Dead Car

I embarked on the annual ritual of the MOT today.

For those of you outside the UK, an MOT is a vehicle safety/emissions test that every car has to go through once a year in order to be declared road worthy.

A mechanical trip to the doc.

It's a wonderful opportunity for mechanics to grab you by the nuts and SQUEEZE.

No MOT, no road tax (which you pay upon producing a valid MOT and costs £150)

No road tax, no insurance.

No Road Tax, no drive.

When the mechanics lock you in their little embrace, you cough up to fix whatever's wrong, realise that's just the way the scam works and get on with your life.

Its been a £300 a year ritual for me.

This time the mechanic didn't even really try.

"It'll take £400 to pass the MOT"

"Shit, £400 to be roadworthy?"

"Well no, £400 to pass the MOT.

It's going to take a hell of a lot more to be roadworthy"

He then produced 4 pages of "warnings" the most alarming of which was:

"Mechanic smells fuel but cannot determine the source of the leak" and "clear evidence of 'oil bleeding' but ascertaining cause is beyond the scope of this 2 hour check"

"Ahhh, so what should I do?"

His answer was to purse his lips and softly sound "The Last Post"

My car is dead.

R.I.P.

I need to call the DVLA tomorrow and tell them its off the road or I'll get slapped with a big fine as the computer there is probably spitting out a demand notice as I type.

Since I've been back in the UK I seem to be on a rather determined losing streak.

The quality of these posts is growing a bit suspect.

I'm fairly sure its because I'm not travelling and can't fill the pages with pics.

I'll leave you with a couple from London.

Next week I'm off again.

I hope you enjoyed this little ray of sunshine.

Love to all

T