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SPRATTY SAYS 3rd November 2007
The weather has certainly developed a tropical feel to it over the past week or so, with plenty of everything pretty much. While Grafton dodged the hail bullet yet again, our thoughts are with those who were not so lucky. Thousands of vehicles were written off across the region, although cars can be replaced, the inconvenience and indirect cost to businesses and individuals has been huge. Not to mention the spectre of increased insurance premiums, let’s hope the danger has passed.
With Jacaranda in full fligh,t last weekend saw the crowning of the senior and junior Jacaranda Queens. Congratulations to all concerned for the effort that goes into these programs (on and off the stage) and gives so much to the community. We also saw the Dragon Boats face off in the river last Sunday, a hugely popular event also a tremendous credit to the organisers. Thankfully we have all summer to recover from another full blown Jacaranda Festival.
In a low key affair, and a footnote to a great year for Rugby in Grafton Dave Morrison passed the Redmen Rugby baton to club stalwart Ray Collie at the recent annual general meeting. Dave leaves the Presidents role after a hugely successful stint and with the Club in great shape. While he will be sorely missed, Ray will enjoy stacks of support and maintain Rugby as the vanguard of Valley Winter sports. I just hope the new responsibilities don’t impact his time on the park with and without the whistle.
In spite of heightened levels of ineptitude the Ponderosa is looking a picture after recent rains and absence from yours truly. Mrs Spratty is stirring in her burrow though and I can see a list on the fridge not too far away.
I don’t wax lyrical about cars very often, as they are a bit of a commodity to me, however last Monday I had the opportunity to study in detail and road test Ford’s new Mondeo. Built in Belgium this is a very special car. European cars have always produced a ‘feel’ notably absent from Japanese and American models but offset with disappointments in other areas.
Ford had their thinking caps on when they put together the Mondeo. Sure it looks pretty nice, but that is only part of the story without going into the gory technical details it goes like a bat out of hell, drives like it's on rails, is miserly on fuel and contains some pretty mind blowing technology like a complete voice command module that even an idiot like me can use. We have Diesel available for test drives, if you can get Tom Freebody to stop playing with it, he will run you through some technology that is simply mind blowing.
It’s also been a busy week on the used car front having to travel pretty far a field to find cars that haven’t been either hail damaged or swimming. I’ve also had to call in a few favours down south but the effort has been worth it with a cracking range of cars, commercials and 4wd’s, on display 7 days a week at Spring Street, right next door to Mighty River Caravans!
Happy motoring ( and Jacarandering)
Spratty