Svan breaks down - again!
- 12 Jun 06, 05:28 PM
DREIEICH-OFFENTHAL - Another hot day, another Svan failure.
This morning our van was fixed. This afternoon it once again failed to start.
Ricco had just driven down from Troisdorf to within miles of the campsite we had booked into just south of Frankfurt when he stopped to fill Svan up with Diesel.
With deadlines approaching he tried to restart the engine so we could get a move on but - nothing.
By the grace of God a Fiat garage was directly across the road and, using his brilliant German, Ricco got a mechanic on the case.
This one told us that there was a problem with the immobiliser unit and a new one would have to be ordered from Italy.
More phone calls than I normally make in a week followed.
The breakdown people, the motorhome hire firm, the blog editor back in the office and one from my girlfriend informing me the toilet had broken made it an afternoon when my spirits started to wilt under the burning German sun.
For several hours I completely forgot that the World Cup was taking place and only found out that Australia had fluked a late comeback against Japan after the match had finished.
At first it appeared as though the spare part would arrive on Tuesday, but the arrival date has now slipped to Friday at the latest, which might make a mockery of our plans for Wednesday.
Some of the suggestions that have come in are great. I particularly like the one proposing that we should drive Svan around the Nurburgring.
Svan working his way around 172 corners should take several hours, as could a World Cup wine tasting tour in Heildelberg.
I guess it all depends on what happens with Svan, though the mechanic has given us a temporary fix.
The immobiliser unit hangs down under the steering wheel and every time Svan fails to start we have to give it a tap. That's modern technology for you.
Ricco spent the afternoon in Frankfurt dealing with a video feed - but that's another story.
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Us licence fee payers are paying for it, stick with Svan! ;-)
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Tough luck man! Hope that you'll be able to enjoy the rest of the tournament!
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I watched the game on TV during my lunch break. The Czech Republic has proved that it can go far and I am sure it will leave its imprint on the World Cup.
The USA Team [while I would prefer to see it win] has problems with a society that is suffering from an identity crisis. I could still remember members of my community [the Cuban Community in Miami] saying "that football will eventually die in America, Europe, and elsewhere in the world if it does not reform". Some members of the Cuban Community even say: "What will the Americans and other people think".
I even remember these same people talking about "knowing your place and loving baseball, American Football, and American Things" only to find out that these American "things" come from other countries and being surprised by this.
Even though I am a US Born Latin, I tell my critics the following: I LOVE FOOTBALL AND I COULD CARE LESS WHAT OTHER PEOPLE THINK ABOUT IT.
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ach guys - maybe you just christened the van with the wrong name.
Perhaps Van Rooney would have had more luck with staying in shape???
;)
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How can you say that the Aussies FLUKED the game?
'Bout as flukey as your luck with vehicles!
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can i have the bus when ur done PLEASE PLEASE!!!!
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Hey gareth, get in line!
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Sorry to hear you're still having problems with Svan, but some good news for you Fletch - I've fixed the toilet so one less thing to worry about! x
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In this world cup can some one tell me whether the referees has been told
Not to award a free kick or a penalty to the African teams, we could see that today for Ghana against Italy, Ivory Coast against Argentina, Angola v Portugal. A lot of decision have gone against them, unless the player has broken a leg or is dead.
I am really disappointed with the referees decision to wards the African teams.
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Roberto - you are from Miami. It may be Futbol in Spanish, but it is soccer in Americanlish !!!
;)
Besides, baseball is ours...
Stephan (from Seattle)
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Oi!Is this the World Cup blog - or the Svan blog?
Catch up, guys...
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That'll teach you boys for getting a Fiat.
You know what they say..
Fix
It
Again
Tony
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Change the name of your bus/van to Steve.U know it makes sense
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No fluke about Australia's late comeback...
Go the Aussies!
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Aussie's win was a fluke? One goal maybe but not 3... a fluke is winning a game 1-0 when the opposition scores for us.. oh hang on that was us... thanks Gamarra
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It's no wonder your van keeps breaking down. You tempted fate by naming it after Sven. Like Sven's tactics, Svan keeps breaking down and will break apart by the second round.
You guys will be flying back home, like the England squad, before long.
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portugal gonna win the world cup guys,we play the best and beautifull football in the world no doubt.What you think about?
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Why do we have to give our email addy? i dont understand that at all... italy is going to smash USA. Shouldnt you guys just get a different van? or no better yet, get a car, or an SUV. i had a van once, i didnt like it... but it was a minivan, and we sold it...woops.
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Guys,it is obvious you need a new vehicle, out with the Svan and in with the McLaren!!! now there's a play on words!! greetz from Andy, in Holland
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Good Morning. Hey guys you need to replace the Svan with a (Mercedes) Mclaren - now there's a play on words!! greetz from Andy from Holland
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If you get too dirty, swap Svan with the Catholics, they're always spouting "Fiat Lux"
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