*Chat* Random Stuff I Do
Call me whacky, but I do random stuff, either because the situation demands it and I’m a born trouble-shooter, or I get a compulsion to help people – the other thing I’m born to do with a passion.
I’ve never been big on sticking to convention, other than preparing people for that real pedantic, by-the-book examiner’s test and since I have a passion to see you develop and conquer K53, I do that with interest, enthusiasm and beyond borders you’ll be hard-pressed to find elsewhere. But that’s just the un-random angle.
So the other day a guy contacted me with a request to help him with his learner’s test. He had failed a couple of times and one select section of the test seemed to be the ultimate challenge. His request was particularly moving and I couldn’t help myself – my empathy just exploded.
What did I do?
I replied that if he would be willing to buy me breakfast and willing to sit in the smoking section of a Wimpy within range, we could consider the fee settled and we had a deal! Needless to say my offer was met with apprehensive silence for a few days. I did a simple courtesy follow-up which I normally do in a couple of days.
This is what he replied: “You sound too good to be true. After living in JHB for a while you find it unbelievable when offers are made in the way in which you have, however I am going to bite the bullet and go for it.”
We arranged to meet in a couple of weeks. I can’t WAIT for him to pass his test!
On another occasion a couple of years ago, I arrived at a driving lesson appointment and found an eager young man with a not so eager automatic Golf waiting for training at his house. He fired up the car and immediately I realised this was not going to pan out the way may have planned. Petrol fumes emanated in gushes and a sputter-sputter-sputter later, we got the car into the road from his reasonably steep declined driveway.
I asked a few mechanical questions and it was obvious somebody shafted him with a recent car service. (Don’t you just hate it when your car’s worse after servicing?!!!).
Once he popped the bonnet and I had a look it was patent that the fuel filter was not as new as it should have been and sucked air on the fuel line to boot.
What did I do?
I asked for a screwdriver, took the fuel filter off, blew it out and put it back, while making sure the clamp was fastened properly this time. By then, pushing it back into the driveway, I needed the angle to make sure petrol got to the engine quickly once I tried to start it again. Sputter-sputter…and SUCCESS!
A happy youngster got his driving lesson that day. He also got advice to crap out the servicing person and make sure all the car’s vitals are re-checked.
Then last week, while I’m on a parking driving lesson with a client preparing for her test, I noted in the parallel parking space opposite us, there was an interesting situation developing. There were two instructors in attendance – the lady was quite persistent and the guy was sorta just getting in a chirp now and again.
I watched this with fascination for a while and shared with my client that I felt compelled to go give some guidance since it would improve the rate at which we would get practice done ourselves.
What did I do?
I saunter over and address the lady, asking her if she was the young girl’s mother, which she then affirmed. Not much needed to be said.
“Please lady”, I said: “you’re making this instructor’s job very difficult and I can see your daughter is very anxious and getting more and more frustrated all the time. One person at a time would work better. I know you just want to help and have your daughter’s best interest at heart, but I think she’d appreciate it more if you sat some distance away where she could share her pride of accomplishment a little easier”.
Nobody was offended. The learner driver smiled from ear to ear when I winked at her, and the instructor seemed to get his second wind. Sorted!
It’s just really who I am that makes the difference I guess – It gives me such a charge to help people!
Well, perhaps one day you’ll experience an interesting random moment with me.
Till then, safe driving now, you hear!
