I always thought Blue Mondays only happen to those in full-time employment, but they've been hounding me for the past couple of Mondays!
Why, I have no idea!
I've been a good little old gal, and done my little bit to keep on the straight and narrow, but when things go wrong, they REALLY go wrong!
The "Bakkie"
It all started with what looked like a van in the dark, or as we call it, a bakkie that was abandoned on our pristine verge on Sunday night.
We were expecting new guests, so I glanced at the security cameras now and then when I saw car lights in the road and a van parked on our verge.
Thinking it's the new guests, but at the same time wondering why they stopped in the road and not by the gate and why a bakkie was parked on the verge, I stepped out the door.
Obviously, the culprit was startled and immediately lifted his bonnet asking if he could leave it there till morning as he lives in the complex at the end of the road, and would not be able to jumpstart it. Looking back now, the other vehicle must have towed it there and turned off their lights when they saw me.
Only the streetlights were on and I could not see much in the dark. I was still asking hubby if it would be ok and the guy was gone, like a thief in the night!
I assumed he had walked down to the complex.
Blue Monday
The bakkie was still there in the morning and on inspection, we saw wires hanging and parts missing plus scrapyard markings on the windows.
It really was just a piece of crap scrap-on-wheels dumped on our verge, and we were not happy at all as it became clear this had obviously been towed there as this 'van' was not driveable nor going anywhere!
Our verge is the only one in our quiet little road that one can park on so our visitors and both our neighbours' visitors use it, but we maintain it. Further, it's safe there as it is in full view of our security cameras.
Traffic Fine
Hubby had to drop the son off at the airport for a very early flight.
He had not been able to renew his vehicle license because it's way too risky for him as a 71 year old diabetic to stand in those long queues with a highly infectious Covid variant around, plus they can only process a limited number of renewals so are told to come back another day!
The online system works wonderfully for a Gauteng vehicle, but not here in Kwazulu Natal!
Silver-Blond Lizzie warned him to use the son's car, but that car needed petrol, unlike his car that had a full tank as it's been standing in the garage, but as we all know, a man will not listen to a woman who is always right ;)
Of course, you can guess what happened next on a Blue Monday?
Yep, as he stopped at the airport drop-off zone, a police officer checked his license disc and promptly gave him a traffic fine.
He was not in a good frame of mind when he got back home as he had visited various outlets attempting to renew his vehicle license but the long queues chased him back home each time and to make matters worse, the crap scrap-on-wheels was still there!
Beeeg mistake by Silver-Blond Lizzie
I sent photos showing the registration and long expired license disc of this scrap vehicle to our neighbourhood watch WhatsApp group early Monday asking if anyone knew who this shell of a bakkie belonged to, but not a word from anyone except the security company advising they had reported it to Metro Police, and then deadly silence.
We also reported it and got all excited when a Metro police van stopped next to the unwanted piece of scrap-metal-on-wheels only to drive off, it was too much of an effort to even step out of their van and do an inspection!
Obviously they were not concerned as it was not causing a traffic problem BUT it was not licensed nor roadworthy.
By nightfall, hubby had reached boiling point as it became evident that this piece of crap scrap was not going anywhere, nor could it be driven by anyone. It certainly is not something anyone would want in front of their property, especially as it does not portray a good image of our suburb for tourists coming to our BnB!
No one in authority had responded to our pleas for help, so hubby asked a friend to tow this scrap metal to the beginning of the road on the side, which would force the police to take action as it would be more visible!
Vigilante Neighbourhood-Watch Patrollers
Suddenly all hell broke loose; at least 5-6 vehicles with flashing lights came from nowhere, aggro hefty burly young men with bullet-proof vests and obviously weapons bulging underneath, stepped out; not a pretty sight at all!
Hubby and friend suddenly were the criminals for wanting to move what really was a piece of scrap but no one was interested in looking at it; they wanted to rock and roll and were out to do a citizen's arrest!
SA Police Force with blue lights flashing arrived saying this could be seen as theft.
Metro Police followed soon thereafter with more blue lights, but were mere spectators!
Photo by Scott Rodgerson on Unsplash
It was like a circus, but thank heavens our guest cottage is behind the house and the new guests were safely inside so saw nothing!
Hubby would never ever think of touching a vehicle parked on the verge but this shell of a bakkie was clearly not going to be driven by anyone ever again. No one on that blue Monday believed a word he said nor bothered to take a look inside, until they got tired of the party as this silver-haired man was not standing down, no matter how big or burly they were!
Hubby was adamant that it needs to be removed without any delay as it clearly was scrap. When he finally told these unsupervised civilian vigilantes patrollers to show some respect as they're talking to a 71-year-old diabetic, they quickly backed off!
Worthwhile mentioning, he was experiencing a hypoglycemic episode at the time, and anyone who knows anything about hypoglycemia will understand what that means!
We have lived in the area since 1974 as law-abiding citizens and have never ever experienced intimidation like this.
Common sense should prevail, but sadly that is lacking by those in 'authority'!
So...next time any of my South African friends need the police to arrive in haste, rather alert your neighbourhood-watch, pretend you're doing something illegal, and the entire force will be there in no time at all!
Home Invasion & Burglary - Scenario changes!
BUT...when you have a robbery at home where your door is smashed by real thieves who stole computers and televisions in a matter of minutes to make an escape before armed response arrives, do not think the police will investigate that thievery!
Taking fingerprints is a waste of time they say, as our fingerprints will also be everywhere! They only take a statement, give a case number, and walk away yawning!
It appears that a scrap vehicle warrants more vigilante manpower and investigation than a home robbery!
The Airport Pick-up
The son was flying back from Johannesburg on the same night.
The reason for his visit sounds ludicrous, but...some three weeks ago he drove about seven hours up and seven hours down to apply for a passport renewal in Joburg, as here in our beautiful Kwazulu Natal it's virtually impossible to apply as the authorities are permanently off-line. His passport was ready for pick-up and this time he flew; it actually costs less to fly and take an Uber, than drive all the way with the cost of fuel and toll gate fees.
Hubby was tired, angry, and irritated as the bakkie was pushed back onto our verge by the police, with a promise that they would have it removed asap.
To add insult to injury, the son's flight was delayed by an hour and a half so it was nearly midnight by the time they arrived back home.
Thankfully this bluer than blue Monday ended on a high note, as the bakkie had disappeared by the time he returned!
Hallelujah, that's what we had been asking for all day!
Next time I'll keep my mouth shut and rather not say anything if someone leaves objects on our verge, especially any scrap metal as I could be accused of stealing if I try to clean up my verge!
Much ado about nothing is an understatement!
Full-time retirement at that little home by the sea is starting to look more enticing after this awful experience!
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