TeaBreak: Memoirs of a Motor Mechanic sponsored by 50 www.aftermarketonline.net NOVEMBER 2024 Taking the heat There seems to have been nothing but bills arriving lately. They certainly seem to have outnumbered bookings for the garage and while I’ve tried to keep our prices down, I can’t say the same for our energy provider. Sorry to sound so gloomy, but I’m writing this issue’s contribution ahead of the budget and I know I’m not the only small businessman nervous about what that will bring. By the time this article is published, all the details, good and bad, will have been revealed. Any tinkering with employers’ National Insurance payments could be a real worry, especially with so much focus on trying to recruit to tackle the skills shortage in our industry. I’m also dreading any increases in fuel prices. A lot of motorists are already skimping on basic servicing and routine work on their cars, which is bad for garages like mine. This all comes at what seems to be one of the more expensive periods of the year. No sooner do we get Halloween out of the way it’s straight on to bonfire night then headlong into Christmas, with next spring’s Easter eggs already jostling for position with selection boxes on shop shelves. I had a stark reminder of what a costly time of the year it is shaping up to be when I saw that Mrs P had already booked our festive works outing at what must be the most expensive restaurant she could have found. On top of that, she’s invited a few suppliers and a couple of long-standing customers to join us. The venue is also a fair few miles out of town, which will mean forking out for taxis to make sure everyone gets there and back safely. I wouldn’t mind, but there’s a perfectly good pub within walking distance of the garage with all-youcan-eat Indian and Chinese buffets on offer across the road — what more could you want? But no. She who must be obeyed has put her foot down and seasonal cheer at ‘Casa Mucho Dinero’ it is going to be! Meanwhile, I’m in the doghouse again because I decided to cut back on spending for the community fireworks event that we usually put on at this time of year. I have to admit even I thought I may have been a bit too hasty when the fireworks and food arrived. There was no spectacular lighting up of the crisp autumnal night with what we had. I bought the fireworks through a friend of a friend, so not the usual first-rate deliveries of top-notch parts that I’m used to when it comes to ordering for the garage. Even the eco-friendly firewood proved a let-down. Granted, there was precious little harm done to the environment… because I barely managed to get it to muster a glow, never mind ignite into a blaze of glory. Perhaps I should take part in the local pantomime. I’d clearly make a good Scrooge!
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