‘Not good….’
OK peeps, I know I’ve been outta de loop again, and no apologies ’cause I just haven’t had time to devote to this. It is an overcast Monday morning and a nice cool breeze is blowing….really not ‘get up and go to work’ weather…but anyway. I have a likkle personal stuff to share.
A week ago I had noticed that the Integra (my cyar) was just not herself performance wise. In fact, it seemed she was losing power. That got really bad driving home one night to the point where I thought the vehicle felt more like a lawnmower. By the time I made it home (and was kinda glad seh it never bruck down wid me pon road a night time…) the engine was overheating and I heard a hissing sound. 
Crosses! Anyway, fly de bonnett and me see seh a hose buss! Ok, a next trip to mechanic is due. Managed to drive it down to my yute the following Monday for them to diagnose what a gwaan.
Later that evening while my colleague/sistren Diana is giving me a lift home, the cell rings. It is the receptionist from the garage. “Doc….the news is not great about the car. The engine is NOT GOOD!” Of course, instantly me get a headache. “How you mean engine not good. What the rass you saying to me??!!” Eventually my yute (the mechanic) explains what a gwaan. Cyar needs pistons, needs ’sleeve’……yadda, yadda, yadda. In short, the Integra has lost its integrity and I essentially need an engine! Told Diana what was happening and she shared my anger/sorrow. Being in the company of a good lady I had to curb myself, as what I had really wanted to say would not have been polite around her. Eventually, she dropped me home, I offered her some guavas from the tree and a chilled bottle of 35 South….(Chardonnay left over from the baptism/birthday bashment) of last month. Got into the house and gave Daddy the news. He was in shock and disbelief as well. I mean, shyte, is a 1998 vehicle we talking ’bout. The tension headache continued. I swallowed two Panadol before my dinner. The analgesics helped a bit, but still, I was not happy a rass. I shouted a bredrin…(one of mi Friday crew). “Whappen my yute?” “Bwoy, how you stay tonight? I need to sit and drink some lika while me let off some claat!” He arrived about an hour later, I offered him some stew peas for dinner which he killed. Eventually he was given the effry news over VX number one. He too could not believe and joined me in my sale of fabrics of all colours. Eventually, some two to three drinks later we both got a buzz and I got over the shock. After all, is jus a peice o ‘ole iron. It can be replaced. I am not sick and I can still work. Phuck it, shyte happens in this life. When I think of a yute that I met in the hospital at work ’bout two weeks back, I will stick with my owna problems.
Long and short of it, is that I am now on a quest to replace the vehicle. I am looking at a ‘03 Honda Accord which should cost about $1.65 Mill. Have the down payment, but am fishing around for a loan….whichever bank can give me the best deal. You may wonder why I am not buying suppem brand new. Well, that’s cause I have no 20% Duty Concession…you only get dat rass if you have three year contract. I man hold one year renewables….anodda sore point, but let’s not go there. Furthermore, I not ‘mortgaging’ any cyar. So, vehicle is to be ordered from Japan this week and hopefully by end of November I should be outta de worries. In the meantime, thanks be to my cousin Sprigadee and her hubby (as well as the good Lord), I have been loaned their ’spare’ vehicle. It is a fifteen year old Toyota Mark II. It drives and blow AC which right now is better than what I have. And, it naw cost me nutten but gas. This is what happens when you live good wid you peeps. I’m sure if we were warring, no such offer would have been made.
So despite the title here, all is not necessarily ‘not good’. I jus haffi do wah me haffi do. So, in a few I go hit the boyz room to go thru the S routine. BTW, it may be anodda while before I lick a next scribble here. October is going to be busy. I travel to Bim at the end of the month for conference. Brushing up on my talk and I’ll be giving up the post of Secretary…time for someone else to manage that grind……and its not the type o grind that makes you breathe deeply and curl your toes…if you get de drift! 
So, off I am. BTW, any of you out there who wish to drop a smalls towards cyar purchase/repair, feel free. No reasonable offer will be refused. As they say, ‘every mickle mek a muckle….or one one coco full basket.’ You have a productive and enjoyable week without any news of things that are ‘not good’!
October 2nd, 2006 at 10:33 am Hush Doc…but in your profession you should know that even new born babies sometimes die. such it is with cars as well. Damaged engine can happen the day you drive a brand new car out of the showroom.
October 2nd, 2006 at 12:25 pm My yute, you can get a “brand new second hand” engine for not too much money. Some of those Honda import places down the Waltham had some pretty good deals when I was there. I was toying with the idea of getting a 2200 Prelude engine for the Civic we had. Anyway, check them out. Even if you not keeping the car, a sprightly engine will get you a better sale price.
October 2nd, 2006 at 1:18 pm It always sucks when there is car trouble. Jus mek yu feel discombobulated (nuh know if is soh it spell). That’s why I didn’t sell my old car when I got my present ride. People were saying we just too hype but we know the inconvenience of not having a vehicle to drive around so we kept it as a spare. There are some good loans out there, FCIB & RBTT have good deals. Check them out.
October 2nd, 2006 at 2:38 pm Well, cars wern’t made to last forever. I thought you sid you were going to buy a new ride some time ago, well I guess the Integra decided to put to an end all the deliberations. I’m glad you got a borrows till the new ride, cause being without a ride is awful!
October 2nd, 2006 at 5:25 pm
October 2nd, 2006 at 6:15 pm ok,the repairs are on me once you figure out how to get it to SVG
October 2nd, 2006 at 6:36 pm Cheers 2 Sprigadee & her hubby 4 de sisterly & brotherly luv. Mi wi put on mi overalls & join Kami inna de garage:)
October 2nd, 2006 at 10:01 pm Spoke with the lady at FCIB this afternoon on de phone….sounded pretty personable and they do have a ’special’ on…and rates and terms better dan NCB…I think I goin wid dem. Cyar order aready!
October 3rd, 2006 at 7:29 am Nice, so you’ll have a crissas come xmas. So why didn’t you just find a vehicle that’s already here? Didn’t you like anything that you saw at the used car dealers?
October 3rd, 2006 at 8:32 am Gela, I had decided on the type of cyar long time. I sticking with my dealer….his wife is a colleague, and he doesn’t normally keep Accords on his lot. Says its too prcey to have them bought and sitting down with no takers. basically I sticking with what I know. I bought my previous car from him as well. Perhaps I being cautious and staying within a comfort zone…but that’s how I tend to be anyway…..have most of the stuff ready to present to the bank…just some photocopying to do.
October 3rd, 2006 at 9:16 am Kinda agree with you here Doc. At least if something not going right you have the co-worker aspect to fall back on.
October 3rd, 2006 at 10:34 am There are always warning signs! Yuh neva hear de car a pop down? Feeling your pain though. If anything happenend to my car right now. I would just die! Mi wouldn’t have no money to fix it!
October 3rd, 2006 at 9:20 pm This car, is the second time it give trouble, nuh? Hope the new car treat you well.