Day 241 – “Total-e-forgotten”

My Heroin Recovery (Monday, 23 July 2007)
Day 241 – “Total-e-forgotten”

Last week was a really quiet week. I spend most of the time in the office working on a presentation and hardly any time on the road. Today started off with a bang and we were on the road for most of the day and tomorrow sounds like an even busier and physical day.

I was reminded today why I never pull into a Total filling station to fill up. I normally drive until I find a BP or an Engen, even a Shell will do – but I always seem to avoid a Total garage.

We drove to a few small downs in the province. On our way back we notice the petrol tank is hovering on empty. We stop at the first Total garage, which doesn’t take Petrol Cards. We drive around the corner to the second garage – also a Total. A man comes walking out after contemplating for 5 minutes whether he should approach us or not. He comes to the window and leans in staring at us. Eventually we figure out he is the petrol attendant, and he informs us that they don’t have unleaded petrol.

We drive quite a while again, praying that this won’t be the day we walk between the goats and cattle looking for petrol and find another petrol station a few kilometers on. Of course, this is also a Total Garage. This time we are approached by a man in uniform and ask him if he accepts cards. He confirms that they do – but also has no unleaded petrol.

Finally, after a 20 km detour from our route, we reach another station. This time it is a Shell Station, and even though we were helped, paid by card and got unleaded petrol – we met a few of the most unhappiest petrol attendants in the world. I think people in prison have a more optimistic walk as they go about their day.

As we drove away back to Polokwane, I wondered if anybody still remembered there were filling stations up north and when they realize they build something there one upon a time, could they please send them some unleaded petrol!!!