Before I start trying to catch up on your posts, I want to put this out there for you. I’ve been blog-inactive for the better part of a week, and here’s one of the main reasons. We have managed without a car here in New Zealand for several years now, thanks to the generosity of our daughters, the proximity of a handy bus stop, and the occasional fallback on Uber, but a recent windfall has made it possible for me to rectify that inconvenience. 
After intense research and the help and advice of my second son-in-law, we have wheels at long last. It is our custom to name our cars, and this one is Hannes. The day after I bought it there was a nice rainbow, which gave me the chance to have some fun with Lightroom.
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krikitarts 
New cars are fun, and exciting. When I bought my Toyota so many years ago, I promptly named her ‘Princess.’ I thought I posted about her at the time, but now I see that several years passed until I actually did. No matter — she may be older and have a couple of little dings now, but we’re having just as much fun.
He’s not new; my windfall wasn’t that generous. He’s a 7-year-old, but practically in mint condition, with a little more than 40,000 miles under his belt. I’m taking extra care, of course, but once he gets his first ding I’ll be able to relax a little more.
And I once bought an old Valiant from a woman who had named it Prince.
Wow, I remember the Valiant, close cousin of the Dodge Dart. No personal experience, but I am a son of (a suburb of) Detroit, and I knew all the models back then.
What for a car is that (as one in German would say)?
Your syntax is perfect. He is a 2013er Honda Fit hybrid.
Sounds like it will Fit your needs.
Congratulations Gary. I really miss having a car in my present location, especially during the lockdown. I’m sure you’ll find your outings so much easier with your ‘new’ one. For 7 years old, it looks like new.
What brand is it (if you don’t mind me asking)?
After my Father left me some money April/May, I can now afford one too, but I expect the R hip and ankle pain might preclude me driving far (as it did pre 2003 when I sold my old Renault and walked just about everywhere). Secondly, my prescription medications all warn about driving, or using machinery, when ‘under the influence’ I might be slightly slower to react in emergency situations where quick thinking is needed.
How is the Uber service where you are? It seems that might be your best bet.
You need a smartphone and apps to use Uber, Gary. I only have a little old-fashioned mobile phone.
As an aside, I bought an iPad about 3 weeks ago and took it back the next day. I kept getting dizzy with scrolling and swiping. I’d forgotten that was why I’ve never updated to a smartphone and can’t use the WordPress Reader. I get dizzy (or vertigo) so easily. Might be something to do with being so short-sighted and I can only see through the centre of my glasses. My glasses don’t completely fix the astigmatism either, so I don’t do much photo editing as I can’t see the fine detail. I actually can’t walk down steps easily without a handrail (but can walk upstairs ok). I also have to hold on to something to step off a bus or tram as I can’t judge where the ground is.
I was fine with bi-focal contact lenses, but had to drop them in 2010 due to a dry-eye condition and they could no longer make contact lenses strong enough. I’ve got used to it, but there are definitely some things I can’t do anymore.
Honda are the best. I’ve driven them for a couple of decades, rarely any problems. Mine’s a Jazz, looks very similar to yours, but not a hybrid. I drove my first-ever hybrid in NZ last year, a Toyota rental. Amazing fuel economy. Happy driving.
The Jazz is exactly the same, but is manufactured abroad; the Fit is made in Japan and exported. I’m really loving it so far, and greatly appreciate any further positive feedback.
I thought it looked familiar! One of the things I like, apart from the reliability, is how much stuff you can carry in the back when you fold the rear seats down. Don’t know if you’re familiar with Dr Who, a long-running British sci-fi drama on television? Dr Who is time traveller, and his space ship is a police phonebox called the Tardis, which is much larger on the inside than the outside…well, the Jazz feels like that, very spacious for its size, if you see my meaning. You’ve chosen well, and will find your Fit is an ideal small car. Definitely “Fit for purpose!”
For interest, Honda have now withdrawn the petrol-only Jazz, and will now only sell hybrids in the UK. A good, environmentally sound move, I reckon.
Of course I remember Dr. Who, most clearly as played by Peter Davison. And, yes, hurray for hybrids!
Great stuff >>> you’ll be able to go out now and burn some rubber!!! :) :) :)
Considering what gas (petrol) costs here–roughly 3-4 times what it costs in the US–I’m extremely gentle on the accelerator pedal, trying to squeeze every available joule out of every milliliter of fuel. (Could this be the kernel of rhyme for a new song?!)
:) :) :)
I remember looking at New Zealand food packages and finding kilojoules where I expected calories to be. It takes approximately 4 kilojoules to make 1 calorie (which you can rhyme with Valerie if you know someone of that name).
Congrats on your new wheels, Gary. My orange KIA Soul is almost 10 years old, but is still going strong, though it did just require some brake work. I am not in the habit of naming my cars, but my license plate of “BLESS MY” causes turned heads from time to time. I should know this, but in New Zealand are steering wheels on the left or the right side of the car?
They are on the other (right) side, as in the UK and Australia. I’ve driven enough in these countries in the course of my auditing work that it’s just a toggle for me, and just sitting on the other side re-programs my brain to adjust. It’s quite an experience to be able to do it, and I’m simply delighted that I still can. Thanks again, Mike.
How long did it take you to stop turning on the windshield wipers when you intended to signal a turn?
That’s a great question and I had to laugh. My instincts still catch me off guard once in a while, but happens only quite rarely now. Actually, since we’ve been spending more time here than in MN, it happens more frequently there.
Yeah, that happened to me, too, for a little while in Texas after getting back from driving so much in NZ on our second visit.
Congratulations on your new car!
Thanks, Peter, what a convenience it is. We have to schedule evening walks now to keep up with enough exercise to stay in reasonable shape.
Always nice to have new wheels. Love the photo. It is like a glossy advertisement :) Love that rainbow and control of what could have been very challenging lighting.
Glad you like the photo, Peter. Yes, it was quite a challenge, much more than I could do with just Photoshop. I really love Lightroom and have recently (during lockdown) learned a lot more about its intricacies and possibilities. The linear and radial filters came in particularly handy here.
I am still using Adobe CS4. I don’t have Lightroom, but manage with what I do have :) Nice work there!
Congrats! You’re going to have fun!
I’m already having fun, thanks–especially when I learned about the Google Translate app that lets me point my phone’s camera at the Japanese owner’s manual and the (usually surprisingly-appropriate) English translation appears on the screen like magic, without even having to make a photo.