Categories
canada general

our jeep has… character

When we first bought our Jeep, we knew that it required a little wiggling to get it into 4WD, and that the electric seats weren’t currently working (although the seller swore they were working just last week). And that you couldn’t put the driver’s side window down too far or it would get stuck in the door. And that none of the interior lights were working. And that there was no jack or nut wrench, the rear brakes would need to be replaced soon, one of the brake lights was missing a globe, the spare tyre was flat and one of the other tyres had a slow leak.

After we bought it we found out that the passenger seatbelt didn’t work. And that it was currently sopping wet underneath the carpet. And the reason the electric seats weren’t working was that the copper terminals under the seats had turned to green dust (possibly thanks to the water). So we ripped out the seats and dried everything, fixed the corroded wires, bought new light bulbs, got the tyres fixed, got a new seatbelt at the wreckers, bought a jack and a nut wrench, and threw a bit of wood in the door so the window couldn’t go down far enough to get stuck.

Not long after that we had to get a new rear brake drum and cylinder. Then the window started playing up and getting stuck even when it wasn’t all the way down. And now there seems to be a wire loose (or an electrical problem?) so sometimes the windscreen wipers and indicators don’t work. Oh, and it’s taken to stalling at low revs. But it still always goes when I turn it on, so really, what do I have to complain about? Besides, it’s just more encouragement to cycle places instead.

Categories
general

curses, curses, and more curses

After waiting and waiting for my Visa to turn up, I called the consulate helpline on Friday. I was charged $1.05/minute to listen to their menus, and was finally given the option to talk to a real person, for $2.75/minute. I explained my situation to the real person, and she put me through to the Melbourne consulate. I then re-explained my situation: Had interview over a month ago, have paid all the fees, have even repaid one after the amount needed was lowered a few days AFTER my interview, meaning that the system was unable to process my money order for a higher amount. The man on the other end of the phone confirmed that my Visa hadn’t been processed, but seeing as they seemed to have all of the necessary paperwork, he had no idea why. I’m to call him back tomorrow afternoon. I have this bizarre idea, that maybe, one day, after waiting over a year, I might finally get to America. And then I might finally finish this PhD. Maybe.

Oh, and the other curses. My car has broken down, and is leaking from places it shouldn’t be leaking. Have to get it to the mechanics.

On the plus side, the weekend at the Grampians was good. Got very sore. Not many photos, as we were climbing in a two, so there was no spare person to be the photographer.