DAAI KAR HET SEWE F*KKEN BATTERYE!!!

DAAI KAR HET SEWE F*KKEN BATTERYE!!!

During our first mission to search for desultory, forgotten and out-of-the-way places to take the series of photos for our 'Where in the World is Raymond' competition, we were surprised on day one at just how quickly nightfall came. The sinking sun caught us unawares and looking for food. We stopped outside a small bar with an adjoining restaurant, just off the main street in a little town in the middle of nowhere. We were enjoying our freshly caught crayfish dinner when we noticed one of the locals - already three sheets to the wind even at that early hour - inspecting the VW Tourag parked outside. Now the Tourag is a special car. The computer that drives all of its off-road electronic wizardry fills the entire space under the drivers seat. If you drive on-road it lowers itself to reduce its center of gravity. You can dial in extra height when going off-road. You can lock and unlock differentials and it has electronic descent control. And the lights switch off automatically to save battery life.The inebriated local weaved his way back inside the restaurant and headed towards our table: 'Meneer, julle ligte is aan,' he announced loudly, swaying gently as he struggled to keep his balance. Raymond, ever polite, thanked him, and we continued our conversation. A short while later, Raymond left our table, went back to the Tourag and returned with our maps.He was followed seconds later by the local who imbibed yet another brandy and coke: 'Julle ligte is nog aan, weet julle,' he managed to slur. This time he looked seriously like he was going to fall over, but managed to regain his balance with a quick forward slide of his left foot. Raymond thanked him again and the local staggered off into the bar.The fourth time the drunk interrupted our dinner, Raymond had had enough. 'Luister vriend,' he said. 'Daai kar is 'n baie speciale kar.' Raymond continued: 'Hy't sewe batterye en daar is nog vyf oor, so ons sal dit baie warder as jy nie were vir ons kom pla nie.' The drunk absorbed this bit of information with a bemused look on his face. 'Jislaaik Oom!'We just thought we had got rid of the nuisance when we heard him yell at the top of his voice to the rest of the restaurant, the bar and the people sitting outside on the balcony: 'Haai julle! Daai kar het sewe f*kken batterye!'We got into Raymond's Tourag (with the seven batteries) and found our way to our hotel for the night. Parking outside, we opened the tailgate and Raymond disconnected the portable refrigerator he had brought along for the trip. Or at least he thought he had. Morning found us up early, ready to continue our adventure only to find Raymond looking forlornly at the Tourag. 'You guys watched me disconnect the fridge!' he said. 'Uh, yes we did,' we said. 'Well, either that guy from last night came past and plugged the fridge back in, or karma is out to get me for making fun of him,' Raymond continued, 'Look.'We looked, and sure enough the fridge was plugged in, sucking what was left of the juice out of the battery. Small towns have great assets though - and that is their people. In no time, the hotel manageress had the local mechanic out of bed and on his way to help us, jumper cables in hand.If you would like to join Raymond on one of his adventure trips, simply register as a Tuffstuff broker (details on the site) and you could be in line to win a trip of a lifetime. The competition is open to all Tuffstuff registered brokers, and if you have sold a Tuffstuff 4x4 product in the previous month, your name will also be put into the draw for Raymonds fabulous Delta trip at the end of the first round of the 'Where in the World is Raymond' competitions.(And, no Cyril, the Tourag dosent have seven batteries - ten cylinders maybe, but only one battery.)