Hmm. Mixed news today!
School hols draw to a close..do I feel accomplished? Yes. I got a lot done this holiday!
- We now have a blue bathroom, not a green one. That’s much nicer.
- I’ve serviced the car, serviced the autobox, and got things just right with it.
- I’ve got a new PC
- All work stuff is done
Add to that we now have a new addition to Flat 6.. a small, black furry 13 week old cat called Hex. Who has just done the “vanishing act” he’s so good at. Far too much “post sleep” energy.
The downside of this holiday? Until last week, there wasn’t one. Then I came out to my car, in our private “residents only” car park. First I saw papers on the ground..and thought “bloody litter”. Then I saw some other things, and realised they were mine.
One boot print in the car door, and one very bent door were next on my “notice” list. I started to feel sick. Some SHITHEAD had bent the door, got into the car, smashed the cowl off the ignition and forced the steering lock/ignition switch..so not only emptying the car out, but trying to nick the bloody thing!!
Here’s a pic: My car, all bent in..
Luckily, they seemed to have abandoned the attempt. Looks like the Vauxhall Immobiliser saved the car. I don’t know what I’d have done if they’d succeeded in driving it away..if it had hit someone or whatever..well..
So I spent a day waiting for the police, who came and processed it. Then we spent 3 days getting parts together for a repair..sigh..
The door was fixed easily, the ignition lock had to be replaced, and the column may be twisted a little..but it’s a bugger to get to, so it can wait a while. It’s driveable. Vauxhall wanted £485 for a new column, and an additional £100 to cut me a new ignition lock to match my keys.
£585 is not an amount I could justify spending on a 2 year old car that cost me £1800 back then..but Shropvaux in Shifnal came to the rescue with an entire steering column, plus ignition lock, 2 “chip in key” immobiliser ignition keys and an entire set of new locks for the doors and boot for..wait for it…£35!!
All it took was opening the new and old keys up and swapping the code chip in them, than changing the ignition barrel…40 minutes tops, and I had new keys and a working steering lock again. I’ve since backed the immobiliser up with an alarm, and another method of vehicle immobilisation I’m not going to disclose. I’ve still got to refit a new cowl and other bits to the inside, and at some point change the inner steering shaft, but..it’ll keep.
Since then, there have been several car related breakins…3 of which were our neighbours cars..2 SAABs and a Focus. It seems several others in the Ironbridge area have also been targetted. Worrying..