organization isn't dependent on Christmas. It's getting colder -20 at the moment and snowing and to cap it all I have to fly to Toronto this afternoon for a meeting and back tomorrow......
Tim
Posted on: 04 December 2007 by Bruce Woodhouse
This week five nights of performing some Am Dram at the local theatre, Agatha Christie 'An Then There Were None' after 8 weeks of rehearsal.
I play a retired sadistic High Court Judge. Not a stretch really.....
Always great fun if exhausting. First night in about 4hrs!
Posted on: 04 December 2007 by Huwge
quote:
Always great fun if exhausting. First night in about 4hrs!
Break a leg, in the nicest possible way of course
Posted on: 07 December 2007 by Officer DBL
After umpteen trips to the dealership with my car so far this year, I had hoped that everything was tickety-boo. Certainly the car has been driving well, and I was starting to relax and enjoy motoring again. But last night and again this morning the ABS/Traction Control/Dynamic Stability warning light came on. To totally stir my cocoa the EML light also lit up.
So it is back to the garage again next week as they think one of the warnings may be due to a sensor being disturbed with all the fiddling with wheels/suspension etc. The EML light issue will be explained by the COMPUTER.....they suspect low oil...but the oil light isn't lit up.....maybe it's fritzed too!
That aside, apart from a semi permanent pond being established in the driveway and an episode of CSR starting up in both eyes again, life is not too bad.
Rob
Posted on: 09 December 2007 by Chris Kelly
This has not been the best seven days of my life really. On Tuesday I had to go and see the GP and have since been taking a course of antibiotics to tackle a chest infection, feeling too sorry for myself to go to work for the rest of the week. On Thursday my lovely partner went to see the GP as she has found a lump in her breast and is being immediately referred to the local specialist, which is filling us both with a certain amouny of fear and dread. Then tonight some arse decided the right thing to do was to smash in the rear passenger window of my car and steal my camera bag, which I had completely forgotten was there or it would have been hidden in the boot. So instead of returning to work first thing I shall be ringing the Mazda garage, my insurance companies and trying to round up the serial numbers of My Leica M8 and a slew of lenses. If bad things happen in threes then it's now somebody else's turn!
Posted on: 10 December 2007 by Diccus62
Hope next week is better Chris, hope things work out ok for your partner
Regards
Diccus

Posted on: 10 December 2007 by Chris Kelly
Thanks Diccus. We'll feel better once she has seen the specialist and we know what we are dealing with. The other stuff is totally trivial in comparison.
Posted on: 10 December 2007 by BigH47
Absolutely,wish your good lady well.
Howard
Posted on: 10 December 2007 by Chris Kelly
Thanks Howard. One day at a time at the moment!
Posted on: 11 December 2007 by BigH47
Taking the train tonight Chris?
Posted on: 12 December 2007 by Chris Kelly
Howard
We didn't make it. I ended up having to go to a meeting near Milton Keynes and because my car is still off the road had to get a lift with a colleague and the train back and it all got too tricky. Luckily Rachel was able to find a buyer for our tickets without too much hassle.
Posted on: 12 December 2007 by BigH47
That's shame they were on top form on Friday. At least someone got to use the tickets.
Howard
Posted on: 12 December 2007 by Derek Wright
A picture in the Sun Newspaper today