May 17th, 2009
Filed under: Life | Tags: car, crash, death, hospital, motorcycle, scooter
Scooter + Car = Fuck Me
Let me set the scene for you. It’s Friday evening, I just finished work and was scootering home. Of course the traffic was blocked up with all the worker drones heading home for the weekend. This is where the scooter is at it’s best, I went straight down the outside of the traffic jam. Every thing was going great until, I came to a small side street. Apparently the traffic jam had left a small gap for an elderly lady to turn into the side street. She didn’t see me coming down the outside of the cars and I didn’t see her turning until it was too late.
At this point, I remember seeing the her car and then everything went into slowmo. I heard a screech. I looked to my right and saw the lady in her car. I thought fuck… then I was in the air watching the sky. I thought to myself, I just got hit by a car. Am I going to die? Then I was looking at the ground again, but still in the air. This time I thought, OK you can do this… not the head, not the head, please don’t land on my head. SMACK! Back to normal speed again. I’m on my back looking up at the sky again. I feel fine. Everything is good… is everything good? Can I get up? Should I get up? Fuck it. I slapped the ground with my hands for a bit of encouragement and stood up.
Police Interviews
The lady was now out of her car and visibly more shaken up than I was. There were people running from restaurants and and cars etc. Everyone offered their support and asked if I was ok. The lady came over and said “You must have been going really fast.” Then she said “Sorry, are you ok… I’m so sorry”.
Someone called the police and they came a interviewed us both. They said they didn’t know who was technically in the wrong, so they would have to get back to us in the next couple of days. So I guess I have to wait for that news. After the cops left, the old ladies daughter and son in law showed up. They were both nice people. She drove her home and he drove me and my busted up scooter back to my place.
Admitted to Hospital
After about an hour my back and legs started to hurt. I looked at my knee and it was starting to swell to about double the size. Considering the circumstances I thought a visit to the Emergency Room was in order. Ivy took me down there and 4 hours, 2 x-rays and a urine sample later I was heading home again. Turns out everything was basically ok. No broken bones, no busted up kidney. I’m a lucky son of a bitch.
What a great start to the weekend.
February 5th, 2009
Filed under: Life | Tags: car, scooter
My New Scooter
A combination of rising fuel prices and a car that could crap out at any moment has resulted in me buying myself a scooter. Now I use to own a scooter in Taiwan and loved it. Weaving through traffic, fighting for lead position with a plethora of other scooterists. Wind blowing through your hair. Life was good.
Scooters in New Zealand aren’t nearly as fun. First there are hardly any on the road so other traffic doesn’t really know how to deal with them. This is mainly because the majority of the ones on the road are 50cc which can’t keep up with traffic and cause other motorists angst. I on the other hand purchased a beautiful 125cc beast. This thing comfortably takes my 95 kg body at 70 plus kms, perfect for inner city travel.
The downside of getting a 125cc is that I am required to have a motorcycle license, which I don’t have. So I am forced to drive it illegally for the time being. I’m such a rebel, I feel like James Dean.
January 26th, 2009
Filed under: Life | Tags: car
This is what I look like when I have no idea.
I went to pick up my car that was still stranded on the side of the road after
crapping out on me last week. My flatmate drove me there and we intended to tow it home. Problem is the tow rope we had was to thick to fit through my tow loop. So we thought, “Fuck it, lets just push the thing home. We’re only about 1 kilometer away”. I got in the car and put it into neutral. I was about to start pushing when I thought I might as well turn it over and see if it goes. Cranked it over and it started straight off the bat. Put it into drive and to my surprise the damn thing took off.
So now I have absolutely no idea what is wrong with the thing. I was sure the automatic transmission was completely gone, but it got me home without any trouble. Maybe it’s the clutch? You got any ideas?
January 11th, 2009
Filed under: Life | Tags: car
Damn Car
Typical, bloody typical! The very next day after fixing Ivy’s car my car craps out on me. I was driving home from town this afternoon when my car started to sputter when ever I slowed down. I got to about a kilometer away from my house when I had to stop at a light. The car stalled and when I started it up again it sounded fine. Put it in drive, hit the accelerator and …. nothing. Damn thing wouldn’t move an inch. By this time the light had change and there were three cars behind me getting impatient. I tried reverse with no avail. It was reving but just not going anywhere. I got out and waved the cars past with a sorry smile and pushed the car off to the side of the road and that’s where it still sits.
I’m guessing the automatic transmission is gone or the automatic clutch is failing some how. Either way I doubt it’s going to be cheap. I can’t help but think this is the cosmos kicking me in the ass for my Mechanic? Who Needs One post I made yesterday.
January 10th, 2009
Filed under: Life | Tags: car, DIY
Changing the Ignition Switch
Ivy’s car has been a pain in the ass the last couple of weeks. The ignition switch has been slipping meaning that the car would turn itself off while we were driving it. Over the last week it got so bad that we needed to hold the key turned while driving. This of course is not the safest, so I took it to an auto electrician for a quote. $140 for a new ignition switch and an hour’s labor, so about $200 all up. I don’t think so.
Off to the car wreckers I went this morning, picked up an ignition switch for $50. Called Nick up for a helping hand and the two of us managed to install it in about 30 minutes. In fact we didn’t even replace the whole ignition, just the electronics at the back which means we can still use the original key.
I feel like such a man! Reminds me of back in the day when the boys and I would spent the weekends taking apart my first car, a diarrhea brown Datsun 120Y.
Ho, damn.
Glad to hear you didn’t end up with any major injuries.
I hope everything pans ok for you. Do you have insurance?
No insurance for me unfortunately.
Hi Ki.. are u alright now ?
Yeah Robin, I’m great really. Had a sore back for a week and a half and a bruise on my knee and shin. Almost 100% again now, so in reality I was lucky.