farmdoc's blog post number 656

Today’s ‘List Friday’. Yesterday it rained steadily here. Which reminded me that rain after a prolonged dry period means treacherous road conditions due to the rain’s effect on accumulated road oil. Not to mention that here in backwoods Tasmania, when road and traffic conditions change, drivers alter their driving not a jot. So vehicle safety’s on my mind. My new Triton has a 4-star rating (out of a maximum five stars) from ANCAP (i.e. the Australasian New Car Assessment Program. (My Peugeot was also 4-star.) But the world being what it is, the most respected rating is from Euro NCAP. Which explains why today’s list – ‘The world’s top five safest cars’ – is based on Euro NCAP test results. Anyway in order (from top down), the five are the VW Golf, Honda Insight, Toyota Prius, Hyundai i20, and three cars tied for fifth. I don’t know if it’s coincidence or not, but the second and third placegetters are both petrol-electric hybrids. Maybe manufacturers of hybrids deliberately engineer them to be safer cars. These test results are a good guide, but still a bit theoretical. ANCAP’s website says ‘The test results do not prove which is the safest car in all types and severities of crashes. As a guide, consumers should look for vehicles that have earned at least 4 stars’. So today’s list may not be a list of the safest cars under all conditions. But I’m comforted that my vehicle rates four stars; and Sweetheart Vivienne’s rates five stars.

farmdoc's blog post number 654

Wikipedia says Elisabeth Kübler-Ross (1926-2004) was a Swiss-born psychiatrist, and the author of the 1969 groundbreaking book On Death and Dying in which she first discussed what’s now known as the Kübler-Ross model. This model sets out, in five discrete sequential stages, a process by which people deal with grief and tragedy. Twelve days ago, on Friday 22 January, I traded in my Peugeot for a 2010 Mitsubishi Triton GLS 4WD diesel dual cab flat-tray ute (pictured). I’ve been unable to write about it until now because I’ve been grieving for my Peugeot – which I owned for a bit over 2½ years. Among its many features I’m missing are its miserly fuel consumption, superb sound system, trip computer, automatic headlights, automatic wipers, automatic door locking, climate control and digital cruise control. The Triton has none of these. Its fuel consumption’s about double the Peugeot’s, and it goes like a truck. But it has all the safety gear;its 4WD enables access to lots more bushwalks; and my bike fits on the flat tray. Why did I change vehicles now? I can’t tell you. I can’t think about it. I’m too grief-stricken. The Kübler-Ross model’s been debunked – mainly because the five stages are no longer considered to be sequential. True, as currently I have elements of four of them. Of course the Peugeot and the Triton are only vehicles. And Sweetheart Vivienne thinks I’ll grow to love the Triton. But I doubt it. Anyway time will tell. Stay tuned. Ho hum.

farmdoc's blog post number 82

Last Wednesday morning I was booked to assess two people in my Deloraine Clinic, then from 2 p.m. to give evidence in the Workers Rehabilitation and Compensation Tribunal in Launceston. So I wore my (only) suit. When I backed my Peugeot from the garage, it felt sluggish and wobbly. The front right tyre was flat. Damn. Not keen to dirty my suit, I phoned Peugeot Assistance for a service call. But then I decided to start changing the wheel myself. I finished the job before the serviceman came, so I cancelled the call and arrived at work 20 minutes late. I explained to my first patient what had happened. She was patient and good-humoured. The rest of the morning went well. Not so the afternoon: The cross examination was distressing because the opposing lawyer played the man – for 1½ hours. Whilst I know they only play the man when they know they’ll lose by playing the ball, it’s still unpleasant to have my temperament, credibility and professionalism questioned. I was wrung out when I arrived home soon after dark, the house cold and two hours dictation ahead. Therefore last Wednesday was a bad day for me. Until I remembered my friend Craig who last week severed his median nerve and thumb tendons with a chisel. Then last Wednesday was not a bad day for me at all.

farmdoc's blog post number 58

Since 1998 the Land Rover Freelander had served sweetheart Vivienne and me well. But as machines (not to mention people) get older, things go wrong. And when they do, repairs are often costly. So on 13 June 2007 – a year ago last Friday – I traded in the trusty Freelander for a new, Bianca White, Peugeot 307 XSE Hdi. I’m sure there’s lots of research about why people buy the cars they do, because the market is highly competitive, and for the manufacturers the stakes are high. My guess is that it boils down to factors of the head and the heart. At least that’s how it was with me a year ago. My head factors included diesel fuel economy, low greenhouse gas production, all the latest safety features, a trip computer, cruise control, lots of torque for towing, a large cargo space, and the right price. My heart factors included French manufacture, eye-pleasing styling, and a companion for my Peugeot bicycle. But why white when I live on a dirt road? Well any other colour was a few hundred dollars dearer. One year later, I am satisfied with my choice: I get over 1,300km from a 60 litre tank of fuel, and the exhaust is so clean that it’s soot-free. Thus far I haven’t needed the safety features. I hope I never do.