helpers
27-07-2012, 11:51 PM
Hi all,
I started Helpers Property & Garden Maintenance unoffically in 2009. I finally cut ties with my old career and have been self employed on a full time basis for just under 6 months.
Considering its winter things are progressing steadily well and next year I start studies in arboriculture and turf.
Just another day...
This week I reluctantly accepted a one off mowing job at the request of a regular customer, this was his brother's house who had gone overseas for a couple of months.
I got to the property to find the lawns "out of control" I'm talking knee high grass, front yard, back yard and behind the shed....!
I put on my hat, radio headphones, saftey vest and get started. Snipping now done, I start up the mower front done, I'm now into the back yard, I mower over a pebble, a closer inspection on the way back reveals a part of a key, I pick it up and place it on the decking (thinking the homeowner must have dropped keys here some time ago), I continue... another pebble, I now find a alloy lanyard, I think hey I have a lanyard just like this one... oh oh!
After searching for an hour I find bit and parts of my keys which now resemble a key salad, I find the black plastic part of the truck key under the shin high decking (yes took decking apart!) except for the actual metal key part.
What to do... no spare, truck locked, far from home, now getting dark, tomorrows job card full, phone in the truck, have 3 more jobs to do, neighbours either at work or elderly...!
The wrap:
After walking around the block I find a contruction site, get some wire and somehow after another hour break into my own truck (I'm now crying and laughing simultaneously)
First call: RACV then Holden for a key code - $52.00,
Call the 3rd Locksmith now, plead for the guy to come out, time now 3:50pm - $560.00. (you have got to be KIDDING!!!!!)
Locksmith agrees to come out with "no guarantee" of getting me started.
Arrives 4:50pm pulls the door trim off, takes off door lock barrel, cuts partial key by hand, cuts a full key, turns ignition barrel, then asks me for a "transponder" (this is a microchip found in the black plastic part of the truck key, size of a large grain of rice), I say its destroyed he says...oh oh.
He somehow finds a transponder in his mobile work shop, gets into the car ECU and punches in the code, turns the key and success the truck starts! time now 6:45pm.
Elated, I almost shake this guys hand off his wrist.
The locksmith says, "Mate what a day you've had", I reply "I just want to go home".
Thought I might share this story, what started out as just another day turned into a horror/comedy.
I received my new key in the mail today. I now keep my keys in a zip up pocket or in the toolbox and I swicthed from radio earmuffs to regular earmuffs.
Thanks all
Aemon
I started Helpers Property & Garden Maintenance unoffically in 2009. I finally cut ties with my old career and have been self employed on a full time basis for just under 6 months.
Considering its winter things are progressing steadily well and next year I start studies in arboriculture and turf.
Just another day...
This week I reluctantly accepted a one off mowing job at the request of a regular customer, this was his brother's house who had gone overseas for a couple of months.
I got to the property to find the lawns "out of control" I'm talking knee high grass, front yard, back yard and behind the shed....!
I put on my hat, radio headphones, saftey vest and get started. Snipping now done, I start up the mower front done, I'm now into the back yard, I mower over a pebble, a closer inspection on the way back reveals a part of a key, I pick it up and place it on the decking (thinking the homeowner must have dropped keys here some time ago), I continue... another pebble, I now find a alloy lanyard, I think hey I have a lanyard just like this one... oh oh!
After searching for an hour I find bit and parts of my keys which now resemble a key salad, I find the black plastic part of the truck key under the shin high decking (yes took decking apart!) except for the actual metal key part.
What to do... no spare, truck locked, far from home, now getting dark, tomorrows job card full, phone in the truck, have 3 more jobs to do, neighbours either at work or elderly...!
The wrap:
After walking around the block I find a contruction site, get some wire and somehow after another hour break into my own truck (I'm now crying and laughing simultaneously)
First call: RACV then Holden for a key code - $52.00,
Call the 3rd Locksmith now, plead for the guy to come out, time now 3:50pm - $560.00. (you have got to be KIDDING!!!!!)
Locksmith agrees to come out with "no guarantee" of getting me started.
Arrives 4:50pm pulls the door trim off, takes off door lock barrel, cuts partial key by hand, cuts a full key, turns ignition barrel, then asks me for a "transponder" (this is a microchip found in the black plastic part of the truck key, size of a large grain of rice), I say its destroyed he says...oh oh.
He somehow finds a transponder in his mobile work shop, gets into the car ECU and punches in the code, turns the key and success the truck starts! time now 6:45pm.
Elated, I almost shake this guys hand off his wrist.
The locksmith says, "Mate what a day you've had", I reply "I just want to go home".
Thought I might share this story, what started out as just another day turned into a horror/comedy.
I received my new key in the mail today. I now keep my keys in a zip up pocket or in the toolbox and I swicthed from radio earmuffs to regular earmuffs.
Thanks all
Aemon