Managing a crisis

Posted on by gizzajob

In the Eighties, there were tv commercials here for an English Insurance company called Commercial Union – with a Citroën 2CV crashing down a cliff. Their buzzline was, “We won’t make a drama out of a crisis!” That’s my motto for Covid-19 survival. It’s not precisely ‘Fight Club,’ but I am better equipped for underground lifestyles than others.

I ended up having to apply for a tax book to get my car back on the road. And the guy I bought the car from will pay me back the £25 I had to pay – by postal order – to apply. Then, I spent the road tax online. As Benjamin Franklin said, “The only sure things in life are death and taxes!” 😐

Today, I drove to the Chemist in Coagh – to collect a repeat prescription- then withdrew cash at Ballinderry Post Office to last a week, or more. My local shops deliver to the homes – until now, I paid them either by bank transfer or PayPal. Tomorrow, I will get gloves and masks from The Hub in Cookstown, buy A4-sized picture frames at the Home Bargains beside there, and get photographs at a Chemist in Magherafelt- to renew my driving licence. (the one I have expires in June)

Today, I improvised the gloves and mask rules, wearing work gloves and a Jason Voorhees Hockey Mask for this afternoon’s errands. At least, I have a sense of humour. 🙂

The picture frame is for handwritten lyrics of an album track by Mansun – I paid the singer by PayPal. (Check out his solo work) Considering that Italians and Spaniards are singing from the balconies, I need musical therapy, too. 🙂

Tunes:

Internet in the Boonies!

Posted on by gizzajob

I switched from EE to Three for my broadband. However, it’s horrendously slow and unreliable; my upload speeds are only in K; I’m not s**tting you.

slow_three

 

Yesterday, I had to pay for new blades for my windscreen wipers and also fix the motor as the fast wiping didn’t work. More expenses. :\ I had to call Lifeline, Samaritans and a friend from America to outreach.

One positive that I can use either one of my phones as a Hotspot in the meantime. But sometimes I wish I was Amish and never had to worry about Technology.

Tunes:

My new car (scrapped the old jalopy)

Posted on by gizzajob

Last Monday I was reversing into a driveway on a narrow lane when I bumped into a pillar and wrecked the back of my 2004 Vauxhall Meriva. Given the issues I have had with insurance in the past, and wanting to keep my no claims bonus, I decided to scrap the car at a breaker’s yard and look for a new car.

Turned out that I bought a 2012 Citroën C3S for £5,700 and it is a diesel with zero road tax; happy days. 🙂 Looking at that car makes me happy. I can finally feel confident behind the wheel of a car I bought myself. I am getting used to the car, but had a heart-in-mouth moment when heading to Coalisland and a blue transit van turned to the same road I was on without stopping, let alone give way. But I was alert to the danger and the car wasn’t touched. 🙂

Now I can save with the reduced need for fuel in the car.

citroen_c3s_2012

Spending less time on the computer

Posted on by gizzajob

I have now committed to spend less time on the computer as I feel that I need better things to occupy my time. Now I’m in Cookstown Library, so perhaps I’ll borrow a book that tickles my fancy. (I’m not a great reader due to my impatience)

Today my car gets the MOT test, annual examination for cars aged four years or more, and I was able to get both a car wash and an MOT wash first thing this morning at a car wash place at the A29 outside Cookstown. Then I got a shave at the Turkish barber and spent a while at a café for a social club I used to be an admin at for a chat and a bite to eat.

Also, yesterday I did up another improved resumé using Scribus as my MacBook Pro has to be fixed due to broken keys; I type too frantically. 🙂 Thank God I now have a laptop with Ubuntu on it. Also glad that I know the command to install Open Source applications on Linux. 🙂

I checked a magic 8-ball website and it said my car won’t pass the MOT today, but it has been wrong before. So, here’s hoping. 😉