Yesterday we had to repair an older ladies car - 1975 Kingswood. She has had it since new, but it is now pretty stuffed. Still goes ok, but for how much longer?
She came in originally a couple a weeks ago for a service, and mentioned that in her last service there was a note to get something done about the radiator in the future. It had corrosion, but was not serious enough back then to repair/replace it.
I called the Holden manufacturer and found out they are no longer available as new - had to be second hand or reconditioned. We won't fit second hand parts supplied from elsewhere, so it had to be either repaired if we could do it, or a reco one which we sent them out to get done.
Anyway, we were able to repair it, and I dropped her home while the car was being fixed. On the way to her house, I copped the life story a bit - as you do.
But this is the story, and I was secretly shaking my head a bit. I did feel quite sorry for her; she's a nice lady, but I also didn't if that makes sense. It's the old; "if only she knew", or "you make you own luck" scenario I suspect.
There could be more to it; she may have had an enormous run of terrible bad luck financially in her life, but...
Her house is right next door to the local Motel, and the house is owned by the guy who owns the Motel. She has been living in - and renting - this house for 30 years. And, it is very, very basic.
She proceeds to tell me that the owner is now considering bulldozing the house to put in more Motel rooms, and she is going to be forced out of her house, it's not fair; I've been living (and renting) here for thirty years, he's loaded - has 5 houses, two motels, a plane - why does he need more money? It's just unnecessary, what am I going to do?
And so on. Getting stuck into the rich, greedy Landlord in not so many words.
Now, I do agree with her about not needing to extend the Motel and kicking her out because it is big enough, but at certain times of the year you could rent out each room 5 times over.
To me; it' all seems a bit self inflicted.
She smells like an ashtray, so you know that she has probably smoked a few house purchases in her years. Looks like a "career" smoker, and about 70 years old.
Had she not have done these 3 simple things;
1. Bought the car brand new in 1975 (when renting)
2. Smoking like a chimney I suspect for all that time (based on her smell).
3. Didn't buy a house for 30 years (houses in Dromana 30 years ago were a song even at those days' prices.)
The result could have been far different without too much alteration to her lifestyle.
The thing that irked me was her mentality towards the "rich" folk, and how she was poor.
She came in originally a couple a weeks ago for a service, and mentioned that in her last service there was a note to get something done about the radiator in the future. It had corrosion, but was not serious enough back then to repair/replace it.
I called the Holden manufacturer and found out they are no longer available as new - had to be second hand or reconditioned. We won't fit second hand parts supplied from elsewhere, so it had to be either repaired if we could do it, or a reco one which we sent them out to get done.
Anyway, we were able to repair it, and I dropped her home while the car was being fixed. On the way to her house, I copped the life story a bit - as you do.
But this is the story, and I was secretly shaking my head a bit. I did feel quite sorry for her; she's a nice lady, but I also didn't if that makes sense. It's the old; "if only she knew", or "you make you own luck" scenario I suspect.
There could be more to it; she may have had an enormous run of terrible bad luck financially in her life, but...
Her house is right next door to the local Motel, and the house is owned by the guy who owns the Motel. She has been living in - and renting - this house for 30 years. And, it is very, very basic.
She proceeds to tell me that the owner is now considering bulldozing the house to put in more Motel rooms, and she is going to be forced out of her house, it's not fair; I've been living (and renting) here for thirty years, he's loaded - has 5 houses, two motels, a plane - why does he need more money? It's just unnecessary, what am I going to do?
And so on. Getting stuck into the rich, greedy Landlord in not so many words.
Now, I do agree with her about not needing to extend the Motel and kicking her out because it is big enough, but at certain times of the year you could rent out each room 5 times over.
To me; it' all seems a bit self inflicted.
She smells like an ashtray, so you know that she has probably smoked a few house purchases in her years. Looks like a "career" smoker, and about 70 years old.
Had she not have done these 3 simple things;
1. Bought the car brand new in 1975 (when renting)
2. Smoking like a chimney I suspect for all that time (based on her smell).
3. Didn't buy a house for 30 years (houses in Dromana 30 years ago were a song even at those days' prices.)
The result could have been far different without too much alteration to her lifestyle.
The thing that irked me was her mentality towards the "rich" folk, and how she was poor.