My car headlight bulb was broken. Out. (Just as well I had a spare set in the car.) I noticed it last night after carols, so I went to a friend this morning and asked if he could fix it for me sometime today. Of course he said yes. Only, he and his family had loads to do and we were running out of daylight, so, in the pouring rain, I opened the bonnet of the car, yelled for David to bring a torch and a large umbrella, and, with the aid of the instruction book for the car, I took the light bulb out. Then discovered it was the WRONG one.
Heaven knows who designed the lights for cars, and the contraptions holding them in. And the pile of other mechanical whatsits in the way so my tiny delicate hands can't begin to work properly in the space available.
There was much muttering and dramatic sighing. Not to mention fiddling in the bowels of the engine.
And a few choice words directed towards the sky and the man who USED to be around to do these things.
I should not know how to change halogen light bulbs in my car.
I should just be able to smile sweetly and bat the eye lashes and it would be done in a flash.
Anyway....
Where was I......
Back under the bonnet I went, and the next light thingy was even more tricky to access. But I did. I also discovered that "release the spring" does not necessarily mean "dismantle the spring entirely". That took some time to re-assemble.
So, with David now checking the angle of the new bulb and comparing it with the other one and me fogging up my glasses, trying to balance springs, connectors, bulbs and a torch to see what I was doing, hair falling in the eyes at the same time as the cowl was suffocating me and the hood was falling off and I was WET......
Hmmm.
See???
I live such an exciting life.
I can announce with not one shred of glee, that I changed the headlight bulb in my car. It works.
But I really wish that I did not know how to do it at all.
And that it had not been raining all the time I was out there.
You are my hero! Having been through sixteen years between one marriage and the next, there were plenty of things I learned how to do that I didn't want to either. What you learned how to do is not one of them. Well done! I hope that you have an immense sense of satisfaction.
ReplyDeleteHah. I can see the road. That is enough!
ReplyDeleteOh, dear Linds, you have a way of making the most dire situation sound amusing - it is a gift! I am so thankful you got the bulb changed. Sounds miserable!
ReplyDeleteI hate to say it, but that's hilarious!!!!!
ReplyDeleteI laugh not only because you write so humorously, but it makes me recall the first time my husband had to change the bulb on our truck. Though he was dry in the garage, the way the bulb was situated made it impossible to do except by feeling only. He was horribly frustrated, then it didn't work. There was a short in the wire, so he had to go back in and, again, by feel only, wrap electrical tape around the wire.
ReplyDeleteWhy does it have to be so difficult anyway? Well, it makes for good blog fodder anyhow. I so enjoy your posts!
Merry CHRISTmas!
Seriously...why does it have to be so difficult???? I must admit that I empathized with you throughout the entire read.
ReplyDeleteI have always been the car lightbulb changer here, and I know from painful experience that the job is getting trickier and trickier - Renault bulbs in particular are close to impossible. Then a friend pointed out that Halford's WILL CHANGE BULBS ON THE SPOT FOR A SMALL FEE. I have now happily given up that feeling of self-satisfaction when I change a bulb in exchange for scratch and bruise free arms and a small payment to a nice man at Halford's.
ReplyDeleteI am laughing...and thankful that my boys will usually change light bulbs for me. On the other hand I remember being extremely proud of myself when I successfully changed the windshield wipers on my car the first time.
ReplyDelete