Memorable!

17.2.2016

I don’t usually feel the need to post much about journeys in between places. This journey deserves a blog post of its own.

Nancy was up and ready to leave at 4.30am.
I wanted a photo with her and then had to show her how to do a selfie as she wanted a photo too.

I have a horrible feeling I’ve left her phone on front camera and she will never be able to change it.

We’ve been laughing the last couple of days as we’re a bit worried that the beaten up Honda Civic at the end of the jetty might be hers but it was in fact the slightly less beaten up Nissan across the road.
John sat in the back, I tried to move the seat to give more leg room but it wouldn’t move.
Anyway, off we went.

Luckily at that time of day there was very little on the road as we were across 2 lanes at most times.
Every time we got to a junction or roundabout Nancy would put her face right up to the windscreen and tell us how her eyes don’t work as it’s too early.

To distract me from my fear I went into full blown question mode and found out all about her divorce and her family.
She’s had a pretty tough time of it.
She said the car belongs to her sister Doris’s husband but it’s OK as it’s early and the Police aren’t awake yet.
She also said Doris didn’t know she was taking us to the airport, she wouldn’t like it and if we do get stopped we must say we’re friends.

A bit later there was a sign to the left with an airport symbol on it, up until then all the signs for the airport said Bayan Lapar, this one said something different. ( turned out it was the Malaysian words for the airport )
John was in the back saying turn left, turn left, but she kept going straight and I sort of assumed there must be 2 airports.

Then she started complaining about all the road works that weren’t there last week.
The roadworks meant 2 way traffic and there was a very hairy moment when were heading for a head on crash when I had to suggest she moved over.

Another hairy moment when she stalled and the car didn’t sound like it was going to restart.
She decided to pull into a side road and ask for directions and of course we had missed the turning, so back we went.

The turning for the airport was now on the left but she insisted its always on the right, and we patiently explained it was because we were coming from a different angle.
For the second time we stopped on the hashed lines at 2 junctions to look closely at the signpost.

We ended up on the right road, then missed the ‘u’ turn, so reversed up the dual carriageway to the turning point!
We were very relieved and somewhat amazed when we pulled up at the airport terminal.
She told me to put the money by the ash tray as no one must see money change hands.

Certainly an eventful journey and I couldn’t help but keep asking if she was definitely going to be OK driving back.
I said I would email her and make sure she’s OK and we agreed she can be my Malaysian mum 🙂

I’ve a feeling we’ll be talking about this journey for many years to come!