Good News And Bad News

Just before Ramadhan I had my blood sample taken for a routined  6-monthly check  as ordered by the doctor who treated me for Hepatitis C. So, the morning of  24.08.10 was the scheduled appointment with the doctor. It was with some trepidation that I set out for Sultanah Bahiyah Hospital Alor Setar with xnuripilot at the wheel of my car. I always have this feeling everytime the blood test results are ready for the doctor to review.

As always, I sat down timidly while the doctor studied the results. I was overjoyed when he read out the results. Blood sugar 4.0. Cholesterol 5.3, a marked decrease of 1.0 from the previous test results and ALT 14.0. ALT of the liver function test is an indicator of a  Hepatitis infection and thus of great importance to people like me who have had the disease before. But, I was ordered to do a chest X-Ray after xnuripilot took it unto him to announce to the doctor that I have been coughing rather badly for the past few months!!!

My next appointment is less than two months away on the 19.10.2010. So much for the good news.

We left the hospital  in good spirits heading for Tesco,with me excitedly telling xnuripilot what I did to bring down my cholesterol level. After about 10 minutes of driving we had to stop when the traffic lights turned red and then the engine just stopped, too. xnuripilot hastily turned on the engine and it responded for a few seconds before it died down again. He repeated the process several times but the engine just refused to come back to life. There we were stranded right in the middle of the road and the cars behind us blaring their horns relentlessly with all their might.

xnuripilot managed to manouvre my BEB to the side of the road. He then called the mechanic for assistance. The mechanic decided the car had to be towed to the workshop. We were left with no choice.

Feeling somewhat dejected, we decided to walk a few metres away from the car to seek refuge from the hot Ramadhan sun, under a huge tree.

xnuripilot trying hard to act cool, calm and collected.

The stench from the heavily polluted river behind our resting place was unbearably nauseating. No wonder Leptospirosis is on the rise.

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Surprisingly, the tow truck arrived in less than an hour. The ramp was lowered ready to pull up my car.





                                                                                        


She was all ready to be strapped and buckled for her trip to the workshop.One problem solved. Now, how do we get to the workshop? Cabs are scarce here in Alor Setar. In fact, there wasn't even one in sight while we waited for the tow truck. So,...........
                                                                                        

...........both xnuripilot and I clambered hurriedly into the front seat of the truck after seeking the driver's permission, of course! It was quite a comfortable ride, my first and hopefully my last, in a tow truck.

We arrived safely at the workshop and BEB was gently lowered down. xnuripilot paid RM120 for the towing service.

The mechanic turned on the ignition and she purred and hummed in total obedience much to the consternation of her owner. She was back to normal as if nothing had happened but we told the mechanic to investigate why she decided to behave that way without giving us any prior warning like she used to. She turns 8 this November 25. She is one of the very few luxuries that I just could not resist the moment I set my eyes on her. I acquired her fresh from the factory. She is not one of those revamped version. I just don't understand why she decided to play her childish pranks on us during Ramadhan, of all time. Having said all the above, she has never given me any trouble before except for the usual wear and tear stuff.

The mechanic replaced all her old spark plugs and she's back with us after having spent a night at the workshop. Last year xnuripilot had to tow his car in the same manner. Read his story here.