The Car is Dead, Long Live the Car

I am not the born car driver. There are some people who seem to be integrated in their car when they drive. All the actions, the petrol (gas) tank, the sparking plugs, clutch and break seem to be part of peoples bodies, but not me. A car is something to get from a to b with. As far as I am concerned it can take longer, or quicker, it does not bother me. If I get a red light then I get one, it will turn again to green eventually. I also do not have to have the fastest car, just one that works with no problem. Unfortunately our dear old Volvo S90 began to give his last breaths. There were a few repairs to be made, that we decided it was time, after ten years, to have it replaced. My husband worked for Volvo many years so we sort of became Volvo drivers. Actually in the good old days when we both needed a car for work, he had the volvo (and was welcome to it as far as I was concerned) and I had a Fiat - over the years starting with a Fiat 127 (a sweet little car), then a Panda (also very sweet) and eventually I had my Uno for at least six years, which is a long life for a small Fiat. Afterwards I had a Brava, and then Mr. Swiss went to the eternal retirement grounds so we decided one car was enough. It was also decided the car would be the S90 Volvo. Not that I minded, driving an automatic just suited me, no stupid gears to change, just foot on the accelerator and that was that. It was just a little bit too big for my taste, but if I found two empty parking lots together (three even better) then I managed to park with no problem.

Anyhow last Friday our next car was ready to be picked up. We drove off to the garage knowing that it was the last time we would sit in our good old Volvo S90. I managed to suppress a few tears, especially as it was making strange noises from the side where one of the wheels were and the area around the bumper (now what did the car drive into to make such noise?) Nevertheless we arrived safe and sound at the garage to learn all about the next car - a Volvo V50. Something a bit lighter with the motor, and even a bit shorter. I was told it was two centimeters wider which I was not very happy about. Anyhow the garage owner was ready and waiting for us. We transferred a few odd things from the old car to the new (mostly first aid stuff - me being a first aid person) and then the garage owner told us all about the new car (in Swiss German of course). Luckily Mr. Swiss understood cars better than me as all I really wanted to know was how the car moves. Turn the key and then foot on the accelerator, the rest did not really bother me, but there were a few things with this car that were not the same as with the last car.

Eventually we drove off - well my husband drove and I sat next to him getting used to the feel of the new car. He had to bring the new summer tyres to the tyre dealer where he looks after them for us until next summer and Mr. Swiss found it would be a good idea if I drove home from the tyre center. I told him it was not a good idea as I did not really know the way so well and in a new car that would be a bit risky. Anyhow long story and discussion cut short, we eventually arrived home, Mr. Swiss driving.

Knowing that I should really learn to drive this new masterpiece I gathered my courage in both feet and hands and said I would go for a drive in the new car. Mr. Swiss was very helpful and said he would come too. I am still trying to remember if I invited him. Anyhow I decided to do the route to work, as basically this route and the one to the supermarket are the only two I ever do. Luckily I found the way ok and really did not have big problems. I found that the break and the accelerator were a bit nearer together as the other car, but by the time I had got to the place where I wanted to be I had the hang of things. Mr. Swiss did give a few instructions and advice on the way, but quite honestly I was not really listening, but sort of doing my own thing.

Eventually we arrived home safe and sound and I found, yes, I can drive this car. As I said at the beginning there are people that live in symbiosis with their cars, I don't. On the other hand I did pass my driving test the first way around (after 80 driving lessons). Ah, before I forget, here is our new car.

MULTIPLY Creative Challenge #26: Moonbeam

Once upon a time there were three cats. They lived in a small village in the country in a small ground floor apartment where they allowed Mr. and Mrs. Human to live with them. As the apartment was on the ground floor they had a nice garden and countryside where they could go for moonlight walks together. Nera was a big fat black long furred cat with big starry yellow eyes that saw everything in the dark and also during the day, although during the day she mostly slept. Then there was Tabby, Nera’s litter sister, although she did not resemble Nera. Tabby was striped like a little tiger, but had some red fur on her tummy. She was a mixture and Nera was sure they were only really half sisters. All true cats knew that mummy cat was never so serious about who the father was going to be for her kittens. It was often the fact that when the kittens were born in a litter, each one looked a little bit different to the others, according to how many fathers were involved, but that is just a cat’s life. Then there was the third cat known as Fluffy. He was not related to Nera or Tabby and came along a year later. He could trace his family back to many generations as he had a so-called pedigree and was a member of the Selkirk Rex family. Those cats all had curly fine hair, something like silk. Fluffy had some bad luck and lost his sight through an accident, but he was able to find his way around, only he could no longer go out on his own. And then came the day that it was Fluffy’s birthday.

“Nera, it seems that it is Fluffy’s birthday tomorrow. What shall we give him this year?” asked Tabby.
Nera thought a bit and said “No idea Tabby, I gave him the remainder of my tuna fish supper last year and the year before. This year he will be five years old and we should do something special.”
“You are right Nera. I gave him the remainder of my tuna fish as well last year, so I think it must be getting a bit boring. Let’s ask him what he would like.”
Nera and Tabby went over to Fluffy.
“Fluffy” they said “what would you like for your birthday this year? We would like to give something different than tuna fish.”
“It’s very nice that you ask” he answered “and there is something that I do miss quite a lot. In the olden days when I could see things properly and not just have a good sniff, I remember the moon and how it shone so brightly in the evenings especially when it was full moon. I think I would like a moon beam for my birthday, if that is not too much too ask.”
“A moonbeam?” asked Nera
“He said a moonbeam” confirmed Tabby
“Yes a moonbeam” answered Fluffy and Tabby and Nera said they would do their best and went in a corner to confer.
“How are we going to do that Nera?”
“Well tonight is full moon, but I have an idea. You know where Mrs. Human keeps her paper for typing her blogs Tabby. Do you think you could get a piece to take out this evening when we go out. You can just carry it in your mouth.”
“No problem Nera, but what do you want to do with it.”
“Don’t ask too many questions. I am the most intelligent cat here and I know what we could do.”

So that evening Tabby and Nera went out through the cat flap to their territory and Tabby took a piece of white paper with her. Eventually the came to a puddle left from the rain on the day before. Rainwater was a delicacy so Tabby decided to start drinking.
“Tabby, what are you doing with the puddle, for once leave the water where it is and have a good look at it. What do you see?” said Nera
“I see rainwater” answered Tabby.
“No you stripy feline, take another look. There is something else.”
“”Sorry Nera, but I am a bit blinded by the moonbeams reflecting in the water.”
“Exactly Tabby, that is what I mean. Now you will put your paw into the water where the moon is reflecting and then on the paper and I will do the same. So now tell me Tabby, what do we have.”
“That is easy Nera; two wet paw prints.”
“No you tabby cat we do not have two wet paw prints but we have caught two moonbeams in the reflection in the water and we will take them back to Fluffy for his birthday.”
“But, Nera”
“Nothing but Nera, Nera the boss knows what she is doing.”
And so the next morning Nera and Tabby arrived back to their home where they allowed Mr. and Mrs. Human to live and went to Fluffy to congratulate him on his birthday.
“Hello, Tabby and Nera, did you have a nice night out. Catch any mice?”
“No Fluffy not this time, but we have something else and we wish you a very happy caturday today” they both said
“So, Tabby, give me Fluffy’s present.”
And Tabby put the paper with the paw prints in front of Fluffy’s nose.
“Two moon beams, just what I wanted” said Fluffy “How wonderful of you to bring them here for me. I can smell them just as moonbeams should smell. I can smell trees and earth and flowers and worms and even mice. That is what moonbeams are made of. Thank you so much.”

Tabby and Nera retired to their beds for a sleep, but Tabby could not sleep.
“How comes Nera, that our paw prints became moonbeams.”
“You heard Tabby, the water that we put our paws in reflecting the complete atmosphere around the moonbeams and the main thing is that Fluffy was happy with his birthday present.”

I don’t know about you, but speaking as a simple human, I will never understand cats.

Creative Challenge #26: Moonbeams

The Vet, Politics and my Garden

Well I suppose the title tells all so let's start with the vet, although not so exciting.

"You can talk Mrs. Human, how would you feel if you was having a midday sleep and someone wakes you out of your tuna fish dreams and puts you in a cage" and Fluffy gave me an "if cats could kill" look.
"Fluffy I told you we had to go and see uncle doctor. It's all for the benefit of your good health. You know now and again you had some digestive problems and now he wants to check that everything is ok", although Fluffy was still glaring at me.
"That's not the point Mrs. Human, going to the vets is not in my calendar. I have my own routine and travelling in a lift down to the garage is not one of the appointments I had for today."
"But Fluffy, you seemed to be quite happy in the car and didn't make one disapproving miaow all the time. I was quite proud of you."
"I must admit a car ride is not so bad, but afterwards waiting in that vet's surgery until it was my turn was a bit degrading. There are all sorts of animals there, and they don't smell so nice either. I was glad to get into the vet's room for some peace and quiet. Although that was definitely not peaceful. First of all it stuck a needle in my back and ignored the fact that I had to jump when he did it. As if that was not enough he stuck another needle in me muttering something about more resistance and vitamins. Stupid doctor, a tin of tuna would have done the job just as well. As if not enough with degradations, he gave me an infusion and that is really not my sort of thing."
"But it is all for your own good, Fluffy" I told him.
"If you think having an infusion is fun, then I can tell you it isn't. It was only because of that infusion that I made the newspaper wet in my cage on the way home. And while we are talking, I do not like newspaper in the cage. It is so common. I prefer the cat litter, it is so much more discreet. In England you don't even wrap fish and chips up in newspaper anymore."
"OK, sorry Fluffy the next time I will put cat litter in your carry box ."
"Mrs. Human I saw you were taking some photos of the vet's parrot as well, so you should put that here just to show everyone what a nice parrot it is."
"OK, Fluffy, will do, but promise you will go to sleep afterwards."
"Am already nearly in Nirvana Mrs. Human."
And with that Fluffy made a circle, put his head down and slept. If only we humans could sleep as well as a cat.

Did I say something about politics. Well basically I try to avoid the subject of foreign politics. I like to go on about Swiss politics sometimes, but then I have to live with them and our politicians are not better than the others, although they seem to be fairly resistant. We have seven ministers, each with his own department and spread amongst the main political parties. One of them had a heart attack about a month ago, the finance minister. He had an operation for a bypass and other things and now a month later he is back at work. During his absence one of the other ministers looked after his department. We don't have a socialist, conservative, democrat or republican government, it is all mixed up. Of course what goes on in the houses of parliament is spread according to who got the most votes as in other countries (Kantonsrat). We even have a house of lords/senate or whatever you like to call it (Standerat here) and we do have a Federal system based on the American one. Anyhow America decided to go voting yesterday. Not wanting to get mixed up in who was the best and who won, let's just say they now have a president which can probably write his own speeches, which I don't think they had over the last few years, although John McCain was also probably capable of writing what he wanted to say. I decided to let America get on with it, after all it is not my government and they have to put up with it (but I am not unhappy).

And now to the garden. Yes, I have back ache, my shoulder was hurting yesterday and I felt very tired. I have just two small gardens, one at the front of the house and one at the back but they have to be put into hibernation for Winter. As we live in a rather cold climate in Winter, you can't just leave plants to get on with survival through the cold Winter months. They have to be covered up and wrapped in special warm insulating material. The Spring bulbs (daffodils and crocus this year) have to be planted and Mrs. Swiss has just taken a weeks holiday to get it all done. I am now almost finished with all, just have to get some fir tree branches tomorrow at the supermarket to cover up the remaining rose bush. I did buy some today, but they have already been used up on the two rose bushes in the front garden. I now have to protect the one in the back garden.

Mr. Swiss has made himself scarce during the garden work, although he was busy looking after the rooms indoors. Yesterday evening he was out for a rehearsal with one of his jazz groups and this evening again with another group. Yesterday I was left with a football match to watch on the television which I quite enjoyed, but this evening looks like a book evening. I am fighting my way through a book called "The Foucault Pendulum" by Umberto Eco. I don't like giving up on a book, but this one is really a bit on the difficult side (perhaps I should have bought the English version instead of the German one, but I don't think it would have made a lot of difference. Umberto Eco is a complicated author as I found in "The Name of the Rose" which I also read in German).

So that was a typical Mrs. Swiss holiday day and now I wish all my colleagues in England a happy 5th November with lots of Fireworks and bonfires and make sure you keep the cats indoors.
"Yes Mrs. Human tell the people that we cats do not like fireworks. We are frightened of the noise they make."
That was a little plea from all of my three cats.

MULTIPLY: Pictures to Words: Segments Week 2: The Tower

The tower had been there as long as anyone could remember. The first settlers in Forgotten creek arrived with a wagon train thinking that the place looked just fine for a farm. There were already a few houses and the water tower. Now if a place had a water tower, then it must be ideal for keeping a few animals and crops. The settlers soon found that it was not so ideal. It very rarely rained and the tower was mostly empty. They wondered how the original inhabitants in those two or three houses managed to survive, but they did. They were seen tending to their cattle and horses with no problem. The new settlers decided to move on. It seemed that the families already there had enough for themselves and nothing to spare. It was also strange that they almost all looked the same. Must be some sort of reoccurring inheritance features. They all had dark brown hair and blue eyes. So life went on in this isolated place until the other towns started breaking their limits and civilisation did arrive in Forgotten creek. This time there was no problem with the water supply as pipes were laid leading from the other big towns; there was plenty of water for everyone. That no water entered the tower did not seem strange to anyone. The tower had always been there and no-one cared; there was water to go around for all. In the meanwhile the town was called Tower Creek as it was no longer a forgotten place.

Joe looked out of his window towards the tower. He lived in the block opposite and it was more than a tower to him. It was a mark on the landscape. His wife Christine was preparing lunch.
“Joe, is the tower still there?” she asked and laughed a bit.
“Are you making fun of me woman, of course it is and it will be staying there for some time.”
Christine knew how much Joe was concerned with the tower. It was an important part of his life, and of Christine’s as well. Indeed for many families living in Tower Creek and the surroundings it had become a symbol of their existence. Suddenly the door opened and their daughter Pamela entered the room.
“Hey mum there is a dance at the school on Saturday evening and David asked me to go with him.”
“Doesn’t come into the question” spoke her father.
“But dad you know David and he is my boyfriend. All the other girls in the class are going as well.”
“David is a fine boy Pamela, but on Saturday we are going on a journey and you should be home on Saturday evening.”
“What sort of journey, dad? That’s new to me – do you mind explaining?”
“There is nothing to explain Pamela – we are going away on Saturday – those are my last words.”
Pamela was a bit mixed up. This was the first her father mentioned about a journey. She decided to change the conversation topic and ask her mother when she was on her own with her. Mothers tend to have more understanding for their daughters than fathers.

“Mum how come I can’t go to the dance on Saturday. All my friends will be going and David and I are so looking forward to it.”
“Pamela this time I must agree with your father. On Saturday we have an important journey to make and we have to prepare for it. It is important that you are at home on Saturday.
“What’s so important mum?”
“Well if you must know we will be visiting your father’s family for a while. They live so far away and we decided it was time for you to get to know them. It will be a long journey and we cannot postpone it.”
“I didn’t know that dad had a family. He never mentioned them before.”
“Oh yes, Pamela, he has a large family and the time has now come for us to pay a visit. The last time they saw you was fifteen years ago when you were a baby.”

That evening Pamela called David on the phone and told him that there was no chance of going to the dance on Saturday as she had to visit her family. David was disappointed but would do anything for Pamela and so he decided he would not go. Going with someone else would not be such fun. He was truly in love with Pamela and Pamela’s feelings were the same for him.

Friday evening arrived and Pamela noticed that her parents had been acting a bit strange all day. He father was frequently looking out of the window and her mother was busy sorting some clothing she had decided to take with her. There was a knock on the door and Pamela opened the door. It was David.

“Hi Pamela, can I come in?”
“Of course David, although my parents seem to be busy getting ready for the journey tomorrow.”
“Who’s there Pamela?” called her father. “Oh, hello David, I though Pamela told you we would be going away for some time and now she has not got the time to talk.”
“Sorry, but I just wanted to say goodbye to her before she goes.”
“OK David then come in for a few minutes.” So David went to Pamela’s room.”
“I will miss you” said David, “but I am sure you will soon be back.”
“I am not so sure David, my parents seem to be preparing for a long journey.”
“Yes it is a long journey” and Pamela’s mother entered the room “and now David it would be better if you left.”
Pamela and David hugged each other and they both felt they would no longer see each other any more.

That evening Pamela went to bed, but she could not sleep. She went to the kitchen for a glass of water and saw her father leaving their apartment. She found it strange that he would leave at midnight, so she decided to follow him. Her mother was sleeping in the bedroom. She put her coat and shoes on and left. She was a few yards behind her father but saw he was making for the tower. He then started climbing the steps up to the tower. This seemed strange to her so she followed. Her father eventually reached a door hidden behind the advertising panel attached to the front of the tower’s surrounding metal frame and she was now really curious.

She decided to see what was so interesting in an old water tower that had not been used for many years and followed her father through the door. Imagine her surprise when she saw what was there. Inside it resembled an aeroplane but everything was tilted. There were rows of seats. If you sat down in one you would be looking towards the top of the tower, but it was no longer a tower. At the front there was a cabin that her father had entered. She decided she had seen enough and was going to leave when her father called her.

“Pamela, I know you have followed me, so now I will do some explaining. Many years ago our people landed on earth from another solar system. We found that we could exist in the atmosphere and decided to colonize the planet. “
“Sorry, dad, but I don’t understand. This sounds like a science fiction film to me. Are you sure you are feeling ok.”
“Pamela, look around you, does this look like a water tower? Of course not, it is our spaceship. Tomorrow Saturday at midnight we will leave earth for our own planet. Our time has run out on earth, and we will return.”

“Dad, supposing this is all true, people are going to miss the water tower on Sunday.”
“Pamela, this is all planned. As we leave earth our successors will arrive in their ship and land exactly where we are.”
“But dad, there are far too many seats in this ship for just us.”
“Pamela, we are not the only ones here” and her mother appeared at the door. “Just look around. How many earthlings have blue eyes and brown hair? This is rare, but you have the signs and also your father and myself. Have you never noticed how we all have blue eyes and brown hair. Something very rare amongst the earthlings. Tomorrow this ship will be full of such beings as we are, returning home after staying fifteen years on this planet.”
“Mum, what about David. Will I see him again?”
“I very much doubt it Pamela” her father answered “David is an earthling and he does not belong to our planet.”
“Then I will stay here on earth. I do not want to come back to a planet I don’t even remember.”
Pamela decided to run away but could not, she felt a strange force pulling her back.
“Dad, are you doing that, I can’t move.”
“It is for your own good Pamela, you would be sad amongst these Earthlings. Tomorrow you will come home to our planet. There are many young men there.”
“Listen to your father Pamela. We are serious, your father has not used the force for many years but that was what you felt when you tried to run away.”
“And now leave me, Pamela. I must check on the engines that everything is in proper working order and make contact with our planet by radio.”

Pamela and her mother returned to their apartment, but Pamela could not sleep. She then rang David on her mobile telephone and told him what was to happen on Saturday. David laughed at first, finding it the joke of the year, but soon realised that Pamela was serious and was not making up a story.

The next day on Saturday, the time had come to go. Pamela and her parents entered the ship parked at the water tower. It was late in the evening. Many others were arriving, all looking similar with their brown hair and blue eyes. They soon took their places in the spaceship. A young man was sitting next to Pamela and introduced himself as one of the colonist’s sons. He was travelling alone as his parents had lost their lives in a traffic accident some time before.

Suddenly the engines roared to life and they took off. Pamela watched the earth disappear from the window and saw a spaceship the same size and form as theirs landing at the water tower, taking their place.

She no longer felt sad, although her father and mother were looking a bit worried. Who is that sitting next to you Pamela on his own? They asked.
“I don’t know dad, but he said that he was on his own as his parents had lost their lives on earth in a car accident.”

Joe and Christine exchanged glances and put their heads together.
“What are we going to do Joe?”
“No idea Christine – but it seems that we have a stowaway on board.”
Joe and Christine had forgotten to tell Pamela that their race was blessed with eternal life. So it seems that Christine had managed to get her David on board with them. He had brown hair, but the coloured contact lens managed to hide the colour of his brown eyes. What Joe and Christine also did not know was that the first mixed relationship had taken place and Pamela would be giving birth to the first result of an earthling-alien child.

Pictures to Words: Segments Week 2: The Tower

MULTIPLY: Poetry Posse: Week 6: Frustration

When I was small and not so tall
I wanted to ride a bike
No problem was there, I wanted to dare
With three wheels I had a trike

Over stone and edge and through the hedge
I had no problem but
I was three years been and I was the queen
until I fell on my butt

I had a new rule to go to school
and walked along the path
my friends were faster they were the master
I began to feel some wrath

The trike was gone, I wasn”t dead on
the others had two wheels
No problem I thought, a bike must be bought
The beginning of my ills.

I tried and tried, and often cried
Two wheels were not my thing
I kept falling down, I hurt my crown
I did not want to sing

The years went past, I was still downcast
I felt completely distraught
I tried to learn, it was a turn
for the worst and I was caught.

Today I am old, this story I told
To show life’s different stations
a two wheeler was lost, thought nought of the cost
Just one of life’s frustrations.