Sue's Blog - Some assembly required.

All change........

So, Donna and Philip went to pick up Donna's new car on Monday.
The one pictured in my last blog.
They paid the money and then the guy wanted them to sign some papers.

There was this one piece of paper that they wanted them to sign.....it had a big red warning stamped on it which said....

Warning this car is street illegal in Wisconsin.


Well, Philip called everything to a halt and wanted to know what this was all about.  It turned out that the car had dodgy brakes and leaks and was deemed too dangerous to be driven.
Of course, this brought the whole procedure to an abrupt halt.  No way would she be buying a dangerous car.
What right had they to try to sell someone a dangerous car?
AND....what I think is even worse -
they had sent us out on two test drives in a street illegal car.

So, goodbye Tracker.

Tuesday morning Donna and I had a bimble around and spotted a nice looking suv in a car lot.
A lovely old boy came and talked to us.  George.  We both liked George.  He was like an ancient cowboy moseying around the cars.
He showed us the car we liked, a Ford Escape but it had a price of $11,000 ....way too much for Donna.
We knew it looked too good.
She had initially seen a Ford Escape online at this showroom but it was only $5,500.
George went off to see if he could find it.  When he came back he said that actually it was the same car and was $5,500.
We told George we would be back later with Philip.
In the afternoon Donna had her Wisconsin driving test.
Fortunately she passed it.  I think she is quite chuffed at having passed the driving test in two different countries.
I know I would be.
That evening Philip and Donna went back to have another look at the car and take a test drive.
Philip really gave it a good going over.
Apparently, it is very good.   She bought it and is picking it up tonight.
Here is a picture of a similar one.  I can put pictures of her actual one on soon.

It is rather big.
It is also rather powerful.  She said she has always fancied driving a big car but this would be outrageous in the UK.
It would cost a fortune to fill up with petrol.
Here petrol currently costs around $2.50 a gallon, which works out as 1 pound 62pence a gallon.
Shocking really.

Meanwhile back at the ranch, Lauren has been auditioning for a part in her high school play.
She had learned the part of an elf for some sort of Tolkien performance.
After her audition the teacher commented on her British accent and asked her to say, " You were only supposed to blow the bloody doors off.",  which of course she did.
She said that this seemed to amuse him greatly.
We have heard she got a "call back" today so she has probably got in as something.
I do hope so.
Her confidence has increased in leaps and bounds since she has been here.
Every day she comes home bubbling with stories of all the things she has done.
It is really good to see such a shy girl gaining so much self esteem.

posted by Sue Banks @ 12:02 PM