Quotes

July 9 – Wednesday

Queensland – a frost on the ground and ice on the windscreen! A cold start but beautiful, clear blue skies. We had been warned not to leave Toowoomba before 10.00am because the traffic would be so horrendous, however, we left and 8.00am and wondered where the traffic had gone. Very easy drive out of Toowoomba and down the big, steep hill. We dropped 500m in about 3km; would be a very long drag upwards.

Caravan Repairs: we found the first repairer at Loganholme without trouble and such a nice, friendly and helpful company. The serviceman checked if a new awning was available while we waited and put a hold on one just in case he received the job. Said he could install it on Friday morning so that we wouldn’t be held up. Then it was up the road to the Jayco distributor and what a difference in attitude. We waited for 10 minutes until the receptionist concluded her personal telephone call and was told we would have to wait because the servicemen were at lunch (11.30am!!!). Even Les was less than cool, calm and collected. We the man had finally finished his toast and put in an appearance, he wasn’t the least bit friendly. When I asked when they could do the repairs, I was curtly told that I had only booked the caravan in for a quote, not repairs and we would be lucky if it was started before the end of NEXT week so we would have to hang about Brisbane for a fair while. Such an unfriendly and unhelpful company and they wouldn’t even check if parts were available until they received authorisation from AAMI.

So, it was back onto the phone to AAMI during the afternoon and after I explained the situation about timelines and attitudes, the representative at AAMI said it would be noted that we preferred the first repairer. Within about 15 minutes AAMI rang back to say the repairs had been authorised and to contact the first company. The new awning will be fitted Friday morning and we will head north immediately.

We have lovely accommodation with Jenny and Brian, actually staying in the house with the caravan parked in the next door neighbour’s driveway (they are in Europe). Such a beautiful suburb, houses are about 20 years old but lots of palms, trees and green lawns – very lush looking.