Saturday 20 June 2015

My Chevrolet Almost Ended Up In Detroit.

This is going to be another fast, free-flow, frantic, frenzied, fun-filled, farcical formulation.

I think I might of jinxed myself with my previous post complaining about today's vehicles and that you need to see a software engineer if your car's computer starts acting up.  Maybe my car read my previous post, dated, Friday, June 12, 2015.

Saturday evening, about 8 P.M, June 13, 2015, Sainsbury's supermarket, Leek, Staffordshire, England.  Switch off car.  Get out of car.  Close the door.  All the indicator lights on the dashboard, the beeping sound to indicate a door is open, the red light for the car alarm, are all going ballistic.  I open the car door and it all stops.  I close the door again.  All the indicator lights on the dashboard, the beeping sound to indicate a door is open, the red light for the car alarm, are all going ballistic, yet again!  Close the car for the third time and realise the light show will eventually drain my battery. Rush into the supermarket and forget what I wanted to get.  End up buying some milk and rush back to my car, the car with the dazzling inside light show.

Head back home and close the car door.  Of course, the electrical problem is still happening.  Rush into my home and drop off the milk.  Head back to my car and drive about two miles away.  I do this because I don't have home start on my breakdown cover.  When I mention breakdown cover, I do mean for the car.

Park up the car and phone the breakdown company.  One hour later, a guy shows up.  He checks out my car's electrical system and proceeds to scratch his ass, head.  "Don't know what's wrong with your car, mate.  I'll follow you back to your place and disconnect your battery", he stated.

Back home and he disconnects the battery.  He drives off and I think that my car, my worry-free car for over five years, my car, a Chevrolet Lacetti, a featured car on the UK version of Top Gear, has decided to teach me a lesson.

Of course, over the rest of the weekend, out of curiosity, I kept going to my car, reconnected the battery, only to have the same weird light show occur whenever the car door was closed.  Open the car door and the light show would magically stop.  Unplug the battery for a last time on the Sunday night.

Monday morning and the fun begins.  The first place I phone to hopefully get my electrical problem sorted cannot book my car in until Thursday.  I tell the guy on the phone I'd better check around because that was quite a long wait.  Then the real fun began.  Garage after garage stated they couldn't check the electrics via the onboard computer on a Chevrolet Lacetti.  I finally phoned this one place and the electronics expert mechanic told me he could not get the special code needed to check out my car's electrics because it was a Chevrolet.

Now my mind starts to have all sorts of weird thoughts.  "On no, I have a Chevrolet, a GM product, I have to go to Detroit!  I'll end up on some cargo ship and during some particularly rough seas, the truck with the frozen fish, right beside my car, dumps said frozen fish all inside my car window which I forgot to close.  The frozen fish thaw out and my car will become a haven for Detroit seagulls.  We end up on top of car transporter truck that actually heads to Detroit.  My car gets lowered down at the Detroit drop-off point for overseas Chevrolet vehicles with electrical faults. At this point, a bunch of Detroit gangsters steal all four wheels off my car...."  I snap out of my daydreaming and make one more phone call.

I phone back the garage that cannot book in my car until Thursday.  I mention this time that my car is a Chevrolet Lacetti. The dude I'm speaking to is the owner, somebody I've known for years and is totally honest.  Yes, a totally honest mechanic.  He explains he has a workaround if my car's computer wont cooperate.  He tells me he can "fool" my car into thinking it's a different brand of car. I kid you not.

In the meantime, I kept checking my car.  The electrical fault had vanished but I wasn't taking any chances.  Thursday morning and I left my car so the mechanic could fool its electrics.  That afternoon I phoned and I was told they had done the best they could but couldn't quite trace the problem. However, they said my car seemed fine and they recalibrated the car's computer as best they could.

Upon my arrival at the garage, I was preparing myself to pay for the work done.  "Gary", said Adrian, the owner of the garage, "I don't want any money for the work.  Besides, it appears that you may have actually corrected the underlying problem when you left the battery disconnected.  And Gary, it's nice to see you after such a long time!"  Even though I protested he was insistent that I didn't pay anything.  No charge, so to speak.  How very nice of Adrian.  If you live in Leek and you need your car sorted, I will recommend his garage.

As of right now, as in the fact I quickly dashed out to check my car, I can report my car still seems fine.

There you go.  A post done in under an hour.  If there are any tipos, typos, whatever!

I believe that when my car was plugged into the computer adjustment thingy, that it did get fooled. My Chevrolet is now an Aston Martin and I'm James Bond from the 1960's.  

109 comments:

  1. What a strange thing to happen James.

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    Replies
    1. Greetings Delores,

      All in the day's work for James and his undercover car.

      Gary aka James.

      Delete
  2. An Astin Martin is a very good delusion to have!
    Gotta love when the mechanical wonders work completely backwards to their original programming. Makes the science fiction lover in me imagine all sorts of intriguing things!

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Hey Jemi,

      What delusion? LOL

      Indeed, this has all the makings of a science fiction series. Car gets fooled into thinking it's a sports car and gets confused when it still takes an hour to get from zero to sixty MPH.

      Have a good Sunday, eh.

      Gary :)

      Delete
  3. Well, there's your problem. You have a GM product.
    Sheesh, though, I wouldn't wish Detroit on anything.
    Even a Chevrolet.

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    Replies
    1. Ah, Mr. Penwasser,

      To confuse the situation even more, my car was once a Daewoo and then Chevrolet bought it out. To confuse the situation even more, GM products in the UK are called Vauxhall.

      I thought Detroit was officially closed. Give my regards to Pontiac.

      Gary

      Delete
    2. Naw, it's just out of business.

      Delete
    3. Hey Al, part two,

      Okay, I wonder if Detroit had a closing down sale.

      Gary

      Delete
  4. I've never heard about someone trying to make a car think it's a different brand. No doubt technology has evolved so much! That's the good think about us, dragons. We use really really REALLY old cars with no complex computers. Hopefully you car behaves now. Dragon Hugs, Gary!

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    Replies
    1. Hi Al,

      It's right up there with the best science fiction becoming fact. I just hope my car likes being an Aston Martin :) On a SCALE of one to ten, I wonder how you rate your really old cars. Do they dragon at times....

      Car has been fine for a few days now. I go out and check it every hour or so.

      Have a great rest of your weekend, my fiery friend.

      Gary :)

      Delete
  5. Wow, no charge on top of all that, that's pretty good. I laughed at the part where you wrote, I kid you not.

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    Replies
    1. Hi Happy Whisk,

      No charge for the charge, if you get what I mean :) I kid you not!

      Have a good one.

      Gary :)

      Delete
  6. I think your car is trans-vehicled and now it's living its true life with its true identity!

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    Replies
    1. Hi Debra,

      My car has secretly told me it wants to be a Studebaker and we know what happened to Studebaker when it ended up getting manufactured in Canada, eh! :)

      Gary :)

      Delete
  7. Shaken AND stirred.
    Intermittent faults are vile, but I love that your mechanic is honest. Can you clone him? Please.

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    Replies
    1. Hi Sue,

      Shaken AND stirred might be the cause of such weird faults.

      I'm sending over an Adrian clone. He's a classy guy and he's looking forward to meeting you and your car.

      Gary :)

      Delete
  8. Replies
    1. Glad all that weird stuff on here has gone.

      Great that your car now seems to be sorted, and you have a mechanic that didn't charge for what he did. Not many would do things for free these days.

      Delete
    2. Hi Eunice,

      I was given the heads up about that moronic spammer bombarding my blog with such horrible stuff. All gone.

      Thanks and so far, the car seems okay. Considering he spent time checking it out, I was, pardon the pun, in shock that he didn't want any money. A totally classy guy and has an honest reputation.

      Enjoy your Sunday, Eunice.

      Gary :)

      Delete
  9. It looks like some strange thing that invaded your Chevy has now taken over your blog.

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    Replies
    1. Hi Arleen,

      That excuse for a human has had their crap removed from my blog. I got my Chevy to zap the spammer!

      Have a nice Sunday, Arleen.

      Gary :)

      Delete
  10. Hi Gary - glad the car is sorted ... mine does that sometimes - but I eventually work out what I need to do to stop the noise ... thankfully it does stop! Cheers - wonderful story .. and am so pleased Adrian helped you out ... sans cost ... always a pleasure to have a no charge ... cheers Hilary

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    Replies
    1. Hi Hilary,

      The car does seem to be sorted just over a week later and it's running fine. There have bee situations in other cars that when I heard a weird noise, I'd turn up the volume on the stereo and the noise would magically vanish. Adrian is one heck of a good guy and no charge for a charge :)

      Gary

      Delete
  11. You fooled your car's computer - quite the magic trick. Maybe you're a car whisperer?
    Can't fix it because it's a Chevy. Now that is ironic.

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    Replies
    1. Hi Alex,

      Yes, the car had to be fooled into thinking it was another car in order to check out the onboard computer. Very weird and I like that, " a car whisperer"!

      Drove my Chevy to the levy....

      Thank you, Alex.

      Gary

      Delete
  12. lol glad it never had to go to the car loony bin and get some multiple personality disorder spark plugs put in

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    Replies
    1. Hello Pat in the Hatt,

      I was ready for the loony bin. Watch the sparks fly as the spark plugs start arguing with themselves.

      Thank you, Pat.

      Delete
  13. Glad you got it sorted. Aston Martin and James Bond eh? You wish.

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    Replies
    1. Hi Jo,

      Thanks and so far, so good. Aston Martin's are jealous of my car and James Bond is forever asking me about how to be more charming :)

      Thank you, Jo.

      Gary

      Delete
  14. I can just picture you in that parking lot with every indicator light flashing, a look of horror on your face and panic setting in. It must have felt a bit like something out of one of those UFO movies, where the ship arrives and all the electrics go wild.

    And then to be told no one can get the codes for your vehicle to boot, it's no wonder you had visions of winding up in Detroit covered in fish.

    I'm glad you got it sorted, but fear that the car has read this post and is plotting something even more insidious. If we don't hear from you in a week, we'll send someone round to make sure you're alright.

    Have a lovely weekend!

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Hi Anne,

      How very true, Very much like Close Encounters of the Third Kind. I was waiting for them to take me and the car on a one-way trip to Uranus. Maybe it was alien beings that caused it all.

      Detroit, covered in fish, almost seemed like a good idea at the beginning of the week :)

      Thanks for that. I think my car is entering the living room and was mumbling something about "Christine!"

      Hope you had a nice weekend, Anne.

      Gary :)

      Delete
  15. I've never heard of a Chevy Lacetti. It's good things worked out.

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    Replies
    1. Hi Pat,

      It was the featured car on Top Gear, the UK version. I was almost hoping to end up in Detroit. I've been told you are a legend there. All seems to be fine with my Chevy.

      Thank you, Pat.

      Gary

      Delete
  16. Sorry about your car! How weird that happened. They don't have the Lacetti here in the states. What a great mechanic though!

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    Replies
    1. Hi JoJo,

      It was very weird and little scary. I believe the car is called a "Nubira" in America. Adrian is an awesome mechanic and a decent human.

      Thank you, JoJo.

      Gary :)

      Delete
  17. See, I've always said these machines had minds of their own! Glad you managed to fool your car into thinking it was something else. Fingers crossed he continues to behave himself.

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    Replies
    1. Hi Suzanne,

      There be gremlins! I'm hoping my fooled car will continue to think it's an Aston Martin.

      Thank you, Suzanne.

      Gary :)

      Delete
  18. Hints of the car Christine and Stephen King, you're lucky you got out of there with your life. Oh, that's right the car kills everyone else. Never mind, you're safe! :)
    Sounds like that car really hated your last post!
    But maybe you've apeased him/her an Aston Martin and Bond are more fun than the paranormal, although, I'm thinking the same number of people die???
    Be well, and give that car a martini! You gotta keep up the ruse, or who knows????

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Hi Yolanda,

      You got it. I was wondering why every time I started up my car, I heard it say "Christine" over the car stereo :)

      Incredible about my car acting for the first time ever after my previous post. I reckon my car has internet access!

      I'm trying to appease the paranormal, Aston Martin cars and Bond.

      I shall pour a martini into the window washing unit.

      Thank you, Yolanda.

      Gary :)

      Delete
  19. What fun. It may have been a headache for you, but it was fun reading for me. Big hugs to Adrian. If I didn't have to cross the Atlantic, I'd surely trust him with all my cars.

    (My mom van is jealous, she wants to be a sleek sporty model and not the kid carrying, smelling-of-shoe delight that she is.)

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Hi Elizabeth,

      Should be laws against having this much fun. I do try to revel in the irony that is my life. Adrian is on his way across the Atlantic.

      Your mum van is now a sporty dream machine :)

      Thank you, Elizabeth.

      Gary

      Delete
  20. Gary, you could not have asked for a better switch! Which James Bond would you be? :D I am kinda partial to Sean Connery!

    And what an adventure! I'll bet Q would have loved you!

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    Replies
    1. Hi Vidya,

      I'm most assuredly Sean and I'm working on my unusual Scottish accent.

      Right on, Q, I hope you are right.

      Thank you, Vidya.

      Gary :)

      Delete
  21. Hi Y'all!

    I mean, Dear Mr. Bond...

    My Human has a Chevy and she loves it too. Maybe not as much as you love your Aston Martin though.

    Y'all come on back,
    Hawk aka BrownDog

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Howdy Hawk!

      Ah yes, my esteemed doggy friend, a Chevy is usually a very good car. Then again, I'm very fond of my Aston Martin :)

      Do drop by again, dear doggy friend.

      Gary Bond :)

      Delete
  22. How can they sell GM cars in the UK without giving mechanics the ability to fix them?? I think the mechanic who tried and wouldn't take any money should be bronzed. The only one I've ever heard of that's truly honest and generous. I hope your car doesn't act up again - otherwise it's the Detroit trip for you!!

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    Replies
    1. Hi Lexa,

      It's a money-spinning racket because they want me to go to an exclusive Chevy dealership. The mechanics I talked to were very frustrated about the whole ridiculous situation. The mechanic mentioned is going to get a glowing review from me on his website. Thankfully, the car has been okay since the mystery incident. Of course, Detroit might well be on my bucket list!

      Thank you, Lexa.

      Gary :)

      Delete
  23. this was just too funny and your imagery was so vivid that I was laughing my head off! The only bad part of you NOT heading to Detroit? I live in a suburb of Detroit and I would have invited you to join all of us for dinner!!!!!!!! See? That wouldn't have been so bad!

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Hi Caren,

      Thanks and my rambling imagery sometimes goes into overdrive. Something my car can now do :) Of course, you are in a suburb of Detroit, the motor city, Motown. Guess who's coming for dinner? Heck, might as well stay long enough to watch the Lions, the Red Wings, the Tigers and the Pistons.

      Thank you, Caren and brew up the coffee! :)

      Gary

      Delete
  24. Too funny James, er Gary. Are you sure the Transformers did not take over your car for some special downloads or something?

    I have a Chevy Equinox, and it is always having some weird problem that mechanics cannot fully diagnose because it is a "special edition". They can have it back!

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Hey Donna,

      How did you know that the Transformers had taken over my car? They are performing a crucial software update that has something to do with my Windows.

      Sorry about your Chevy Equinox, maybe the Transformer came make it an extra special edition.

      Thank you, Donna.

      Gary :)

      Delete
  25. All of this makes me glad I don't own a car and never will.

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    Replies
    1. Hi River,

      I don't blame you for never owning a car.

      Thank you, River.

      Gary :)

      Delete
  26. Honest mechanics are hard to come by. It's cool that you can trick a car into thinking it's something else.

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    Replies
    1. Hi Medeia,

      Since moving to England, I've found most of my experiences with mechanics to have been honest situations. The dog is now trying to trick me into thinking I can actually write something that's bordering on legible :)

      Thank you, Medeia.

      Gary

      Delete
  27. You're lucky to have that honest mechanic. I'm glad that the problem ended not costing you an arm, a leg and part of your soul. :-)

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    Replies
    1. Hi Misha,

      I feel most lucky knowing an honest mechanic. My soul left years ago :) At least the car was worked on for free.

      Thank you, Misha.

      Gary :)

      Delete
  28. A totally honest mechanic is hard to find, but when you do you'll trust him to do anything. Maybe he can fool your car into thinking it's a Porsche? You're driving the "Star in a Reasonably-Priced Car" and it sounds like you're getting your money's worth though.

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Hi Maurice,

      Good plan, I shall ask that totally honest mechanic to further fool my car. One week an Aston Martin, another week, a Porsche, another week, an Edsel.

      You got it. There was an underlying reference to the "Star in a Reasonably-Priced Car", starring the Chevrolet Lacetti! It's been, generally speaking, the most reliable car I've ever owned.

      Thank you, Maurice.

      Gary :)

      Delete
  29. Mish Moneypenny shays you shertainly are shir. And si ish your car.

    Hope it keeps going, car nightmares you can do without. x

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    Replies
    1. Hey Michelle,

      Shaken but not slurred :)

      Over a week later and my car with the multiple personalities is just fine.

      Thank you, Michelle.

      Gary x

      Delete
  30. I think this car has a mind of it's own..so nice the guy didn't charge you..see there are good people out there..I cannot say I trust many mechanics. They fix something and then something else magically goes wrong..hmm..what is wrong with this picture??? Now, you can say, my name is Bond..James Bond...haha..ok, I just had to say that..humor me..

    Have a great week Gary

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    Replies
    1. Hey Truedessa,

      My car did have a mind of its own and then it was turned into an Aston Martin :) I have known the mechanic for a number of years. His integrity is legendary in this town. I'm usually a cynic, but not in regards to that mechanic. Okay, I'm on a campaign to have English spelt in proper English as in English, English.. Go on, "humour" me! LOL

      Thank you, my poetic friend.

      Gary :)

      Delete
    2. Haha I get your sense of "humor" my friend.. Have a lovely week...

      Delete
    3. Truedessa, part two
      This be true
      The humor
      A rumor
      A lovely week
      I thus seek
      Sorry spell check
      What the heck! :)

      Delete
    4. smiling - humor or humour as long as it brings a smile my way I am happy :)

      Delete
    5. Hey Truedessa, part three,

      It's all good
      In your neighborhood! :)

      Delete
  31. I believe it was just that the aliens that were messing with your car took off. But maybe that's just me.

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    Replies
    1. Hi Shannon,

      The aliens have told me that you are correct!

      Thank you, Shannon.

      Gary :)

      Delete
  32. That car you're describing definitely has a mind of its own, Gary. Hang in there.

    Denise :-)

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    Replies
    1. G'day Denise,

      My car now thinks it's on its way to Australia. It's all I Canberra! :) I'm hanging in and my car has not been shocking for almost two weeks.

      Thank you, Denise.

      Gary :)

      Delete
  33. I hope your car stays fine! I've never been to Detroit, but I hope you wouldn't have to go that far ;)

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    Replies
    1. Hey Riot Kitty,

      My car is just fine now, thank you. I've never been to Detroit, although I have an invite to go there :)

      Thank you, my friend.

      Gary :)

      Delete
  34. Funny you mention Aston Martins...as I was reading your story, I was thinking about a story I heard recently about Aston Martins. Apparently at one time there was no dealership here in Nashville, so those few rich people who owned those cars had to have them towed on a truck to the dealership every time it needed the oil changed! Can you imagine?

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Hi Stephanie,

      That was one hell of a journey to get an oil change for an Aston Martin. I thought everybody in Nashville drove pick-up trucks, y'all :)

      Thank you, Stephanie.

      Gary :)

      Delete
  35. Glad I have Mr. L to handle this stuff!
    Gary, do you live in the US or England or Canada???? !!! xxx

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Hi Inner Chick aka Kim,

      Mr L? Mr. Leeds? Mr. Leicester? Mr. Leek? Okay, Mr. Liverpool! :)

      I live In England and go back home to Canada to see my friends, family and of course, my adoring fans. As for the US, I'm in Duluth, Minnesota. I'm kidding!

      Gary :) xxx!

      Delete
  36. Well, 007, at least your Chevrolet isn't an Ashton Kutcher.
    I'm glad he didn't charge you. You're a very nice, honest many yourself, Gary. It's car-ma. =)

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Hey Robyn,

      My car thinks Ashton Kutcher would be a poor alternative and has this incredible urge to have Ashton Punked! :)

      No charge for the charge :) Thanks for totally realising that I'm a nice, honest dude with the amazing attributes of humility and shyness. Very good a Carma comedian, Boy George, I think she's got it :)

      Thank you, Robyn.

      Gary :)

      Delete
  37. Hilarious, Mr Bond... lol ... I'm glad you got the car sorted Gary...even if it did require a change of identity ;)

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    Replies
    1. Hi Kimmie,

      Why thank you, my kind friend :) The car appears to be sorted and may now have a multiple car brand disorder.

      Thank you, Kimmie.

      Gary :)

      Delete
  38. from previous post - i love the mechanic's view of "america" and your responses are priceless!

    and your little chevy, aww! i think it wants to be in the next Cars movie with all that drama! And every time you say Leek, I keep picturing the screaming leek in Cloudy w/a Chance of Meatballs 2 (it's actually quite hilarious and full of terrible puns - you'd love it if you haven't seen it!)

    so happy that you found an honest mechanic, a true urban legend has begun in LEEK!
    happy thursday!

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Hi Tara,

      Ah yes, the mechanic's view of America is a quite common view over here :) I'm sending that mechanic over to the States so he can see what real fast food is like :)

      Ah yes, I get the movie references! You have quite the imagination, Tara.

      The mechanic of Leek, Robin Hood has relocated :)

      Have a very nice weekend.

      Gary :)

      Delete
  39. Don't even get me started on car problems. Recently I had to get a new alternator, water pump, and two new brake pads. Ugh! I really want to bring a sledgehammer to my car...but I need it. I'm glad your car is fine and it was nice of him not to charge you.

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Hi Chrys,

      Sometimes, getting a car started is a bit of a bonus ;) Cars and sledgehammers, I can so relate to that. Over two weeks later and my car seems to be okay. That mechanic is a legend around these parts.

      Thank you, Chrys. Have a lovely weekend.

      Gary :)

      Delete
  40. It's frustrating when it's the computer. Anything can go wrong and they are difficult to fix.

    You should be really grateful you didn't have to go to the slums of Detroit to have it fixed.

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Hi Diane,

      It really is incredible how much can go wrong with a car when the computer is acting up. Simple repairs have become difficult repairs for those of us without the proper equipment to adjust things.

      I was on the verge of going on a guided tour of Detroit. I should breath a sigh of relief I missed out :)

      Have a peaceful weekend, Diane.

      Gary

      Delete
  41. That's electronics for you. Working fine today, acting up tomorrow. At least you got a fix, even if a temporary one. And what a nice gesture from the mechanic!

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Hi blogoratti,

      Electronics and the lurking mystery gremlins. So far, so good as my car seems to be back to its usual self. Maybe it was having a bad day. The mechanic should get an award for integrity :)

      Thank you and have a peaceful weekend.

      Gary

      Delete
  42. I'm so impressed that your mechanic was so nice about it. If I lived in Leeds I'd definitely go to him. This whole post freaked me out because I just got a new car and I already worry about the computer stuff going ballistic on me. I'm always afraid I'll hit the wrong button and the horn will start blaring uncontrollably. Your experience at the store is my worst nightmare.
    I hope this fix will do the trick!

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Hi Julie,

      Adrian the mechanic is a genuinely nice guy. If I lived in Leeds, I travel the 51 miles to Leek just to have him check my car :) Oops, sorry about your worries about the computer crap in today's cars. Thankfully, they are mostly reliable and just like your own computer, can have mystery ailments that magically vanish without explanation.

      A little of two weeks later and my car drives like nothing happened :)

      Thank you, Julie.

      Gary :)

      Delete
  43. Wow what a result on so many levels. Enjoy your Aston, Mr Bond xx

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    Replies
    1. Hi Teresa,

      Oh yeah, on so many levels that I'd of never thought would happen. My Aston is shaken yet stirred :)

      Thank you, Teresa.

      Gary :) x

      Delete
  44. Your last line kills me. The whole post was hilarious- though I am sure very stressful during the car lighting up and going crazy. I am glad everything worked out so well and hopefully it never happens again- but if it does you know where to go. :)
    ~Jess

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    Replies
    1. Hi Jess,

      That's very kind of you. The situation made me feel very panicky. A light show in my car made me think I was back at the disco! :) Yes, if it does happen again, I sure do know where to go, so to speak :)

      Thank you, Jess.

      Gary :)

      Delete
  45. I've heard of some screwy things happening to cars, but I think yours wins. It's so weird what happened, and I hope it doesn't have that problem again.

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Hi Cherie,

      I shall pass on your message to my car. Then again, maybe not :) An electronic illusion, perhaps. Two weeks or so later and my car seems just fine.

      Thank you, Cherie.

      Gary :)

      Delete
  46. You have a gift of making hardships sound funny. It must have been very frustrating and time consuming.
    Thank you for stopping by. I have not been writing a lot. I do read posts and enjoy them a lot. I need to start posting comments, which I shall start soon.
    I hope that all is well with you ( I mean besides the car going crazy on you).
    Take care.

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    Replies
    1. Hi Munir,

      Thank you and I revel in the irony of life :) It was most frustrating, time consuming and happened at a time when I was about to go on a long journey.

      Delighted to visit your site, Munir. No worries and knowing you read posts is plenty.

      My car is crazy and I'm not far behind. I'm somewhat better than I was, thank you. Although my blogging has become sparse due to chronic fatigue.

      Thank you, Munir.

      Gary :)

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  47. A haven for Detroit seagulls... Oh I hope not! Unless you want to catch seagulls because you're that hungry. No? He could "fool" your car into thinking it's a different brand of car? No kidding. I'll try and do the same thing with my car. 'Hello car, did you know that you're a $400,000 Ford GT? You didn't? Well, you are. How great is that?'

    Sorry, Gary, he doesn't buy it. That stupid Herbie wanna-bee. Boy, does he make me digress.

    What... a post done in under an hour? How does he do it!

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    1. Hey Mr. Blue Doody Doo,

      I wrestled a herring out of the mouth of the seagull that ate Detroit. Your car has had a noticeable improvement since you fooled it. It now goes from 0 to 30 in just under 10 hours.

      Your car is starring in the remake of, "Chitty, Chitty, Bang, Bang and Bang a Bit More."

      3600 seconds, to be precise.

      Thank you, good sir.

      Gary :)

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  48. Oh Gary, you have such a sense of humor... what is that Monty Python song... Always look on the bright side of life.... Seriously, when stuff like this is happening it's always very stressful, good that you can laugh about it now. Glad your car is sorted for now and hopefully it will continue to think it's an Aston Martin!

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    1. Hi Diane,

      The Monty Python song, "Always look on the SHITE side of life." :) If I didn't laugh, I would giggle like a deranged lunatic. The car is still thinks it's an Aston Martin and I'm no Austin Powers. Oh yeah, baby!

      Thank you, Jess.

      Gary

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  49. Hi Gary, I always thought you had a look of James Bond about you, and I wouldn’t know a Chevrolet from an Aston Martin so all is well in my world! Your blog is such a tonic! I would be sobbing in a corner if it happened to me, but you have a way of turning a negative into a positive. Good on you and on the chap at the garage – he sounds like a very nice man. x

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    1. Hi Barbara,

      Thanks as in I look like Sean Connery after a rough night :) Coincidentally, my car doesn't know the difference between a Chevrolet or an Aston Martin.

      I usually manage to find the positive out of what seems a negative. What the heck, it gave something to post about :) That very nice, honest mechanic just shows that there are some thoroughly decent people out there.

      Thank you, Barbara.

      Gary ;)

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  50. Well, Gary, I've gone and done it again, nominated you for another exciting award. The Creative Blogger Award. Hope you and Penny will stop by and pick it up. I'm sure you'd have something *interesting* to write about. Besides, it will give a reason to post a blog!

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    Replies
    1. Hey Bish,

      Say it aint so, Bish! Um, thank you :) Can't have enough awards and along with the other three awards I've got waiting in the wings, I shall duly note said award and state my gratitude to you and those other three wonderful bloggers who want to give me a reason to post! Aha!

      Then again, in the meantime, maybe I might put up a post to bring much joy to my zillions of adoring fans!

      Thank you, Bish.

      Gary :)

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  51. Super mechanic and good friend, a rare combination! I' m clueless when it comes to cars, but have been known to give lovepats to the dash when they perform well....or give me the extra mileage when the gas gage is on empty.

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    1. Hi Sharon,

      A rare combination I'm most grateful for. I'm no clueless when it comes to newer cars. I've joined you in giving lovepats to the dashboard and telling my car what a good car it is. I put £20 of petrol in my car and that filled it up to empty!

      Thank you, Sharon.

      Gary :)

      Delete

I do try to comment back to each commenter individually. However, I might have to shorten my replies or give a group thank you. That way, I can spend more time commenting on your blogs. Thank you and peace, my friend.