Monday bloody Monday!!!
Tuareg still being held captive by customs. Eventually ,with the help of Bigs export agents, they begrudgingly released it at 12.30 midday [the time I had decided to leave for Marchand], VW boys managed to jump start it at the port and I was told to hug the bumper of the VW mechanics car and get myself from the customs zone right to the centre of CT and the VW garage….have to admit to coming very close to being sick, realized my timing was shot, worrying about Tommy and navigation and everything else….head starting to thump.
Whilst very helpful,the VW people said that the car would probably not be finished until 4.00 or 5.00 o’clock and at the very least I should go and get a late lunch [by now 2.30]
Sitting somewhere in Cape trying to force a sandwich down my throat, I received a call from some guy babbling in Italian [!!], when I could get a word in [and an English one at that] I explained that I didn’t speak his lingo and, after a long pause, he simply said…… Sorry, sorry…….. Tom, and put the phone down. Well that was it, I convinced myself that something awful had happened to Tom on the operating table. Frantic calls to Jessie, Finn, Kelly,none of whom answered, so I forced myself to leave sedate messages and tried to subtly do some relaxation exercises in the café to slow down my beating heart and thumping head [ Loops you will be pleased to hear I chose not to use the paper bag that I keep secreted in my handbag, for just these types of occasions.].
The car was eventually released to me at 5.00 by which time all routes out of C.T were grid locked.
Deciding to focus on the positive side, I convinced myself, this was to my advantage and would give me time to get used to the new navi system…to my delight, the other drivers were completely fascinated by the Tuareg with such a strange number plate and gave me serious respect in the traffic…maybe it had to do with the somewhat tortured face of its driver.[despite having repaired air co, VW, advised it would blow really cold for a week, until the system had settled]
An hour out of CT ,I received a call from Tommy, complaining that the 15 or so texts and messages had woken him up and that he was still very much alive, feeling sore and kicking himself that he not picked up more Italian, as he couldn’t tell the nurses he wanted to use the toilet rather urgently…… and not just for a pee. I suggested that if he shouted Grando crappo it would get the nurses running.
So relieved to hear his voice and know that he was OK, so spent another fairly jaunty hour driving.
Bossy called to say he had arranged for me to stay with friends in Clanwilliam, I gracefully accepted. By the time I arrived at around 7.30,I was absolutely exhausted, managed another quick call with Tommy, both of us now sounding equally brain dead. Joined my hosts for supper and beat a hasty retreat to my room.
Was out the door for 7.00 and now, well rested, was set for the long road home.
To my great delight, I enjoyed every single minute of the 650 km drive, great to be in a familiar and SAFE car, the route was so uncomplicated that even the dreadful satnav woman [The Bitch}, only had to speak to me three times.
So good to know that Tommy was as well as could be expected, reassured that I had spoken to Maam about Little`s worries, I just felt free ,free of the weekends upsets and tensions and above all, so pleased to be heading Homewards, this realization came as a HUGE surprise to me. I actually felt a burning desire to be back at the flat and in the little oasis that we have come to regard as our temporary home.
I won’t bore you with descriptions but I was able to enjoy the stunning landscape as I skidded along, stopping three times to fill up with petrol and coffee and field questions about the car with such a strange number plate. To everyone’s surprise, I cleared the factory gates at 11.30 in the morning, having put the Tuareg through its paces the last 180 km, on the straight wide tarmac road from Springbok.[ this is the road that the Audi and Merc manufacturers bring their prototypes to in the Summer to test their performance in the extreme conditions of the area.]
Tuareg still being held captive by customs. Eventually ,with the help of Bigs export agents, they begrudgingly released it at 12.30 midday [the time I had decided to leave for Marchand], VW boys managed to jump start it at the port and I was told to hug the bumper of the VW mechanics car and get myself from the customs zone right to the centre of CT and the VW garage….have to admit to coming very close to being sick, realized my timing was shot, worrying about Tommy and navigation and everything else….head starting to thump.
Whilst very helpful,the VW people said that the car would probably not be finished until 4.00 or 5.00 o’clock and at the very least I should go and get a late lunch [by now 2.30]
Sitting somewhere in Cape trying to force a sandwich down my throat, I received a call from some guy babbling in Italian [!!], when I could get a word in [and an English one at that] I explained that I didn’t speak his lingo and, after a long pause, he simply said…… Sorry, sorry…….. Tom, and put the phone down. Well that was it, I convinced myself that something awful had happened to Tom on the operating table. Frantic calls to Jessie, Finn, Kelly,none of whom answered, so I forced myself to leave sedate messages and tried to subtly do some relaxation exercises in the café to slow down my beating heart and thumping head [ Loops you will be pleased to hear I chose not to use the paper bag that I keep secreted in my handbag, for just these types of occasions.].
The car was eventually released to me at 5.00 by which time all routes out of C.T were grid locked.
Deciding to focus on the positive side, I convinced myself, this was to my advantage and would give me time to get used to the new navi system…to my delight, the other drivers were completely fascinated by the Tuareg with such a strange number plate and gave me serious respect in the traffic…maybe it had to do with the somewhat tortured face of its driver.[despite having repaired air co, VW, advised it would blow really cold for a week, until the system had settled]
An hour out of CT ,I received a call from Tommy, complaining that the 15 or so texts and messages had woken him up and that he was still very much alive, feeling sore and kicking himself that he not picked up more Italian, as he couldn’t tell the nurses he wanted to use the toilet rather urgently…… and not just for a pee. I suggested that if he shouted Grando crappo it would get the nurses running.
So relieved to hear his voice and know that he was OK, so spent another fairly jaunty hour driving.
Bossy called to say he had arranged for me to stay with friends in Clanwilliam, I gracefully accepted. By the time I arrived at around 7.30,I was absolutely exhausted, managed another quick call with Tommy, both of us now sounding equally brain dead. Joined my hosts for supper and beat a hasty retreat to my room.
Was out the door for 7.00 and now, well rested, was set for the long road home.
To my great delight, I enjoyed every single minute of the 650 km drive, great to be in a familiar and SAFE car, the route was so uncomplicated that even the dreadful satnav woman [The Bitch}, only had to speak to me three times.
So good to know that Tommy was as well as could be expected, reassured that I had spoken to Maam about Little`s worries, I just felt free ,free of the weekends upsets and tensions and above all, so pleased to be heading Homewards, this realization came as a HUGE surprise to me. I actually felt a burning desire to be back at the flat and in the little oasis that we have come to regard as our temporary home.
I won’t bore you with descriptions but I was able to enjoy the stunning landscape as I skidded along, stopping three times to fill up with petrol and coffee and field questions about the car with such a strange number plate. To everyone’s surprise, I cleared the factory gates at 11.30 in the morning, having put the Tuareg through its paces the last 180 km, on the straight wide tarmac road from Springbok.[ this is the road that the Audi and Merc manufacturers bring their prototypes to in the Summer to test their performance in the extreme conditions of the area.]
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