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So everything was ready for the Christmas season. I had salted away a few extra hundred dollars for presents and shopping and I had worked overtime for months to ensure a big check. We had planned to go to Colorado Springs to meet up with my sister and Aunt. It was a big holiday and we were looking forward very much to the trip.

Then I pull into the bank, withdraw the money, come back out...and the car won't start. It's cold, dark, and raining. I have it towed to the shop, costing me $70 for a one block trip. We arrive...just as it closes.:yh_sad

Three days later the mechanics drop the bomb on me. $800 for a new fuel pump. 800 @#$%& DOLLARS?!! My truck is only worth about $5,000! How can one part be worth a fifth of the price of my entire vehicle?!:yh_ooooo

Then I find out that I have to pay $97 dollars to get some paperwork processed by the government. They tell me, "Give us $97 or we won't even look at your letter. Oh, and we need that by Christmas Eve." @#$%& Who the Hell extorts money for reading a blasted letter? Is Ebeneezer Scrooge a real person who works in the government?:yh_wait

Then my wife tells me that it's her turn to host her ladies group party and she needs to feed all 12 of them. So long another hundred dollars I hadn't planned for. Right now a church mouse looks rich compared to me. I can't even afford a tree much less presents for everyone.

Well, there goes Christmas.:-5

I did manage to look at a few YouTube videos on how to fix the truck myself. Apparently it's not too hard. I just have to take the bed of the pickup off with my skinny teacher arms. (And somehow lift it off the truck single-handedly.)

The baboons showing the videos on YouTube look way stupider than I am. One of them had a ponytail sticking straight up out of the top of his head, so hopefully I'll be able to do it myself and save $500. The pump itself, which is almost entirely made of plastic and looks like a toy, is $300.



Oh...and as my son tells me, "The point of the story, Dad, was that it was about the people. Not about the money."

Well...(sigh) He's right after all....Merry Christmas everybody.

Oh Saint... how I sympathise, I really do.

A few days ago, my entire house went bang where the electrics blew. My husband went to the hall where the fusebox Is and noticed water seeping out under the door of our walk In airing cupboard. He opens the door and a tsunami pours out. The boiler had burst. Everything In the airing cupboard Is soaked, spare duvets, pillows, cushions, dog bedding, clothes, towels, quilts, everything. The water Is In the electrics which caused the house to blow.

I spent the whole day fretting over the fact that my freezer was off because I had all the Christmas food In there. Managed to dry out the socket In the airing cupboard enough to get the electrics back on by the evening but the boiler has had It. I've had no hot water or heating for nearly a week. The new boiler Is being fitted tomorrow.

I am still slowly working through the pile that's up to the ceiling In my bathroom having had to wash everything again.

The very next day, my car failed It's MOT big time... No way can I not have a car as we live In a small village so the work had to be done out of Christmas funds. Yet, Yesterday I had such a good day at the races, that made up for the expense.

Yet, looking at some of the status's on Facebook, there are people far worse off than me.

Wow, sorry to hear about that Oscar! Bad luck just seems worse at Christmastime, doesn't it? A few months ago, in the warm months of summer, I would have just shrugged this off and ridden my bike to work.

Saint_;1469316 wrote: Wow, sorry to hear about that Oscar! Bad luck just seems worse at Christmastime, doesn't it? A few months ago, in the warm months of summer, I would have just shrugged this off and ridden my bike to work.


Yes, It seems always worse at Christmas but I am just grateful that If It was going to happen, It didn't happen Christmas Eve or Christmas morning. I think what It Is, we plan our holidays to the letter and uneventualities like this just throw us right out and everything seems a disaster.

Oscar Namechange;1469317 wrote: Yes, It seems always worse at Christmas but I am just grateful that If It was going to happen, It didn't happen Christmas Eve or Christmas morning. I think what It Is, we plan our holidays to the letter and uneventualities like this just throw us right out and everything seems a disaster.


I like your spirit, Oscar. You're no humbug!

We usually drop the fuel tank to replace fuel pump. Just use a jack, drop it down, drag it out and replace pump. What type of truck is it. Sounds a bit high for the pump.