Finally after so many weekends, I sent my car to the mech. As usual, my mech is not around, busy repairing cars off site. however this time according to his young apprentine, he's out for a wedding function. So i waited patiently and the young one asking me what I want? Told him I wanted to service the car 5k interval and perhaps change my timimg belt. I've forgotten when was the last time i changed, (yup, me very unorganize FYI - no record keeping). He then, just nod and ask me to wait for while before he can attend my car.
The service started and he went crawling under the hood and over and under again and loosing some nuts here and there. SO the conversation started.
Apprentice: So free, no work today?
Me: Yeah, no work, Sat & Sun no need to work...
A: So good hor, my work here very tough, hard work you know.
M: Yeah, but you guys earn the most ok, all my salary goes to you.
A: No lah, not me. I'm just working here, very low pay ah... All goes to my boss.
M: Yalor, me work in office 5 days a week 4 week a month and then get salary and pay for car repair and then con tribute to you lor.
A: Yalor my boss take the most, me just taking a fix salary.
M: Hmm now think of it,dunno is you hard work or me hard work. Sigh...
(Paused for a while....)
A: (from under the car) Eh, you married already?
M: (wat the hell he wants to know for wat? Sei lor, interested in me?) Me ah? No no yet... not marry.
A: Then ah, consider this (my car) your wife lor.
M: Huh...!??
A: Ya ya.. pay money to upkeep her...
M: (wah quite true also hor, no one else is spending my money but my car, last month changed the petrol pump and such costing an arm) Hehe.. yalor yalor...
(paused for a while again, as i was wondering in the workshop)
Then I went over to look at the progress above the car engine.
M: Wah you work here long dy? very familiar hor. Almost everything you know how to do. (but the fact is, i supposed it's the basic thingy and steps of removing the belt and pulley and belt and dunno wat else under there)
A: No lah about half year like dat lor, or abit more i think.
M: Never seen you here before geh? ( hahaha, this was the 2nd visit of the year or so, for me - such an unfair statement to him)
A: Maybe I was busy working when you visit time, under the car, like now gua....
M: :|
(paused again)
A: Eh? you got go massage wan or not?
M: Huh? me ah? Err... got got... (Spa session, i try to make it twice a year but yet nothing so far this year)
A: Then the massuer meh have to be very strong to massage you lor.
M: @%&# (kanasai this feller! drop a hammer on you then only you know) No leh, they all can manage wan. professional ma.(@%&#)
Hahaha... my entire afternoon was spent there with the apprentice fixing my car, well he was quite professional i'll say. Pay all the attention to my request and check everything carefully. So the boss, my regular mechanic came back. had a brief chat and issue me the bill.
M: Can use credit card? (I dun see any sticker of Visa/Master anywhere)
B: Use card ah? Can (pull open the drawer on his messy desk- and out come the wireless EDC machine)
M: O_O Whoa!, so geng chau!?
B: Yeah, just applied, no wire wan this one use SIM card like your telephone(pointing to my mobile)You are the 2nd customer to swipe.
Hahaha... he has no idea how to use actually, too new for him.
B: Eh the machine turn on dy hor, why nothing wan? (it's booting up and dialing for connection with GPRS)
M: Oh you have to wait just a little while, ok now can dy..
B: (Slot in my card and press the amount, print out the receipt and make a copy for me) This one your or mine? which one is yours and which one is mine?
M: The 1st one you keep, i sign and then you must keep. 2nd mine, no need to sign.
B: Oh ok ok
M: Remember ah, dun let other customer cheat you. Eh you got do settlement everyday or not?
B: Wat is settlement?
M: Huh? you dun do settlement then how to claim the payment?
B: Not swipe then can already meh?
M: No ler, everyday you must do settlement wan or else the bank won't pay you.
B: Har.... then how wor. how to settle?
M: The machine was quite new atually, I also no sure but come, let me have a look. Where is your password?
B: Wat password?
M: To the machine?
B: DUn have wor, he (agetn) never give me also.
M: no password, how to settle? ok ok you call the agent and get the password.'ll coem back in a few weeks to visit you again and help you to settle.
B: ok ok... remember to come back ya..
M: (you give me free car servicing meh? come back see you every time also my wallet bleed) oh ok, will do....
Hahaha... I don't mind helping him out, he is the family mechanics for many many years and only he knows how to fix my dad's little van. And sometimes he tune my car for free :)
