December/January 2022

S o, Christmas is almost upon us again, bringing with it the prospect of a few well- earned days off after a very busy few months, what with the MOT exemption from 2020 still causing a big backlog. We’ve been working pretty hard since the end of the summer, so being able to shut the doors for a few days and just do nothing is quite an enticing prospect. One often has ideas of what the Yuletide season should be like in one’s head; Snowy streets, a children’s choir on the corner singing carols, a bright moon reflecting the brilliance of the lights; Basically, the scene-setting bit from every DOCTOR WHO Christmas episode, minus the obligatory alien invasion. I know, I know, but Mrs P is a very big fan. She liked those serious skinny men with young/old faces. “They remind me of you,” she told me over mince pies late one Christmas Day afternoon, “before your face got old/old and all your hair fell out.” Tough but fair is Mrs P, but my fringe was never that floppy; I would’ve got caught in an engine. Of course, it’s a lady in charge these days, a bit like here. As for my face, with everything we have to deal with, of course it lost a bit of that youthful glow. As the proprietor of this establishment, the captain of the ship if you will, I have a lot to think about. That can and does include HR, PR, and all manner of other acronyms like the aforementioned MOT. That can be a whole world on its own, but as a reader of this particular magazine, you know that already. Another thing about this time of year is that it makes you think of beginnings and endings, being that the New Year is looming too. What with COVID-19, and all the lockdowns and such last year, we’ve probably had two or three additional stoppages, although we did keep rolling, like most garages. It was hard on the psyche though all the same. Then there is the move away from petrol and diesel and even hybrids, and towards EVs. Another acronym, as if I needed any more. Where do we start with it all? As you can see, there is a lot going on inside this head of mine. How do I deal with it all? I look for information and support. I read, I speak to knowledgeable people, I get together with other business owners. In the end, it comes down to engaging with the challenges, and thereby finding a way through. I won’t find an answer to any of this, because there is not one to be found. In the end, it is all about making sure you understand the world you live and work in. This is why I often wonder if my head is bigger on the inside, as there is so much running around in there. At least I can put my feet up for a few days soon. Anyroad, if I didn’t say it already, Merry Christmas and a Happy New Year. BIGGER ON THE INSIDE? 66 AFTERMARKET DECEMBER/JANUARY 2022 TEABREAK: MEMOIRS OF A MOTOR MECHANIC www.aftermarketonline.net