Parking Update

We have been driving ourselves around this week to outlying beaches, waterfalls and attractions. I never asked about parking a car when we booked here however our type of room does not come with a carpark. If the neighbours, of whom we have now had three different groups since we have been here, if they have no car then we can use their spot in the garage. Each time a new neighbour comes we have to take the car out in case they bring one. Yesterday they brought a car. The council allows for the first two hours free in centre median slots only. Last time we brought it out overnight, it was Sunday with all day free. If you find a centre slot just at around 3:30pm you can leave the car there overnight but must move it out by 10:00am. We did not find a median slot so went for a paid secure 24 hr service at 50c an hour which works as we are not leaving today until 11:00am. However get the app, register the car, create an account, pay ahead of time. Get it, car parking made simples!

A Key Issue

 I  turned the key in the lock and the car started ok but the key distintegrated in my hand and was left dangling in pieces. I left it hanging and drove to Evie's house in case there was more trouble.  There was more trouble, as when I turned off the car, I thought I could just use the shaft of the key to restart as it.  No such luck.  I thought I collected all the pieces.  Debbie put it back together and sticky taped it but still no restart.  This car is newly fitted with two child seats and has been set up to bring them back from the hospital and we have been told it must be towed to a Toyota dealer for reprogramming a new key and this is the weekend so at best it could be done on Monday.   I went back three times to search the car and each time I found more parts.  The key consists of nine separate parts all unconnected.  There is the key barrel, two halves of the casing, two rubber buttons, a soft rubber overlay, the circuit board, the button battery and a blue innocuous plastic piece with a particular shape.  Whatever that thing does it has to be inside the key. I spied a shaped compartment that looked very sinilar to the blue block shape and when that was put in place, yes the key worked and restarted the car. 

Crazy Car tag

We have a car problem where coolant is running unchecked throughout the car.  This is not necessarily so bad in Summer. In Winter if you were trying to heat up then the coolant would really be trying to fight it.  A spare valve has been brought in and I got the car to Subaru at 8:00am so there is plenty of time.  They couldn't say when so they drove me home.  Then the call came that they would have to keep the car over the weekend. Groan.  It seems that office staff should not estimate car repair times when the duty engineer has not been consulted, as there was just no time to get it back today.  So I have a rather well used loan car to drive to Melbourne on Sunday.  And I have been asked to fill it up after its use. Altogether there have been eight trips to and from Geelong over this, with at least two more to go on Monday.

Coolant is Coolin

 We were driving the other day and every warning light that possibly exists came on at the same time. I think this is the default if the condition you are having does not have its own separate warning message. In this case we had to get an appointment with Subaru this morning and they have had the car all day. Normally I would bring the bike for a standard service and go for a ride for two hours.  This problem took all day and so they drove me home and now I am waiting to be driven back. Then we have to do it all again because the spare part is not available. I will have a bike next time. 

 In the meantime I have been to the beach twice. On my first swim I found a packet of chocolates on the sea floor. I threw them out onto some rocks for later retrieval but I forgot to get them on the way back. So we went back for a leisurely sit and soak but as I went walking thru the rock groyne there were other items like a cut rose, some plastic and tin foil. During the earlier swim i also saw a big jellyfish the first one I have seen this Summer.

Sunset heading southwards more over land

chocolate crack all