Financially speaking, it's been a rough few months for me. My partner and I
failed to factor in the expenses of two lots of insurances and what are known
here as "local body rates" for two properties, when we arranged a mortgage
for the house we are living in. Her property in the country didn't sell, and
only
fairly recently have we changed tack for a while and managed to get good
paying tenants in there. Which has improved things.
For about 4 months I have had both my vehicles off the road because I
couldn't afford to pay the registration (road tax) or the warrant of fitness,
or
for the diesel, the distance charges. So I have until quite recently not been
able to get out and about as I once did.
I managed to get myself to Christchurch and rescue my Peugeot 404 for
sale; then more recently I have the Range Rover completely road-legal
again.
With the advent of snow on the roads, the "authorities" are constantly
exhorting people to stay off the roads unless travel is absolutely essential,
and back this up with a $500 fine if you drive on a road closed due to snow,
and a $150 fine if they say chains MUST be fitted and you don't.
All this stuff has made me into a kind of mental wooss; until I realised that
when I was in my 20's and with my beloved VW Beetle which would go
ANYWHERE, when I wanted to go skiing and had to travel on icy &/or
snowy roads, I got in it, had chains with me, and WENT. I *knew* how to
cope with those roads, and the car was very capable. And I bought the RR
for the self-same reason, in part.
So yesterday, I got in the RR, switched on my old road savvy, and went out
with cameras, regardless of what they said. And I found that the conditions
were not as bad as suggested.. :-)
Brian Swale.
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