At A Car Wash On A Warm Winter Saturday.

A lesson in sociology.

Washing one's car in winter is a tad bit risky if the temperature drops below freezing. It doesn't take long before water droplets in crevices such as keyholes turn to ice and expand. At least that is how I like to see it. This morning was a rare December day with a temperature reading of plus 7 degrees.

Bob and I decided to take our chariot for a spruce up whilst we were in Güssing and headed for the car wash. We and half of Güssing it seemed. At least it confirmed my belief that car should only be washed when it is warm. Gosh, as we turned into the car wash we saw at least ten cars waiting for their turn at the wash bay and thankfully someone pulled in behind us, because I am sure that Bob would have turned around.

As we were queuing behind two cars, with the first one already getting spritzed by its owner, we had a fun time observing human nature. Impatience, selfishness, doggedness and helpfulness. As it happened, the chap washing his car in our lane took forever and a day scrubbing and spritzing until the money ran out ( self service ) and the water dry. We all breathed a sigh of relief until he went and put another euro in the machine. Yikes, how clean did he want his car to be...

Eventually he moved out and the line dwindled quickly. Adjacent to us was a chap who wasn't quite sure which button to press or which lever to press and it was great to see the lady behind him get out of her car to help him. Fabulous. Another chap on the opposite side was doing his best to strip his Mercedes of just about every particle of dust. His wife got so fed up that she got into the car whilst he was still rinsing it. At least she didn't rev the car.

Eventually it was our turn and Bob did the honours. Men and their love of cars. The two of us made a good team with me pressing the appropriate buttons ( 1 for this, 2 for that, 3 for wax ) and adroitly side stepping showers of water disguised in a cloud of vapour. Once it was our turn it didn't take long - actually three minutes - to have the Ferrari red come to the fore again...

A real traffic jam...

Bob looking rather cool with his sunglasses.

Bob worked quickly and thoroughly.

Biggi