How The IVA Was Won (From A Woman's Perspective)

Note from Goo - Pauline, AKA Mrs Goo, wanted to have a say on the IVA saga - so pray silence for she who must be obeyed: 

Friday 5th of March, it’s 5:45 am.  Yes AM!!  The alarm goes off, signalling that it is time to wake up and get going.  It’s time to take Vicki on the road for the second time in her life.  

Having be warned by previous visitors to VOSA test centres, the coffee granules, mugs, spoon and milk was packed last night.  All that is needed is to boil the kettle to fill up the flasks (yes, 2 flasks!) and to wake the neighbours up with the roar of a straight 6.  (Hmm... I wonder if I can sneak the camping stove, kettle and extra bottles of water into the support vehicle without the boys noticing?)

Fortified with a double expresso each, we’re ready to go.  Goo pulls on the thermal layers and 2 pairs of gloves.  The neighbourhood cats are woken up by Vicki warming up and the show is on the road.  At least there is no windscreen to scrape before we can roll.

There were few cars on the road at that time of the morning so Goo was able to stay right behind us all the way there.  Every time we stopped at a junction or traffic lights, Goo disappeared behind the tailgate and spare wheel of the Disco.  I did think about getting some footage and shot of this inaugural road trip, but I decided it was too cold to wind down the window.  Hmm I wonder how Goo is?

We arrive in Leighton Buzzard without any mishap in 45 minutes.  It is soooo early that the gates to the test centre was not open yet, I could have had an extra 15 minutes of sleep!  Goo manages to climb stiffly out and make his way over.  We had to leave the engine in the support car running for Goo to thaw out enough to hold the mug of coffee.  In the middle of this a VOSA employee turns up and opens the gate.  

Being the loving and supporting wife that I am, I thought I would move Vicki to the designated parking sport, leaving Goo in the car to continue to thaw.  I don’t think Goo trusts me with “the other woman”, he keeps shouting instructions and advice on the 30 second drive to the parking bay.  

And so began my day of haunting the sole wall heater in the reception/waiting room whilst the 2 boys walked around in attractive orange hi-vis jackets and played at being mechanics.

I did have quite a few visitors whilst there, people who had come in for a VIC (Vehicle Identification Check, see, I’m getting the lingo down).  Some just sit there, trying not to look at you, others will have a chat with you.  Occasionally I can hear Vicki’s engine start up, the boys laughing and shouting over the roar of the engine.

Lunchtime!  And with it comes the bad and the good news.  The bad: Vicki will not get through the test as she is.  The good: the boys will be allowed to work on the car to correct the few minor points to get her through.  We all pile into the support vehicle with a shopping list: sand paper, new gear knob and LUNCH!!

As the car is full of tools camera, laptops, I elected to stay with the Disco to guard it with my life.  It had nothing to do with me wanting to keep out of the icy wind at all.  And what an eventful 20 minutes it was too.  There were sirens going on all over, the boys later reported that the sirens belonged to fire engines and a fire marshall, hmm... wonder what’s going on.

Back at the test station, yep!  Still cold and the sun not adding a lot of warmth at all.  I am now no longer hugging the heater and am instead basking in the small patch of sunlight streaming through the glass door.

To give me a break from the waiting, we took another trip into Leighton to get another gear knob as the 1st one we bought was not suitable.  Then it was back to my basking and cross stitch.  And the varied  people who bring their cars through for their VICs.

After another hour or two (time behaves differently at a VOSA test centre, trust me), and we are on the final leg.  Out comes Vicki and the tester takes her for a spin around the centre.  Boy, he’s giving it some wellie!  He’s smiling!  Must be good news.

And it is!!!!  She’s passed!  She’s road legal!  And so comes the end of the journey.

Or so I thought.......