Getz

Arrived in Devonport on Sunday and as usual went straight to the Avis counter to pick up the car keys for the week. I didn't take much notice of the kind of car or even the brand. Just grabbed the keys and ticked and initialled all the appropriate boxes. Picked up my luggage and walked to the car park looking for bay 7.

There are two blocks of bays marked Avis and it took me a little while to find it, probably because I was looking for something a bit bigger than 4 wheelie bins stuck together. "Oh shit" I thought, as I noticed that what seemed to be bay 7 contained a tiny little yellow car. Yes it was a Hyundai Getz and it was mine for the week. Words to describe my initial mental images include cramped, noisy, gutless, and the-Fiat-500-that-George-Segal-drove-in-"A touch of class". My first inkling of what was to come was when I noticed that in their quest for economy, the company had for the firtst time given me a car with a manual gearbox!

From the first, it was like stepping back 30 years (in a good way) a bit like (I imagine) having a 23 year old girlfriend when you're in your 40's. It's small has a wheel in each corner, has front wheel drive, and a high revving transverse mounted engine. Sound familiar?

Some history: My first car, when I was 19 was a Morris 850 (a Mini) that my father bought from my sister and was never registed in my name. Like all first cars there is a lot of affection that is transferred to the Marque. Probably more because of the things that were done in and around it rather than the car itself. The first car is usually associated with a lot of other "firsts". It was cute, cheap to run and free. But it was also noisy, unreliable, difficult to work on, and yes gutless. That little 850cc engine and badly spaced four speed gearbox just wasn't up to the task. Even so, it was the Morris 850 that got me hooked on small front wheel drive cars. I just love the way you can throw them around corners.


My second car - the one that, to this day is still my favorite out of all of the cars I've owned, was a Fiat 127. It too was noisy and unreliable, and I paid far too much for it, but it was like a Mini on steroids. It handled well, had well spaced gears, and could rev forever. It had a slightly bigger engine (903cc i think) and more importantly it was designed by people who knew what they were doing. It was bright red, italian and was all mine.

The Getz is another step up from the Fiat. It has a 1400cc engine and handles brilliantly. When driving you just have to remember that the engine is small compared to most cars, and increase the revs to compensate. The only annoying feature I've found so far is the nanny-state-gear-switch which won't let you start the car unless the clutch is engaged, even if it's in neutral. I once drove a VW Beetle that wouldn't start with the clutch engaged because the heavy clutch spring put too much load on the battery. It just doesn't seem right starting an engine in any other way than in neutral with your foot off the clutch.

Landing

The flight from Melbourne to Devonport takes approximately an hour and a quarter. The Qantas plane is a twin propeller 36 seat "Dash 8" with two rows of double seats and one aisle. I was seated on the 6th row in the aisle seat on the right. Being a Friday the plane was only about three quarters full and the window seat next to me was empty. As usual, as soon as we took off the fight attendants began their safety lecture. And as usual I took a little more notice than most other passengers. A habit I formed after attending helicopter safety training, the idea being that: in the event that anything should happen, it would be possible to snap from dazed and confused to reasonably focused with the prompting of the information recently stored in the back of my mind.

We had lunch - unusually a "Vegetarian Roll" (roast capsicum, rocket, mushrooms etc) which others complained about (no ham I suppose) I refused the coffee because, from previous experience on these flights it tastes like instant coffee. I can tell because I have to add milk to make it drinkable. I think It's likely that they just put several spoon fulls of Nescafe (or worse) in the coffee pot and add boiling water.

Afterwards I read a book; "Short Cuts" by Raymond Carver (thanks Tim), with the air vent turned on full to avoid the smell of the baby being held by its mother in the window seat in front of me.

I was still engrossed in the book when the captain made encouraging noises through the loudspeaker about approaching Devonport and an impending landing. I remember being pleased that the flight had seemed to pass so quickly, thanks to Mr Carver. And then went back to reading. Some time later, in spite of my engrossment, I noticed that an unusually long time had passed since the captain's statement. It must have been then that the plane started making funny noises and the engine changed pitch. The captain's voice once again came over the loudspeaker and said that the landing wheels had retracted by themselves but of course this was nothing to worry about and was due something to do with navigation circuitry which overrode the landing wheels. My initial thoughts were surprise at how candid the captains statement had been, and at how they could design landing wheels that would retract at anything other than a manual command.

As we came out of the clouds and over the water I thought: What if the landing wheels don't come down again. Surely then the safest thing to do would be to land in the sea. We'd all get out safely on liferafts (lifejacket under seat, don't inflate until outside the aircraft) but what about my fiddle, laptop, ereader, ipod & banjo? Maybe the plane would float and they could be retrieved later unharmed. Then I thought: what if on landing, the nose wheel collapsed back into the fuselage? The plane could go careering sideways along the runway and flip over.

That landing felt particularly bumpy, but I felt confident that I was attuned to all the possibilities even though there was nothing I could do about it. Being totally at the mercy of the skill of the pilot also seemed to have a strangely calming effect.

I walked across the tarmac, and as I was about to enter the building, an airport employee said "have you got any fruit or vegies mate?". The lady at the Avis counter had a welcoming smile.

Transport woes update

Well, I took the 3 month option. This is my current mode of transport:


It makes things difficult, especially in Melbourne's winter. But it's no big deal really. its just not what I'm used to. I don't think you could really categorise having to get to work by: motorised pushbike, public transport, and charitable loved one, a hardship.

I certainly don't feel any remorse or guilt over the incidents that put me in this situation. Travelling slightly faster than an arbitrary speed limit, on roads and in situations that could safely handle a much higher speed, is not what I would call criminal or being a bad citizen. In fact what I would call it is a cynical money making exercise. Or at best, that I was the victim of being caught in a trap designed for somebody else. Sort of collateral damage in the war against hooning.

Anyway it will only last 'till the middle of September. Then beckons springtime in the hills around Melbourne, astride my lovely Ducati.

Transport Woes

Having some trouble with Vicroads. They want suspend my licence for 3 months because I have too many demerit points. Or I can opt to be very very good for 12 months, keep my licence, but lose it for 6 months if I earn another point. I only have until June 10 to decide.

This is a problem for work. Some of my options here include:

1. Holidays, but 3 months is too long
2. Going overseas for a while, maybe South Africa
3. Just being really really careful for 12 months
4. Taking the 3 months and finding another way to get to work (callouts could be a problem)
5. A combination of 1 and 4 or 1,2 & 4
   

Any suggestions would be appreciated. In the meantime, I'll have time to think about it while I'm in Tasmania for two weeks starting on May 23.

On a more positive note: I rode Ethel to work today (keeping her in shape while Tim's away). It was good to be up on the old girl again.