Don’t Make Assumptions.

It’s been some weeks hiding but I’m back❤️. I hope we all had a good closing to the first quarter. If not, let’s not despair. We can pick up the pieces and do better in the next round. Sending you warmth.

Some twenty years ago, I took a taxi from Bloemfontein to Thaba Nchu to visit family. It was a beautiful cold winter afternoon spent with the maternal side of my family.

I am always well received on both sides of my family. Call me the connector of some sort. I pull relatives from hidden corners and have turned myself into a “family yellow pages”. If anyone wants some family members contacts, you know who they ask. Yeah you are that right…Likha always have them all at hand.

We had an incredible time coupled with a hearty lunch, when time to head back home came my family dropped me off at the taxi rank. I was directed to a very old sky blue E20 taxi. I had my doubts but hopped in, beggars cannot be choosers right!. I took a seat at the front row behind the driver and waited few minutes till the taxi was full and ready to go.

As we left the taxi rank, I prayed to God that we arrive safely. It was a necessary prayer. On the Highway at a high speed I felt a painful cold air coming beneath the car with blazing heat from the engine. It started to drizzle and one of the windows wouldn’t close properly, the air and rain made the drive unbearable. That’s when I prayed even more and had a one on one with God that this would be my last ride using public transport, a taxi nogal.

I had just started my experiential training with Eskom to complete my National Diploma and was stationed at Bloemfontein Municipality along Church street. It’s said prayers and faith need to be followed by actions and I vowed that the very next Monday I’m either walking (roughly 8,5km) which will take me an hour and half or ride my bicycle to work. I toyed around the idea and decided to get onto the bicycle very early on a Monday morning to work (for the purpose of acquainting myself with the route and gauge the time required). It took me just over 45min. I maneuvered in the hectic traffic without a helmet- and it didn’t matter to me at the time, passed the train station and up I went past majakathata taxi rank, rode over Long street right into Harvey road where the Power station is situated. After a week of doing this, I build my confidence around the traffic and decided it’s not what I really want to be doing for a long time but good for now.

My mind started dancing around me owning a car, luckily I had just obtained my driving license.

I was very clear on the car I wanted. It was a silver grey Audi TT, yes that was supposed to be my starter pack. I dreamed big like that. Not having researched cars and the cost, I was certain I’d afford it because it’s sexy, small and should be within my reach (I earned R4000 then and had no rent to pay, no groceries to buy, no black tax to service, so I was practically rich) and it was achievable.

Just like bread, I went straight to Audi and proudly told the sales man that I’m here to buy that car -pointing at the Audi TT on display. He took me through the car and specifications and I knew in my heart that whatever problems I had were solved just by owning this beauty. So when we finally got to the rands and cents part, it came through as a shock!

The car was beyond my league. I argued (literally argued with him and demanded that the car must cost less since well it is a small car and has only two doors, which he replied proudly that the fewer the doors the higher the price. I left with the tail between my legs.

I based my assumptions about this car on the little bites of information I had and it led to a blow on my face. I saw a small car being equivalent to small money (whatever small means) without proper research of what it entails buying a car.

I left Audi and went to the next dealership; Opel on St Georges street where I was again well received and a bit humbled from my recent discovery on cars.

Needless to say, a bit informed I concluded the transaction.

I got myself a grey 1.4 Corsa lite with 13inch tyres for the lighter side of life.

When I thought I had arrived and was ready to drive my new wheels home, I couldn’t because I needed my parents signature to release the car. I was only 18 and had just gotten my license. So my plan of surprising my parents was abandoned.

I called them in to sign for the release of MY car. On arrival, they were shocked, surprised and proud of me all in one.

As I drove out of the dealership with a wide smile and a dancing heart, the 13 inches got stuck by the pavement, and this was not the biscuit I signed up for!

Judgements

The poor sloppy bicycle rider had just evaporated into thin air and was borne into this elegant mobile Likhabiso. From overalls to a slick grey foshini suit I walked tall and confident to work, little did I know what people have been saying about me; the rags to slick girl, even Mme Anna an elderly lady that I trusted and respected was part of the gossip gang. They’ve been laughing about me and my bicycle and now was shocked that I’ve just been elevated to mabidi4. The comments that came through were like “bona o tseba le ho apart suit nou”

Arghhh, few days passed and one morning driving to work, I get stuck on the road. The car stopped and wouldn’t start again. I was furious that the dealership sold me a skorokoro, so I called them furious to come and check the car. It was so embarrassing; when they came I learned that the car was fine, I had just ran out of fuel.

So you see I didn’t think of fuel. I knew cars needed fuel but mine. For me; I needed the car, I got it and that was it, no more exposure to E20’s like the one I drove in a couple of months back.

Fuel issue got sorted. Now, I knew this car needed some filling up and I was diligent in monitoring the fuel gauge.

Months later on a drive I get stopped by the traffic officer. My license disk had expired and the Madam me had no idea whatsoever that cars required annual renewals.

Having explained to the traffic officer my oversight and not knowing of my duty towards licence renewals , we laugh it off and he let me go.

Fortunately it wasn’t a costly mistake as he understood and I learned. My apologies were enough in this situation. Despite the laughter, I was horrified and embarrassed.

I naturally assumed that buying a car was the be it all, no more trouble, we are done…kanthe NO! There is so much more to it.

I’ve since learned what the word “ASSUME” means. I’m tired of making an Ass out of U and Me. If we are being very honest, we all do this in different scenarios.

We all make assumptions in life; sometimes too many to count a day.

When we are correct, i gives a sense that we have an understanding of the situation, however in cases where our assumptions are wrong we may look and possibly feel incompetent.

While my assumptions around owning a car were actually quite funny and relatively harmless, it alerted me to the possibilities of potential errors that lie in simple assumptions.

Had I researched the cost of buying and owning a car, many of the stumbles I faced could have been prevented. In not clarifying I exposed my ignorance.

New Wheels

There is a lot involved in buying a car, i had assumed a lot and was faced with embarrassing moments.

Whilst I am aware that most of my readers are on their third /fourth cars (I am on my fourth), here is a quick list of things that need “extra” zooming in, extra feedback before buying a car for the “first” time or for the umph time;

– Know your budget limits and the cost of the car (as much as we fancy the Aston Martin it’s not always that we get it as a first car) Corsa Lite beat Audi TT 10 nil in my case. Also don’t be caught up unprepared, remember there is insurance, maintenance costs, fuel, car wash and annual renewal licenses). We’ve moved from 13inch to 17inch and man that tyre iyabiza.

– Do you prefer manual or an automatic transmission gearbox; Whilst my lighter side of life was a manual, I’ve since driven automatics and there is no turning back.

– What is your preference between a 2-door car and a 4-door? - This is far from the chicken or beef story. Despite having a 4 door for obvious reasons of being a Mom of 2, I’m a 2 door girl anyday.

– Reliability - this is a big one for me. As a woman and a mother having a reliable car is non negotiable. What about you?

– Are we going for a brand new or pre owned car? I have horror stories around pre owned cars. In my case, growing up, it was never a second hand car, it was more a 5th hand one. Dad loved them pre owned but definitely not me.

As it is, our lives and work depend on assumptions. Maybe the key is somewhat figuring out which of our assumptions will eventually make an ass out of us. And that’s not easy. But it’s worth thinking more about it as it allows us to better understand the reasoning behind our actions and how we could improve next time.

Do you have any funny or embarrassing stories you want to share about your assumptions? Please drop them in the comments section so we can all enjoy your experience, and learn at the same time.

We assume nothing.

It could have been a Wondrous Wednesday but again Thoughtful Thursdays matter!

Likha~Biso ♥️