My old bomb

Truth be told, our car is a bit of an old bomb. It's a 20 year old Toyota Camry wagon that we bought it in 2000 for about $8,000, after trading in DeepSpice's bright blue Mitsubishi van (which was even more of a bomb). At the time the Camry was in reasonable condition, with about 165,000 km on the clock. Now it has done close to 200,000 km. Even though the body is rusting, the suspension is crap, the upholstery is a bit grotty and generally, the car is old and tired-looking, I am generally very happy with it. It has a has very reliable engine and we get it serviced regularly to keep it that way. Our mechanic reckons it will run until at least 300,000 km, no worries!

It is due for service in September, around the time Thumper is due and DeepSpice and I have been deliberating about whether to get it serviced early... just to be sure that it is going to get us to the hospital when I go into labour. But of course, each week that we get closer to the due date, I get more and more reluctant to be without a car, even for a day. What if I go into labour early and the car is off getting serviced?!

Anyway, the decision was made for us on Wednesday...

I had just been to an appointment with the midwife on Wednesday afternoon, then I drove straight to creche to collect BallFiend. He has had a big week: on Sunday he got to hang out at home with DeepSpice while I went off to my baby shower; on Monday he had a playdate with MasterW (and his little sister LittleMissIz) while I went to a physio appointment, then he was dropped off to Gran and GrandPaul at about 1.00 pm for a 2-night stay (more preparation for when Thumper arrives). On Wednesday morning, BallFiend was dropped off at creche by Gran and GrandPaul (apparently to much protesting). So, I was eager to see my little BallFiend, and was pleased to get to the creche by 4.00 pm.

Then disaster struck!

I parked in the creche carpark, got out of the car and then noticed what looked like smoke coming out from under the bonnet. I backed away slowly from the car wondering what the hell I should do. The car was parked right next to the creche playground and if it was about to catch fire, kids would need to be evacuated out of the playground urgently.

An electrician drove into the carpark in his van and I asked him for help. He quickly established that my car wasn't about to burst into flames and that the smoke was actually steam. The radiator hose had got a hole in it and was spraying hot water under high pressure everywhere inside the engine cavity. The sparky put a rag over the leak to protect the alternator (fortunately I happened to have a rag in the car - either a sign that I really am a 'mum' now, or perhaps it is just a hang-over from my 'be-prepared' my days as a brownie and guide!). I waddled as fast as I could into the creche and phoned the RACV.

It was now about 4.15 pm and RACV said "a mechanic should be there in the next 20 - 40 mins". They took my mobile number and said they would text if there was a delay. Then I called DeepSpice and asked him to leave work ASAP to meet me at creche - if I was going to be walking home with a worn out nearly three-year old, I was going to need some help! Then I finally was able to say a proper hello to BallFiend, who gave the impression that he hadn't missed me at all for the past 2 days and was more interested in trying to throw his hat onto the roof.

About 30 minutes later (around 5.00 pm), I got a text advising that the mechanic would be another 80 minutes! So I rang back and gave the I'm-a-pregnant-woman-accompanied-by-a-small-child sob story. They said they would see what they could do.

DeepSpice arrived and a few minutes later another mum (who I know through our playgroup) arrived to collect her daughter. She offered me a lift home which I eagerly accepted! DeepSpice transferred BallFiend's car restraint into her car and we were home around 5.45 pm. Poor DeepSpice got to hang out in the carpark waiting for the RACV. Seems that my pregnant-woman plea worked though, as they came before 6.00 pm and DeepSpice arrived home with our car in a (temporarily) drivable condition around 6.10 pm. He was escorted by the RACV mechanic who said it was possible that the head gasket might be cracked due to engine overheating from the leaking radiator hose, and that if the car's temperature gauge rose suddenly to pull over immediately.

On Thursday morning, DeepSpice took the car to our regular mechanic to get a proper repair done on the radiator hose and luckily the mechanic could fit us in for a service at the same time. Our dear old bomb gave another sign that it is aging... on the drive there, the handle to adjust the wing-mirror broke! (At least it didn't wait until after we got it back from the mechanic!) Anyway, our mechanic fixed the radiator hose, serviced the car, said the head gasket seems fine and replaced the broken wing-mirror handle. The bill came to $345.00 (with $45 for the wing-mirror handle).

Not too bad... considering that VolubleK just had to get a computer chip in her Volvo replaced and it cost her over $800! And that is why I love my old bomb!
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