the giant people carrier

What was your first thought when you read the blog title today?

No, silly.  hahahaha (though, WOW that picture sure counteracted "awww. . . a baby" feeling that I just had looking at a friend's amazing newborn pics. FREAK ME OUT!!!)

Here's the people carrier story. . .

So there was a reason that we had the Boston Tea party.  The reason still exists.  Stupid tax on EV.ER.Y.THING in this country - having a tv on, having a car on the road. . . ugh.  So each year in order to renew road tax your car has to pass a pretty stringent inspection (lots of cars fail, I'm convinced that it's a ploy to just make people spend more on maintenance).  It was one of the deployment things I've not been looking forward to.  The vehicle is probably one of the most potentially stressful things about a deployment.  Especially when I'm involved in the equation (as cars, like laptops, seem to have an aversion to me).  I've been so greatful because so far in the deployment I haven't had the stress of any major issues (okay, there was one when I had a paperwork nightmare when something with the road tax records of the car we junked TWO cars ago --- yes they can tax you even after the car is dead and then charge you for not paying the bloody tax. . .).

Having the car MOTed (the inspection) was something I was not looking forward to as it meant I'd have to get the car dropped off and then find another vehicle for work and all of that drama.

One of my neighbor's husband's is TDY (gone) for six weeks["only six weeks" were her only a military spouse people. . . though her top floor flooded and started seeping water through the ceiling on day two of this] .  I was so relieved when she said I could use one of their vehicles as long as I needed to.  I didn't have to renew the road tax until July but I'm anxious to get it out of the way, the car is in desperate need of an oil change and this is a good opportunity to feel like I'm not creating a complete hassle for a household by using one of their vehicles for awhile.

Last night I dropped the car off with the help of a friend after FBWF group last night and then picked up the keys to Chin's minivan.

I need to pause and explain something here.  People do NOT drive minivans in this country.  Namely because people do not have more than one or two children.  People drive small cars.  No joke, people at work think that my Honda Accord 2-door coupe is a giant car.

So I was off and on my way today in Chin's minivan this morning.  I quickly acclimated to driving with the steering wheel on the left (they have a US spec car, so it's a bit of a weird adjustment driving on the side of the vehicle closest to the curb. . . think about having the steering wheel on the passengers side next time you get in your car).  I was very much dreading parking as it tends to be a nightmare at work on a normal day with my "giant" car.  I pulled into the drive and got the nose of the van in just far enough to see that there was NO space.  In fact had I taken the big of space left in the front of the house, no one would have been able to leave via the driveway (and the through the brick wall and high hedges didn't offer any better options for people).  I carefully backed out into the road to check out what parking was like at the house next door (part of clinic property).  No joy.  The community team was working there today, so the drive was full.

Great.  Now what?

I decided that I had no choice but to be daring and drive to the back of the first house (very confined parking).  I was OVERJOYED when I was the only one parked back there.  I was even able to manuever the van as to allow me to drive straight forward to exit at the end of the day. Super!  It did look pretty funny though because the van took up 1 and a half spots in the back (where I parked there is usually space for 3 cars, only one more would have fit next to the van)

As I was getting ready to leave, one of the patients said "oh yeah.  I have a question for you."  I never know what is going to follow that sentence.  The words that proceeded out of her mouth made me want to erupt in laughter. "What were you doing driving the giant people carrier this morning?"

British English lesson for the day ladies and gentlemen:  it is not a minivan; it is a people carrier.  And it's GIANT.


sidenote:  the car failed the MOT miserably and a lot needs to be done on it, waiting to hear the estimate for the total $ damage tomorrow to decide how to proceed.  I am very grateful, however, that I have a vehicle in the meantime and that I'm working with a place who has been incredibly helpful and upfront.  I'm counting my blessings that I'm in a situation that feels okay (it could be worse than the summer I was in Colorado Springs for focus and the stupid guys did $750 work on a car worth less than $500 without ever checking with me. . .  I felt SICK!!!!)