Frozen Pipes!

We are still using a rental car as we deal with the aftermath of being struck by a huge delivery truck. We are attempting to follow the instructions of those who tell us to be grateful that we weren't hurt. But that's cold comfort when dealing with the insurance people, the adjusters, the uncertainty of what happens next. We heard yesterday that our car was old, had 300,000 kilometres on it, and the cost of repair exceeds the worth of the car. It's a write off. I explained that the value of the car, to me, was that it fit my needs as a person and our needs as a couple, perfectly. But cost, as always, supersedes value.

So we are on the hunt for a good used car. We don't want a new car. We don't want to spend a lot of money. The car is used essentially to pick me up from work and take me home. Occasionally a trip to Barrie. Occasionally a trip to Newmarket. For any other travels we rent an accessible van.

One of the things we have learned from the rental car came as a bit of a shock. We've had a Volkswagen Beetle for many years and when the wheelchair is put in the back, it's in the body of the car. Now, with the rental, it's put in the trunk. Yesterday we took our longest run in the car as we travelled up to a golf course just off the 400 highway and when I got out of the warm car to sit in the wheelchair, I almost went into shock.

The metal was as cold as it was outside, colder even. I was embraced in this icy grip and cold shot through my clothes and straight into my bones. Yikes. Double yikes.

We got in and headed to the washroom, we are men over 60 after all, and I was terrified that my waterworks would have frozen solid. I mentioned this to Joe and he said, 'Let's hope a pipe didn't burst.'

And that did it.

We howled.

Just what we needed. To hell with the car and the insurance and the what next - there's still a good laugh to be had. They say laughter is the best medicine - I don't know about that but I can tell you it warms the blood. Exactly what I needed right then.