Rights of Passage

I was in a FIAT 127 when it first happened to me. Then an MG Metro - rolled that one, lucky to get out without a scratch (seatbelts are wonderful things). Was alone both times, first was my fault and second was a fuel spill slide in the wet as a result of the Metro's diabolically designed fuel filler. A two seater soft top would need a roll bar installing. Not sure if I'd've been any worse off in, say, an MX5 (assuming roll bar).

So long as they're in something metal and not on 2 wheels then that's the biggest risk mitigated away.

Well I suppose I've improved on my Dad's record by not being killed on the road yet. Although of course he did take the rather risky step of getting back on a motorbike in middle age. Not that the accident was his fault, but you get my drift.

I'm hopeful for my children, they take an interest in driving and I talk them through what I'm doing in relation to controlling the car and events outside the metal box now and again. I'm going to take them for a spin in the C1 while I've got it, show them how a manual works. Kind of wish I still had my Volvo 360 for them to learn in.

The next phase has now arrived. Right at the wrong point for insurance renewal the lad (and his car) is now off to his permanent job.



We're in a relatively low-rated area for car insurance here, and though his renewal quote has come in much higher than last year (not entirely surprisingly, since it was noticeably low last year) by shopping around he can get a mainstream insurer's cover for around £100 less than last year, but based on his/our current address).



Within a month he will be living elsewhere, and one possible address (darn sarf) input through a comparison site gives an eye-watering increase on that premium (200% increase!) for that insurer. Funnily enough, having gone through the referred quote process on the insurer's website, a change of detail on that gives nowhere near the same increase!



Whatever the cost, he's got used to the car, and he certainly wants this job, so I suspect he will simply initially have to cover himself here, and either alter or cancel the policy in favour of another when he has a new address (whichever is the most cost-effective).



At least, having lived back at home for over a year, he can well afford it (he has paid for the privilege, but only nominally).



He's a lucky lad, really; kids can find the oddest ways to wind you up.



He did a four-year sandwich degree, with a placement year out at a software house that was just too far away from home to commute for long (logistically feasible without a car, but very early start and late finish, so he had a flat for that year back near Uni, (similar commuting distance but a single train ride) and maintained his social life).



Unfortunately, he (allegedly - though he's still inclined to dispute it) omitted to submit a piece of final-year coursework. Nobody told him, either at the time (what are tutors for; a missed deadline has an allowance of two weeks for submission to achieve a 'capped' mark), or even before results day, so he was rather surprised to find he didn't get a degree. Luckily, he was allowed by the rules to submit a further piece of work (which would be capped at a pass mark) a couple of months later, which he did, gained the maximum "capped" mark, and was awarded his degree.



As it happens, certain marks are discarded when a degree is awarded, and, unless his failed submission would have been marked at a very high level, the discarding process means his degree (2:1) is exactly the same as he would have got, but three + months later.



The process was pretty sh*t and could have been handled by the University rather (much) better (and he'd certainly done the work - which was an electronic submission, as he showed me on the day he got the suprise). It has probably, however, done him a favour.



After completing the reset work, he started applying for jobs somewhat behind the wave, competing with students potentially a year behind him, but with the advantage of a decent degree already under his belt, and was offered a graduate programme position with a major aerospace company, starting next month. At the moment, it's almost his dream job (and I hope it stays that way for some time).



He used his "placement" software house as a reference (he knew it would be good, as they didn't want him to leave and take up his final year!), so I suggested that he let them know he would be using them as a referee, and at the same time make it clear he was available for 9 months or so. They set him on on a short term contract the following Monday! (which he finishes next week).



Now living at home and commuting by his hand-me down car, he's done more miles in it in the last 8 months than it' did in the previous 4 years!

...indeed it should, and I'd noticed when I put the latest post on (since i searched for the thread with "rites" and didn't find it). 

Don't know whether it was me and the neural/keyboard interface, or simply a spillchucker, but a few people have "played along" anyway.