Mick wrote: Sun Jul 05, 2020 12:19 am
put your number plate on correctly
Lol... I have committed an FB/EK sin with that license plate. At least I painted black behind the grille
Tiring day yesterday. Car had been inspected, just needed to pick up the paperwork and get it through the RMS. It will be easy they said...
07:30: pick up blue slip as quickly as the workshop opens.
08:30: drive across and front up, first in the queue for when the RMS opens. Submit paperwork, and the magic licence plates land on the desk.
08:35: they don't like the wording on my Stat Dec for ownership (it's been more than a decade and several house moves... I can't find the receipt). New Stat Dec.
08:45: now the numbers don't match - my application forms use the subframe number, as does the blueslip. Engineering certificate uses the plate on the firewall. Cannot correct the error. No interest in walking outside and looking at the vehicle. Dead stop, can't process anything. License plates go back out to storage again. I remind myself I will not say bad words.
09:00: back across to the workshop. Mechanic now has coffee onboard, and sympathy for my plight. Stops working on the long queue of cars and does another blue slip for me.
09:30: back to the RMS. The queue is now longer, but tolerable. New RMS person has more sympathy. Fill out all new paperwork. Fill out new Stat Dec. The magic license plates come out again.
09:45: RMS person turns a terrible shade of white, and calls in the supervisor. Long discussion, lots of pointing at my paperwork. Comes back and informs me that there is a problem with the engine, and they need to do an investigation. Is it stolen? Can't say, we just need to investigate. Magic plates go back away again.
11:30: Shouldn't have had a cup of coffee for breakfast. A man can only hold it so long, and it's not helping my impending sense of doom. Ask permission, then duck across the road. Come back to find the queue 50m out the door. Explain to the security guard (two security guards... at the RMS... the world has changed) that I was being served, and had to duck out to answer the call of nature. Get the third degree on who/what/where/when, then get waved inside. It would be easier to get entrance to the Pentagon than the RMS an hour before closing time.
12:00: Some questions arrive - when did I buy the car? when did I buy the engine? was it from the same person? can I remember any details? It has been more than a decade, and most of that information has been dissolved in VB. Tell them what I can.
12:15: Engine is apparently stolen. Police have been contacted, awaiting their feedback. I'm wondering if orange will suit my complexion, because the way this is headed I'm going to Guantanamo.
12:45: RMS has closed, last of the customers being served. This is not looking good.
12:50: Police send back a report that the engine was stolen, but recovered. System was just not updated. All good. Magic plates come back out again.
13:00: Check paperwork, gently hold magic plates, and remove myself from the premises before something else goes wrong.
Cheers,
Harv
327 Chev EK wagon, original EK ute for Number 1 Daughter, an FB sedan meth monster project and a BB/MD grey motored FED.