Return of the Stonehead Curse

[Stonehead]

Yes, things are breaking again.

On Sunday, the TV started blinking. No great loss, but useful for diverting children occasionally when under pressure to get jobs done.

On Monday, the food processor broke. This is a bit more serious at this time of year as we have so many chutneys, pickles, jams and preserves to make. Still, I can chop, dice, slice and grate fairly fast.

Today, the OH's Discovery threw a piston and it looks terminal. This is serious - she now needs my car for work, that means no more playgroup for the Wee Lad and no transport for me. Oh, and we were picking up the pork today, too (don't worry, that's already sorted and going in the freezer now). Oh, and we have no money for a replacement car so I guess I will be walking my pigs to the abattoir!

Of course, that all jeapordises our chances of getting a pedigree boar again. We had another one lined up to collect in the next fortnight (the fourth!), but now we'll probably need the money for other things.

Anyway, must dash as I've got to get things moving but I couldn't resist posting about the Stonehead Curse striking again.

[Chickpea]

Bad luck, Stoney. Cars seem to have a way of knowing when you've just saved enough money for something you really want, and always seem to develop an expensive fault at exactly the wrong time. One time I got a bonus at work and my colleagues didn't understand why I groaned. It was because whenever I come into a little money my car inevitably breaks down.

[Boots]

Welcome to the discomfort zone. Usually kicks in about 18 months into living the dream and will only last as long as you let yourself sink into it. May pop back occaisionally too. Just gotta remind yourself you surrendered the convenience of city living and consumerised ease of existence when you decided to step out of the comfort zone. It is now gone, and for all the right reasons. Those reasons, your reasons - that don't matter squat to anyone else - mean the difference between your success or failure.

No-one abandons the comforts of city life without realising they are up for a challenge or two... or a hundred. Only the bravehearted will ever take that step. You have the heart to continue finding solutions, Stoney. You are made of the right stuff.

Everything that can go wrong, will go wrong, but we can't waste time counting them up. We face our own limitations every day and push them to the absolute limit. Hang in there mate. Life isn't harder, just different.

Big Hugs from across the sea.

[Stonehead]

Welcome to the discomfort zone. Usually kicks in about 18 months into living the dream and will only last as long as you let yourself sink into it.

We've had the discomfort zone for three years and it's not about allowing ourselves to sink into it. S*** happens!

I'm not going to do the whole list now but the latest lot follows on from the water shortage, the broken borehole pump, the broken central heating pump, the broken washing machine (twice), the broken cars (fixable on previous occasions), the broken trailer, the broken freezer, etc etc etc.

It's quite funny as we were "sensible" before taking on the croft and budgeted for several years worth of things to fix and maintain before our income rose a bit to allow us to save again. We also budgeted for capital improvements in the place. We also put aside emergency funds. We've had to spend the lot to cover unforseeable breakdowns and breakages!

And definitely unforseeable - the OH's Discovery had a lot of work done to it a month ago to see it through the MoT and another winter. Our mechanic, who's very good, checked it over thoroughly and found a couple of extra things we hadn't spotted. We either had him do the work or I did it myself.

And what happens? It decides to throw a piston at 130,000 miles - that's something you can't usually spot coming on an engine that is usually good for 200,000 miles and is well maintained and serviced.

Anyway, back to work.

[baldowrie]

I can indeed confirm the presence of the Stonehead curse..I am now immune, I HOPE!!!

First visit to his place my car on the way home got very low on oil and the warning light came on..5 ltrs of oil were need to return it to normal

Now there were/are no leaks no drips and even on a service nothing wrong was found. The oil has not got low since, even though I have visited since.

It's the Stone circles I think!

[Shirley]

Sorry to hear about the car troubles - if there is anything we can do to help please just ask!!!!!!

I know just how hard it is to be without a car - I've got one now but it's not particularly good. It didn't start the other day... the boot doesn't stay open and thus is pretty useless for me because I can't hold it open (too heavy) while sticking stuff in... and it makes some very strange noises.... It's got a high mileage too. Still... it is better than nothing.

Stoney - are there any parents locally that would pick up the Wee Lad and take him to and from nursery for you??

[bazil]

you could keep something long and resiliant in the boot to hold it open

a stick of some sort for example like a walking pole?

[Shirley]

yeah bazil - I'll have to find something. When at home we use a huge piece of wood - it's a hatchback so it's pretty heavy actually

[red]

bugger. hope things swing the other way for you soon

[albert onglebod]

Golly bad luck stonehead. Can you not find a replacement engine?
A few years ago (well about 18) our engine died and OH did a search for a second hand replacement using some sort of phone through hotline. We had to get FIL to fetch it in his car and a garage mechanic put it in but at least we had a working car again at the end of it all.

[Stonehead]

Golly bad luck stonehead. Can you not find a replacement engine?
A few years ago (well about 18) our engine died and OH did a search for a second hand replacement using some sort of phone through hotline. We had to get FIL to fetch it in his car and a garage mechanic put it in but at least we had a working car again at the end of it all.

Cheapest recon engine is £1200; cheapest short, non-recon so far, £900. Land Rover 200 and 300 Tdi engines are not cheap, which is why old Landies get stolen - they're worth more as parts.

We've done a bit of work on the Disco, but not enough to justify a replacement engine. Also on the list to be done were a new rear floor pan, new bushes, dampers and springs, and replacement door lock. All too expensive, so on hold.

Add the engine as well and we don't see much point in spending around £1800-2000 on a car worth £1500-1800. Especially when we don't have that sort of money anyway.

To add insult to injury, the mechanic has just sold his old diesel Volvo. Good runner, year's MoT and solid - for £50! He's going to keep his ear to the ground to see if he can find anything similar.

[bwaymark]

shit-damn Stonehead! That sucks where your car breaks down and you have no money to fix it! Been in the same situation too many times myself.... hope something comes up! Chin up! Keep the Faith! :-)

[Stonehead]

After being near-missed on our planned trek into town, I managed to hitch a ride with a neighbour.

The Wee 'Un and I did our shopping and then walked home (about 2.2 miles). As we were walking up the last section of road, the school janitor pulled up in his car. He's a farmer's son-in-law and his family are penurious too.

T popped his head out the window and said "I hear your car's gone tits up. You can have mine if you like."

I was a bit dumbfounded, so T explained that he'd just been given a Clio diesel that was slightly newer than his M-reg Escort so he thought we should have the Escort - free.

He said he'd drop it off in a fortnight's time, do the paperwork and then we'd have wheels again. The MoT expires around then, but it's been maintained by the same mechanic we use and only needs a hundred quid or so spent on it.

Brilliant bloke or what! As T said "poor folks have to look after each other".

[Stonehead]

And I've just received an email from one of the families who buy our pork offering me a mountain bike that their son used to use - again free.

How fantastic is that!

[Shirley]

hoorah!!!!! That's brill Stoney...