Thursday, August 04, 2005
My Growing Respect for Mechanics
My lovely little SAAB is down at the mechanics. The indicators were playing up (on the blink, so to speak) and after a few days, it is still being sorted out. Why? Electronics. The sheer amount of electronic and computerised bits and pieces that mechanics these days need to know about blows my mind. Keep in mind my car is 11 years old, I shudder to think what kind of knowledge you would need to work on something high-end and new.
The only real positive to come out of my car being out of action is that I get to drive Kat's 300ZX. I must say, my opinion of that car has grown over the last few days - that's not to say that I ever had a low opinion of it but, well... while there is a lot that I love about my SAAB (and I am already thinking about buying another one, when I decide to replace my current car) my love of acceleration, that no doubt makes it impossible for myself, and any other male under 25 to reasonably insure anything with a large engine or turbocharger, is quite well satiated by a 3 litre six.
The fact that the car is not mine though, means that I treat it with a lot more care and drive a lot more sensibly than I probably would if it belonged to me, which is probably a good thing. I speed enough in my own car, and while it isn't poky, a speed machine it is not. I think I will save that last point on my license for something memorable.
In other news, I am trying to contact the Finnish Military in order to get myself exempted from military service. I sent them a letter when I was eligible (had turned 18) and thought it was all done and dusted, but apparently not, so I'll have to give them a call in a few minutes to see what I need to do to avoid being drafted should I decide to set foot in the country.
On a side note, having never really had much to do with Finnish people except my mother (strangely enough), I never realised just how unbelievably sexy the Finnish accent is when they speak English.
Very hot indeed. (Well, at least the receptionist at the Military authority's is...)
The only real positive to come out of my car being out of action is that I get to drive Kat's 300ZX. I must say, my opinion of that car has grown over the last few days - that's not to say that I ever had a low opinion of it but, well... while there is a lot that I love about my SAAB (and I am already thinking about buying another one, when I decide to replace my current car) my love of acceleration, that no doubt makes it impossible for myself, and any other male under 25 to reasonably insure anything with a large engine or turbocharger, is quite well satiated by a 3 litre six.
The fact that the car is not mine though, means that I treat it with a lot more care and drive a lot more sensibly than I probably would if it belonged to me, which is probably a good thing. I speed enough in my own car, and while it isn't poky, a speed machine it is not. I think I will save that last point on my license for something memorable.
In other news, I am trying to contact the Finnish Military in order to get myself exempted from military service. I sent them a letter when I was eligible (had turned 18) and thought it was all done and dusted, but apparently not, so I'll have to give them a call in a few minutes to see what I need to do to avoid being drafted should I decide to set foot in the country.
On a side note, having never really had much to do with Finnish people except my mother (strangely enough), I never realised just how unbelievably sexy the Finnish accent is when they speak English.
Very hot indeed. (Well, at least the receptionist at the Military authority's is...)
# posted by Nils @ 7:36 PM 
