Random reminder

Press, 4 December 1978, Page 24

Random reminder

DON’T LOOK NOW BUT . . .

The lady driver had been the target for derision right from the start, or rather, right from the day she couldn’t start — the car. Her practice took place in the country where the only skill required was to be able to crawl through a mob of sheep without mishap. One morning her son missed the school bus, and as the car was parked at the curb in front of the house, she bundled junior into the rear seat, and ! took her place at the wheel. She switched on and something > began to purr, yet no amount of accell erating would set the wheels rolling. After what seemed more than a very long time, a shepherd and his flock swarmec alongside her. She wound down the window and shrugged a dis- , tress signal. The shepherd poked his head in, peered at everything on the dashr board, turned the heater off and ; switched the ignition on. 5 Junior sat in the back enjoying the kangaroo petrol as Mum leaped away with a hop, skip and a jump. i Next day he was packed off in ; ample time to catch the school bus. His mum decided that while she was

entirely alone, she would overcome hear driving failures. After a few minor hops she graduated from the novice stage and felt a glow of satisfaction when she arrived home, chugged into the garage, and tilted the door shut. That evening her husband asked what had hat happened to the matching Noahs Ark Juniper at the drive entrance. It wasn’t until the following morning she found it — on the bumper. She replanted the shrub and let her husband go on believing the thief had repented. Six months later they moved to the city where another challenge awaited this courageous woman. Her new home was built at an awkward angle on a steep incline. As she backed the car out she felt a nasty encounter-with the corner of the garage. Neighbours were seeing their children off to school, and turned to scrutinise the new tenant. Who could blame the poor thing for keeping right on, on and on, with a mud-guard trailing and clanking all the way to the nearest service station?