Well, it ended well

[vilakins]

Bad: They couldn't fix my car up here, so it's been taken to Auckland.

Good: I have AA plus cover which pays for a rental car and getting mine to Auckland.

Bad: There are no rental cars up here. So I had to go to Whangarei (an hour each way) on the car transport to pick a rental up there (but I got a pic of LIBR8R looking ignominious and ashamed it itself on the truck). And effectively lost yet another day of holiday. So I still didn't get to paint ceramics, which I'd hoped to do this morning.

Good: The car I got is powerful, luxurious, and even has seats you can adjust in height and inclination. Very cool. You can tell I drive a 12-year-old rattle-trap, can't you (cars here are expensive). But tomorrow we can have a day-trip to Mangonui in quiet purring comfort.

Making it all worthwhile: Talking of purring, Tigger, the resort cat, is curled up asleep in our couch beside me. He was on my lap before. I've taken several pictures of him; he's not a ginger tabby as you'd expect with that name, but black and grey marbled with snowy white nose and paws. Awwww. :-)

Comments

[kerravonsen]

Make the most of the rental!

[vilakins.livejournal.com]

The sun is shining today! I think it's time for a day trip...

The obvious quip...

[trixieleitz]

...at least you didn't drive it through an enzyme cloud.

sorry

I wouldn't have called LIBR8R a rattle-trap, but the understudy wheels sound thoroughly satisfactory ;) Have a fab rest-of-holiday!

Re: The obvious quip...

[communicator.livejournal.com]

at least you didn't drive it through an enzyme cloud

LOL - that made my day.

Enjoy the car and the cat Nico

[vilakins.livejournal.com]

He spent most of the evening with us, very much at home. I suspect he regards the whole resort as his property.

[vilakins.livejournal.com]

at least you didn't drive it through an enzyme cloud

:-) That was what I said Avon had done when all the roof paint was peeling off! I had that fixed a couple of years ago.

Well, it's getting on. Actually, now I work it out, it's 15 years old (though I didn't get it new) so things are bound wear out.

[zoefruitcake.livejournal.com]

In the end you have to forgive your car because it has such a cool numberplate.

Enjoy the company of Tigger :0)

[vilakins.livejournal.com]

If I ever get another one, the numberplate goes on the new one.

[glitterboy1.livejournal.com]

I'm sorry you've lost so much time, but I hope you enjoy the rental car!

I love the idea of the resort cat. Are you managing to resist feeding him? ;-)

[vilakins.livejournal.com]

We did, though he did indeed go and sit in front of the fridge at one point, as they warned. He was very interested in my cheese and crackers, but when he didn't get any, he settled for a nap on a lap. I got some nice pics I hope will come out well.

[linda-joyce.livejournal.com]

Sorry about the problems with the car hope she gets better soon and you do get to paint china. You'll have to come back here there's a Place in Newport that does it.
I remember a holiday in Turkey about 15 years ago now when we had a hotel pride of cats. In Turkey they don't seem to believe in neutering and there are a million and one cats around every hotel. At our hotel the top cat was a battle scared half eared ginger tom. None of the cats were ever allowed into the hotel but would congregate on the steps outside at breakfast time as we soft Brits would bring out bits and pieces for them. Most of them would grab and run but Scarface would sit there and eat and one morning I got up the courage to give him a tickle behind the ears as I gave him his piece of ham. The look of astonishment on his face had to be seen to be believed. He didn't attack though and after that morning he got a scritch from me whenever I fed him. One morning when we were on a trip and went out at an ungodly hour of the morning so I missed him. He came to the pool area for the first time that evening and made a beeline for me jumped up on the table and pushed at my hand. He had missed his scritch and he wanted one. He didn't beg for food and after his scritch he went away again. I worried for a while after I went home if anyone else was scritching him, most of the other tourists made friends with the pretty young kittens. But from the looks of him he was a survivor and someone else would take a shine to him because of his character.

[kalypso-v.livejournal.com]

Once, in Spain - I think it was in the gardens of the Alcazar in Seville - a little black cat bearing an astonishing resemblance to our Kitty, who had died a few years before, headed straight for me and insisted I sit down so that she could climb all over me. Maybe I bore an astonishing resemblance to someone she'd lost, too.

[linda-joyce.livejournal.com]

And maybe it was Kitty reincarnated telling you she was back and happy.

[vilakins.livejournal.com]

Awww. A kitten in Greece took such a liking to me, the waiter at the restaurant tried to add her to the bill. I wish I could have kept her and if I was living there I might have. But it was such a wrench leaving two cats behind in Israel.

[vilakins.livejournal.com]

In the Greek islands, they had heaps of cats who would come down to the wharves whenever a fishing boat pulled in. They weren't pets, but were fed by the sailors and islanders, and I suppose some attached themselves to particular households. I don't think any of them got scritches though. I've found many cultures just don't see cats and dogs as pets.

[kerr-avon.livejournal.com]

Scorpio had comfortable seats, too. *brood* It didn't make up for the lack of neutron blasters.

[vilakins.livejournal.com]

I agree. There are times I would like to have neutron blasters. I don't have trouble with pursuit ships (or cars) but I'd like to clear those badly-driven SUVs off the roads.

[jecono.livejournal.com]

It's so nice to drive a newer car once in a while. We get that through Nils' employer - his company sometimes makes him go up north and when I get to go with him we get a shiny vehicle!
We usually drive a 14-year-old Renault Clio 1 (I namd her Lassi as in Mango Lassi) which is fine although the window in the roof does not always keep the rain outside... *drip*

[vilakins.livejournal.com]

Lassi! I love lassi! Yum! Now I want to go to the Indian restaurant down by the sea... So Lassi is mango-coloured?

My car is actually 15, I just worked it out, though I haven't had it myself all that time.:-P I'm glad to hear others have old cars too. They're so expensive here that there are a lot of older vehicles on the roads.

[kerravonsen]

Lassi! I love lassi! Yum!

Oh yes! Double yum. Though I don't care for curry. Though a mild Tandoori, that's nice.

[vilakins.livejournal.com]

Oh, I love curry! I really fancy one now. Mmmm, fish Malabori (from Malodar Malabar, hee).

[lizamanynames.livejournal.com]

It still tickles me that your car has the plates "LIBR8R". And aw, Tigger. *jealous*

[vilakins.livejournal.com]

I just hope my cats don't find out I've been playing around with others.

I was amazed that plate hadn't been taken. Most of B7 was gone (except for VILA and SOOLIN) and I did consider VILA but LIBR8R is perfect for a vehicle. :-) It will go with me to any other car I buy.

[lizamanynames.livejournal.com]

Awesome. Though it amuses me that Blakes7 licence plates were mostly gone already.

And they probably will figure it out - cats can generally smell other cats on you. They might go a bit wild. :)

[vilakins.livejournal.com]

They're pretty laid back cats. :-)

[jomacmouse.livejournal.com]

This holiday has turned out to be anything other than relaxing for you and Greg so far. I hope things are much better from this point onwards. (And I'll add to the chorus of "cool numberplate!")

[vilakins.livejournal.com]

Today was a much better day. I'll post about it if my connection deosn't go down. :-P