Windscreen, Washing Machine, Fridge

There's a man outside in my carport right now fitting a new windscreen to my Kangoo. A week or so before Christmas I was driving in Gembrook when a stone flicked up from a tray tray truck coming the other way and there was the dreaded smacking sound of stone hitting glass. At the time, without stopping, I couldn't see where the stone hit and I thought to myself "Phew, that was lucky," thankful I was travelling at a slow speed.

I forgot all about it until a week later when Gord, as a passenger, pointed out a fracture at the top of the screen, a ding now bigger than the 10 cent piece, too big therefore I believed to be repaired by the repair glue technique. Just before Xmas I had occasion to speak with my vehicle insurance co. about another matter...adding roadside assistance to Lib's car...and I asked them had I added no excess windscreen cover when I renewed as I had vague recollection that I had. Yes they told me so, I told them about the ding and they said it would be fine if I made a claim after the Christmas break.

Into January the crack grew slowly from the ding to be about 6 inches long so I rang Real Insurance and made a claim on Monday. Within half an hour I had a phone call from National Windscreens and we organised to get the job done today, being the first chance I felt I had to not be using the car for a time. He's finished already, doing the job in less than half an hour and told me not to drive for an hour or so. I'll leave it for at least two as I'm enjoying a bit of quiet time.

I have had my vehicles insured with Real for a few years now, and so has Gord and Jod on my recommendation. In 2015 Gord made a claim on hi Skoda, in 2016 Lib hit the kangaroo and we claimed on the Hyundai, and now I have claimed for the windscreen. In every instance Real have been courteous and efficient and always pleasant to deal with. I put my roadside assist with them also as in was cheaper than RACV. I have not needed this service yet, nor have I needed to test them on house insurance claim. I switched this to them also because of their lower premium, which is why I switched the cars to them in the first place.

On new year's eve Gord and I went to Good Guys in Narre Warren where I bought a new washing machine. The old one had started up a terrible groaning noise as it pumped water out and my repair man had a recorded message saying he was on his Christmas break till 7 January. The old one was purchased in 2004 so I figured it would be best option to buy a new one for $700 than wait and pay perhaps $300 repairing the old. Gord had done some research on the internet and found an LG on special. So far so good it's working a treat and is quieter and more efficient.

While in Good Guys we looked at fridges and liked the look of an LG fridge freezer of similar size to the one at home which ex neighbours Steve and Anne gave us when they moved three years ago. When I got home I saw the old fridge rating was 987 kw per year while the LG was 299. So after getting agreement from Lib, she and I went down to Good Guys Pakenham and bought one on New Years Day after Gord's research showed they had one there. It's nice to have new stuff.

I had a good semi rest between Xmas and New Year. We have been busy since and I've made good progress on the grass, I've started gathering firewood for winter, and yesterday even started on the blackberry control.

I'm hoping for a pleasant 2017 in good health. To quote the sales pitch of LG, "Life's Good." I wish the same to all my friends and readers scattered about Australia and abroad.

I have more interesting things than windscreens, washing machines and fridges to write about in the near future, it's just a matter of quiet time to do it.

 May God be with you.