If you have been kind enough to be reading my column over the past few weeks, I will refer you back to the saga of Old Mate running into a retaining wall.
She crushed the front of her car, but not realising the damage she had done, she didn’t even get out to inspect it.
So, last week, her beautiful little Toyota Corolla Cross went into the car hospital to get repaired – which left me with the small problem of finding her a vehicle.
Now, the panel shop did offer to lend her a car, but I was a little worried about any more retaining walls jumping out in front of her. I declined the offer.
The plan I came up with was to use her old car: a 2014 Ford Focus, which was sitting in front of the eldest son’s unit (where it has been since he got the car he wanted for work and play).
Now, he was the last person to drive it and he is well over 6ft (183cm). When I got in it, I just moved the seat forward and thought it was good to go.
Do you have an opinion to share? Submit a Letter to the Editor at Sunshine Coast News via news@sunshinecoastnews.com.au. You must include your name and suburb.
I gave it a wash and a vacuum and took it for spin around the block. I marvelled at how well it still drove and was comfortable in handing it over to Old Mate for a week or so.
I went to work the next morning and didn’t really give it another thought until I got home, shortly followed by Old Mate, who had been volunteering at an aged care facility that has an aviary she looks after.
Now, as we get older, we seem to shrink somewhat: in my case, not around the guts but height-wise.
Old Mate is no exception to the height thing, either. She has not driven this car for about three years. She had forgotten how to adjust the height of the seat. She could move it forward but not up.
As it happened, she drove off on her errand and could barely see over the steering wheel. Amazingly, she did the trip there and back like that, which was very stressful. Thankfully, no retaining walls jumped out in front of her.
She was going on about maybe sitting on a cushion to see – until I showed her how to adjust the seat. Of course, this was my fault because I hadn’t adjusted the seat for her when I handed it over. Begrudgingly, I had to agree with her.
Old age has its downfalls. Height and memory lost the battle on this occasion. I must say, she might be short but her attitude is 6ft.
Ashley Robinson is Metropolitan Caloundra Surf Club CEO, chairman of Thunder Netball and a lifetime Sunshine Coast resident.
