A fool and his money are easily parted ...

There is one thing in this life of which we can all be certain … as soon as Hubby goes away … something will go wrong.

I mean Murphy wrote a whole law about it.

No sooner had Hubby jumped on a plane and headed off out of the state than I smelt an ominous burning odour emitting alarmingly from under the hood of the car.

Whatever should I do, I wondered.  So I rang Hubby.  Cause that's what you do …. even when they happen to be a thousand kilometres away.

Now don't misunderstand me … Hubby is NO mechanic … Hubby wouldn't be able to fix the problem … heck Hubby wouldn't have the foggiest idea what the problem even was … but a) a problem shared is a problem halved and b) he can at least advise me on how to open the bonnet and c) he does an exemplary job of phoning the mechanic … no matter what state of Australia he happens to be in.

On a side note, are you one of those folk that open the hood when you are having problems with your car … and intensely inspect that enginey thingamajig inside … hoping that it's going to hold up a sign telling you what's wrong with it … cause I am.  After Hubby tells me how to open the hood that is.

But back to the matter at hand … at this point Hubby and I earnestly discussed the issue.  We decided that under no circumstances should I attempt to drive the vehicle.  Upon his return Hubby would organise to have it towed to the nearest mechanic … and we'd go from there.

So come Thursday morning Hubby was back … and it was time to get that car to the vehicular surgeon.

Feeling extraordinarily brave … and a little bit cheap … Hubby decided to take a chance and drive it
to the auto shop … given it was only a few kilometres away.  I followed behind in Hubby's car … at a safe distance of course … after all I didn't think it was fair to leave the children orphans if there happened to be a grisly explosion.  I made sure Hubby's life insurance was up to date before hand … I mean you just can't take any unnecessary risks now can you.

Thankfully we arrived without incident.

"So, did you smell it?" I queried.

But he hadn't.

We decided this was due to the car being cold … because we are very clever, mechanically minded, logical people.

So Hubby took it in and requested the works … a full and total overhaul, service and investigation.  No stone was to be left unturned … or gasket unplugged  … or filter uncarborated … or whatever.

At the end of the day we returned to pick it up.  We eagerly awaited the dramatic results.  What disaster had I narrowly escaped?  Just how many seconds had I been from certain death in a fiery carnage?

Hubby was presented with the account … the total was just shy of $400.  They had serviced and tuned, replaced filters and spark plugs.  They had rotated tyres, filled things with fluid, nipped and tucked.  I'm pretty sure she had a full facial and body massage.  But most importantly of all … they found the source of the acrid aroma.

A plastic shopping bag caught around the cat converter!

Sooo …. ummmm … better to be safe than sorry … right? … Hubby? ... right?????