June 20, 2009
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Lessons of Love
It was my own fault – and I should, at my tender age, have known better. But Rob usually learns the hard way – if indeed at all. So I was commenting about how good the Suzuki is, and how it had not needed to be in the work shop for months. All this though whilst at the same time contemplating very seriously the procurement of a 600cc GSX. 30% more expensive than the Kawasaki I like, it is a pip of a machine, matched only by my desire to actually own one. Given my recent good fortune in obtaining a job which pays me real cash money, the time is right for this investment, if that is the correct terminology for it.
And when the lao ban from the motorcycle mechanic called me to let me know he had found something, and needed me to being in some documents, that was essentially the end of the line for the Skywave. It had had enough. Like a jealous woman, accusing her husband of infidelity, it was angry. At a red light it decided to become noisy, the newly changed exhaust just suddenly becoming a barrage of ugly sound, as if I was the Le Mans 24 hour race all on my own.
I made it to the office, but was not too keen on my chances of making it home that evening after work. Should I chance it? I decided I would, and so in a manner that would make Lewis Hamilton look fast, I slowly made my way home, more noticeable than someone doing a rather loud fart in church. Pbbbb.
I was not going to chance anything the next morning, so I called up the lao ban and asked him to collect the bike from my home the next day, whilst I took a taxi to work. The joys of cheap public transport in Taiwan make even a 20 km drive to the office nothing more than a small dent in the finances. By the evening I had received a call from the mechanic saying come and collect the bike – it’s ready. Nice one. Hardly cost me a bean as well.
It was my own fault – and I should, at my tender age, have known better. But Rob usually learns the hard way – if indeed at all. So I was still mourning the kitty, and really not in the mood to have any more cats, not just yet, when I saw, in one of the offices next to ours, 2 kittens in a cage, being fed. Not being able to resist, I had a look, and the lady who was feeding them asked me if I wanted to hold one. Well, holding one wouldn’t harm, so I said sure. And then I had to hold the other one too. And then she asked if I wanted one, and I said could I have both, and the deal was sealed.
Grace and Halle are now seriously messing up my sleeping habits and my apartment. After 9 days of being very wary of me Halle – the Ginger one – climbed up the back of my chair and slipped in to my lap. So I gave her a cuddle, and – much to her surprise – she liked it. In fact, she liked it so much, she purred for the first time.
Grace needed a few more days to get in to such an affectionate state, whilst Halle just gets more and more cuddly. I miss Kahukura so much, more and more, but these two babies fill some of the huge gap that was left behind.
It was my own fault – and I should, at my tender age, have known better. But Rob usually learns the hard way – if indeed at all. Commenting about how long it had been since I had received a speeding ticket, I got home one evening to find a familiar envelope waiting for me, with a photo of me, and my bike, tonking along. Usually a fine of $1400 - $1600 (Taiwan dollars!), I was not ready for the bashing my bank account was about to take.
Having been caught on camera doing 111km/h in a 50 limit, I was not exactly the happiest of campers to find that my fine was a whopping NT$8000. That will stop me from speeding that fast again. At last the Taiwanese government has done something to stop the mega amounts of dangerous racing by making the fines hurt.
I tried to pay the bill. I went to the OK mart, which is where it says I can pay, but they said I had to go to the police. So I went to the police but they said I had to go to the post office. I went to the post office, and they just refused flat down to take my money. So I called up the number on the envelope, but no one wanted to talk to me. When I finally got through to someone, the guy said that he would call back later.
“When later?” I asked.
“Huh?” the rude, bin lang chewing tosser said.
“What time will you call?”
“2”
He still has not called. As I have made 5 very valid attempts to pay this fine, I will now no longer do anything. I have done what I can to pay, but the Taiwanese government seems not to want my money. Thankfully I got flashed again this morning on the way in to the office, so another fine will come to my home soon, a much more affordable one which is payable at the 7-Eleven. Now that’s much more convenient.
