I went to a funeral yesterday. Lorraine’s husband Errol of 56 years passed away last week. I only met him a few times but enjoyed his dry humour and calm demeanour. He was one of those folk that could do everything, but was very modest too.

The service was held at the Memorial Grounds in Wacol. The grounds are lovely here. I’ve been here a few times over the year’s fare welling friends. The carpark was full and I had to park in the extended carpark near to the kangaroos. They were all having a siesta under a large tree. A beautiful spring day with not a cloud in the sky, the temperature was perfect.

This was the first time in years that I had to wear a tie and it was a bit of a challenge trying to get it tied and to make it look OK. As usual, not every guy was dressed in a manner fitting, what I would consider a respectful dress code. Some just wore T-shirts. A common theme at Australian funerals.

In the afternoon, I went to see Simon, my trusty optician. My eyes have finally settled down enough to get two readings of a similar nature and so now, I can order new specs. A long time coming. I have been battling this dry eye condition for months and it has been exacerbated by two sty’s on my eyelid. My adventure at the eye clinic was not fun but it did finally get results. Two courses of antibiotics and many eye drops and potions later, I have finally reached a point where I can get new glasses. Not sure of the cost yet, but they will be pricey.

On the way back from Brisbane I could hear this clicking noise and thought that I must have a stone stuck in the tread of the tyre so I kept on driving. I travelled the 40 km’s home, stopped for fuel and then went to the shops before finally parking in the garage. The rear tyre had the problem; a large roofing screw had gone into the tyre.

I jacked the car up and proceeded to remove the wheel nuts, well tried too. They were so horsed up that I had to get a very large lever onto the wheel brace to crack them. If this had happened on the roadside, I would have had no chance removing the wheel.

I dragged out the spare and was surprised that it was only a plain wheel and not an alloy; I could have sworn that it was also an alloy in the spare wheel well. Mind you, this is the first time in 17 years of owning the car that I have actually used the spare wheel, but I am sure when I have had new tyres fitted in the past I have always put one of the old tyres that was still in reasonable condition as the spare. Therefore, I have no idea when it was pinched. I also never buy Goodyear tyres and the spare was a Goodyear.

I put on the spare wheel, which is just a standard steel, and then discovered that the alloy wheel captive nuts were too short to secure the steel wheel .Again, if this had happened at the side of the road, I would have been totally fucked.

I got a lift into work an hour early, brought in the punctured wheel and dropped it off at Bob Jane’s. $40 later it has a new plug in it. Steve took me to the wreckers where I picked up a set of standard wheel nuts for $5. I’d better keep these in the boot along with the spare in case I have another puncture. Me thinks……..