by wa5 » Sun Jul 24, 2016 12:54 pm
Friday passed quietly, everybody was out enjoying their new cars, the rush for spare parts would come later (hopefully).
One of the juniors took care of the counter, I spent most of the day talking with Jim, as he polished and serviced "his" Ford Territory F6X. My how he loved that car.
It wasn't exactly Jims car, but nobody else dared touch it without his say so. Which meant NOBODY touched it. The Territory had come in as a trade in on a New Falcon GT, 12 months ago. Jim had fallen for "her" as soon as he laid eyes on her. He had somehow grabbed the big beautiful Henry as a shop truck. Not just a run of the mill SUV, this was the Ford Performance Vehicles special. She packed 360 Turbo Charged straight six horsepower, All Wheel Drive and deep lustrous Ebony Black paint. The F6X was the only non Falcon product made by FPV. Turbo Territory's had ceased production over two years previously, according to company policy Kloster Ford Employees would not be seen in out dated vehicles, no longer sold by Ford Australia. The manager had called me into Her office a few months ago and asked me to speak to Jim about the car, about how it didn't suit their "Image". I told her if she wanted my resignation, all she had to do was ask, but I would not be doing as she asked. This Woman tough as she was (and you don't get to be top dog at the nations 9th largest car dealership by being a pushover), wouldn't go up against old Jim. She said she hadn't really expected me to agree to her request. Saying rather resignedly "ah well, he will be retiring soon anyway". I knew I was pushing my luck, but as I was leaving, I mentioned how much Jim loved that car, and what a lovely retirement gift it would be. She had a look of thunder on her face as I fled the office. She was a car saleswoman after all, and the thought of "giving away" a perfectly good car was somewhat foreign to her.
Jim was planning on going camping after Christmas and had the car packed and ready with all his gear. He was planning to pick the car up on new years eve, add food, ice and beer and take off for two weeks fishing up the coast.
He then did something that I will never forget. He asked me to fill the car with fuel. It seems like such a little thing. But NOBODY drove Jims car, Ever. You must remember, I have never held a drivers licence. All I had to do was pull the car out of the workshop, around to the bowser and "fill er up" (with premium of course, none of that ethanol crap). Such a little thing, but such a giant vote of confidence from Jim. The workshop went silent as I drove that beautiful car (very carefully) out of the workshop. She was refuelled and back in her spot ten minutes later. No scratches thank God.
As I handed Jim the keys, and he hung them in their usual spot, he said "I've put in my papers, I'll be retiring in March".
I was rostered on for Saturday morning, Another quiet day. Jim and I discussed his retirement, he planned to move up closer to his fishing grounds. His wife had passed away 3 years before and his kids were all grown. He felt it was time. Jim was off on Holidays for the next three weeks, I would be in charge.
As I left that Saturday afternoon, I wished Jim and all the other staff a Merry Christmas (as it fell on the next day) and went home.
Last edited by
wa5 on Fri Sep 02, 2016 9:32 am, edited 1 time in total.