Did I kill you?
Special Moments June 27th, 2008*Laugh* Pregnant?! Oh how I wish I could be (by accident), ‘cos Allan and I have decided to stop ‘OUR MANUFACTURING COMPANY’ since 2 years ago. We can’t afford another kid when we are sooooo in debt. Any of you out there thinking of setting up your own business, pllllllleeeeassssseee do your ‘homework’ well and dig into fengshui stuff too, one wrong move and that’s what happened to us.
I said BIG CHANGE remember (ooops! I forgot, its probably just to me), I’ve been pregnant twice, so pregnant would not be that BIG to me. Am I killing you already? *laugh* I LOVE quizzes and riddles, so if it’s ever my turn to give one, I’ll make sure it’s not that simple. *Laugh*
Ok, ok! I can feel flying darts heading towards me….So this was what happened:
My elder bro-in-law wanted to change from his Toyota Vios to a MPV Honda Stream to better accommodate to the 7 people in his family – My parents-in-law, his wife, 3 kids and himself of cos.
My BIL thinks that Allan should consider taking over his Toyota Vios and sell away the van. The van that Allan was driving belongs to BIL too. Allan drove BIL van because 2 years ago, Allan started his delivery business and BIL needed Allan to help him deliver greeting cards and calendars to his customers.
BIL owns a printing company on top of his permanent job as a technician and he will continue to pay 40% of the car installment for Allan, just like what he did for the van, in exchange for Allan’s help in delivering his cards. BIL business is not as good as before already, so there isn’t that much cards to deliver, hence a car would do the job.
If you recall the post about Keatkeat opening the door while the vehicle was moving, which could have killed him….yes, that was the van and not a car. So Wonderful LIfe, you commented that we should have switched on the child lock function….we couldn’t, cos there isn’t one for the van!
My much earlier blogger friends like Slouching Mom would have seen the post about the sofa (see picture here) we placed behind the van. Yes, I can hear you shout, “That’s so dangerous! No seatbelts!” And can hear some of you Singaporeans, “It’s illegal!”
Ya, all true but that’s all over now.
So for the past 1 week, we have been going to different dealers to get the best offer. Check out with the insurance company on the premiums to decide whether to change ownership or not. Check out the penalty involved if we change a finance company. Settle all the necessary van-related matters. Kept popping by my BIL house to discuss about details. Check out the price of spraying the car white, instead of its current blue, from different companies that do spray jobs, because of fengshui reasons….etc
Getting the best price for the van took most of our time. But the BIG CHANGE I’m talking about is NOT the change of vehicle. It’s dealing with my phobia of cars.
We used to own a small Toyota Starlet almost 8 years ago. Could you believe it – I will bang the Starlet, one way or another, EVERY TIME when I’m in the driver seat. After about 5 times, I gave up. I got scared. I got worried. I started to doubt myself.
It was only last year September, in Anthony Robbins seminar, did that MAN changed me. He took away my phobia of driving in that short 2 hours.
I have not driven a vehicle for 7 years and yet that MAN gave me the confidence to drive a van right after his seminar and I have been driving the van till the very day I said goodbye to it, accident-free.
When we took over the car, my little evil voice which has been quiet for almost a year started to speak again.
“Yes, you can drive a van, but you can’t drive a car.”
“A van is taller, so you can see further and react earlier, but now its a car, it’s not as easy.”
“You like to be in control of things, that’s why manual-drive in the van suits you, but now, it an auto-drive, it’s different.”
and it just went on and on and on…..
My friends say I’m weird! They said auto-drive is so much easier than manual, yet I love manual-drive. It may sound so true, but auto-drive makes me feel that the car is in control and not me, that’s what I don’t like.
We have took over the car already, but I still dare not drive it. Allan knows my fears. He went to buy blind spot mirrors and a longer rear-view mirror to help me see better, but I still have not driven it yet.
Allan said, “drive only when you are ready.”
So my devil voice and my angel voice are having arguments constantly….who would eventually win, I don’t know….That’s the BIG CHANGE I’m talking about.
June 27th, 2008 at 1:25 pm
Haha! Finally the truth is out! :)
It is definitely a good decision you have made to change to a car, especially after the scare. You hub did exactly the same thing as mine, the long mirror and the blind spot mirror.
LZmommys last blog post..Sweet & Understanding
June 27th, 2008 at 2:04 pm
Oh Angeline, do you know, I have the same phobia as you?! I have not driven a car for 6 years! and I feel so ashamed of myself, bcuz last year my hubby also changed into auto-car just for me, he knows I am afraid of manual, and yet the devil still wins over the angel.
I met with a few incidents which made me afraid of driving a car. When Im behind the wheel, a strong force is making the car controlled me, not the other way round and I.am.scared.
I often wonder how to overcome the fear…can share your tips if you really have succeeded? Bcuz I wish to take over the wheels sometimes to share the burden with my hubby.
June 27th, 2008 at 2:30 pm
After reading your post, i have to tell you, you are not alone. I have the phobia too..Especially driving in Singapore. First thing that made me gave up driving is the parking slot. It is really a box just nice to fit in your car, you dun have any space to play around with it. Secondly, I have the fear of banging into a pedestrian who might just run across the road in front of your car any time any where. Plus the bad experience few years back when my car was hamburgered by 2 big cars in an emergency break incident, I think it will easily take me another few more years time to get back into driving again..haha
Yees last blog post..Sweet corn soup
June 27th, 2008 at 4:28 pm
That’s why my friends say I AM WEIRD! They say I could drive a manual-drive VAN (much bigger than any car) sooooo well, yet when it comes to an auto-drive car, I am like a hermit crab hiding in the shell! They can’t understand….
I just need to recall what was IT that Anthony Robbins said in his seminar that brought out the ‘Fearless Giant’ in me….I’m still searching through my memory files that has gone rusty somehow….damn! *sigh* I hate this feeling!
June 27th, 2008 at 5:49 pm
I can tell u that a Toyota Vios is the best auto car anybody can drive. it is SO user friendly. I was on a manual car all my life till I switched to a Vios and it was seamless. Well…save for a few jerks here and there la…but honestly, fear not the fear :)
June 27th, 2008 at 5:59 pm
It may take you some time to get over your phobia. I too was a bit afraid of driving when we returned to Singapore but soon got used to it. We are also getting our new car this week :)
June 27th, 2008 at 6:14 pm
not sure if this will help but a car is definitely easier to drive than a van… maybe you can test drive in an empty parking lot first…
stings last blog post..Trauma and Emergency
June 27th, 2008 at 6:59 pm
some just prefer manual..like my hub, he prefers driving manual as he like the switching of gears..but he knows I prefer auto, so woman win!
Your hub is so sweet to make sure every little details are taken care of.
The first step to overcome your phobia is to step out of it by doing! No point worrying…believe and you can do it!
Blessed mums last blog post..Sweet Nothings
June 27th, 2008 at 7:51 pm
LOL!Funny post Angie!
I guess it’s all a state of mind…I don’t have the drivers license but I’m pretty sure when I get it I’ll have a whole bunch of issues to deal with as well.
Take care girl!
xoxo
Sandras last blog post..MOM & DAD TRIBUTE MEME
June 27th, 2008 at 8:04 pm
Are you sure you’re not pregnant? Ok Ok. Fear is a very big obstacle to overcome. I didn’t drive at all until I drove a motorcycle in Taiwan. And then when married and in the US I finally got my lisence at 27!!! (Ya, I drove the motorcycle without a license.) You know you CAN do this. I feel the opposite effect, actually. I’m more comfortable in small cars.
Erins last blog post..THE 30 DAY STAND-OFF
June 27th, 2008 at 8:52 pm
You’re cracking me up today, Angeline!
Slouching Moms last blog post..The Latest in Home Décor
June 28th, 2008 at 12:57 am
emmm, interesting post…
well, do not FEAR of driving…i was once like you…i did not dare to drive on the road., my cousin has to accompany me whenever i hit the road…but i must say that auto cars are better then manual’s, perhaps i was always the lazy bum to control over the car!
i purposely gv reasons to skip driving lessons so i would not go for the driving test hahaha!
but as i get older, i realized i can’t be depending on other ppl for a ride…so one day, i decided to go for it…and since then. i’ve drive alone from north to south & vice versa…i do enjoy driving, but must be accompanied with music, i dont mind driving alone as long there is music and air-con!
i used to fear the parking lots too but i guess “practice makes perfect”!
and i thought you’re moving to a new place…hahaha…HV A GREAT BLESSED WEEKEND!
June 28th, 2008 at 1:51 am
Hey Angel..FInally the guessing game is over!!
Congratzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzz
enjoy u’r drive n drivign..u can do it!!!
suhanyas last blog post..Random Thoughts
June 28th, 2008 at 2:10 am
The last time I drove a car, I rolled it over on a country road. I have been up high ever since. I feel your pain.
Janets last blog post..Nine
June 28th, 2008 at 6:25 am
You can do it, just take your time and when you are comfortable give it a try. I prefer driving a smaller car because my theory is the smaller the car, the less chance there is to hit something. LOL Have a great weekend my friend! :o)
Tammys last blog post..How To Accurately Weigh Yourself
June 28th, 2008 at 7:25 pm
My dear friend,
Thanks so much for your supportive and kind words.
I hadn’t read your story till 2 minutes ago…I completely understand why you won’t do the tag.
I’m sure life will go easy on you from now on…
You and your sweet family deserve nothing but it.
A whole bunch of kisses to you!
xoxoxoxo
Sandras last blog post..Am I too demanding?
June 28th, 2008 at 8:02 pm
I USED to love manual drive, but now, since I’m pretty much stuck in traffic all the time it has become painful…
Manager Moms last blog post..When Worlds Collide
July 1st, 2008 at 12:48 am
I’ve a phobia to drive a car too. I got my license say like 8 yrs ago & drove less than a couple of times… LOL :)