Like most yachties visiting New Zealand we have bought an old car. Buying a car here is remarkably easy; you just hand over a bundle of cash and drive away. We bought from a dealer but many vehicles are sold from the side of the road. Every vendor is obliged to provide a six months WOF (Warranty of Fitness) and the purchaser must register the deal at a post office within seven days. The formalities take about as long and cost as much as buying a book of first class stamps in the UK. Our path towards car ownership was smoothed by Rick, the mechanic doing a bit of work on our engine. On his way home one night he called in at a second-hand car lot, identified a bargain and presented us next day with the details and a phone number. What service! The general idea is that we shall sell in six months in the hope that it has not suffered much further depreciation. However, it suffered considerable depreciation a few days after purchase when while proceeding slowly up the main shopping street in Auckland, a lady in a very smart BMW SUV left a parking bay and executed a sharp U turn immediately across our bows. I dropped the anchors smartly but still caught her amidships. Being a typically friendly New Zealander she leapt out of her car full of apologies, expressing profound contrition and within a couple of hours I had received a text message from her insurers asking me to get in touch. The car is to be repaired at their expense on Monday.