Monday 27 February 2012

Bus Story - Part 1

What does it take to be a DNS BUS
Here is our DNS bus all clean and
beautiful, it is waiting for people who will fill
it's life with adventure, history and joy. Meet
bus VOLVO B5 manufactured on year 1975,
was born weighting 8 tons.
Rumour has it, it was living in Norway,
working for musicians and orchestra people.
Life went on and he moved to Poland … this
period of bus is not very well studied, there is
physically no evidence of it having any
activity. But then history can be picked up
from Lithuania, where our bus was working
as a suburb bus, and as it got wiser and older
it attracted and eye of wedding organizer.
They offered it to be special antiquary guest in big weddings, who could refuse an offer like this. So
for some years it was a great friend of many new weds, drove them were they were happy and
where all were celebrating and partying.
But one day global crisis wend down, many have lost their jobs and promised bonuses, that
were planned to be spend on hiring our bus, at the time it was not a cheep commodity. Crisis hit our
bus hard too, no one could afford him, no one was even getting married, sad times came over
Lithuania. Life turned hard, every penny was counted. But most sadly bus got depressed, no more
joy spirit was left in his cold metal heart, no will to fight for survival, no courage to end it all either.
So it wend down to parking place and parked it self back-wards, and stopped it's engine. Depression
was taking over, heart was freezing, breaks started to rust, moss started to grow on the body. Even
CIA has reported the bus is no longer a
threat to them and has publicised it's
picture on google maps.
So what was it waiting, what was it
dreaming or thinking all this time. Some
witness say it was totally closed to itself
and was mumbling something about having
no will of existing, scrap yard seemed like
a good idea for poor old bus. The end
seemed imminent.
Then one day a phone rang, and a
boy was asking about the bus, sounded
strange, because he mentioned Africa …
can that be right? But wait … he mentioned
it again. Must be a joker, in times like these
people like to make fun out of old buses.
But next day phone rang again and the boy
was again talking about Africa and when
can he come and meet the bus, maybe to talk … to talk about what?!
Unbelievable, but what ever … thought the bus and drowned to his rest. Some body came
and went again, friend driver had a guest for chit chat, nothing really unusual, so bus was not even
opening his eye to notice.
But when he was about to fall asleep to meet the full-moon of August it realised that there is
some movement around it's body. It tried to ignore it but someone was jumping in and out, someone
was trying to kick start its engine! It was neighbour masters of mechanics, what are they doing?
What do they want now? … What are they saying? They need to prepare it for a visit? Visit who?
http://maps.google.dk/maps?q=vilnius,
+salininkai&hl=da&ll=54.606904,25.263719&spn=
0.001212,0.003484&geocode=+&hnear=Salininkai,
+Vilnius,+Vilnius+amt,
+Litauen&t=h&safe=active&z=19
Suddenly all attention was electrified, or was it the battery charger? No it cant be true, who would
want to meet me? Thought the bus. But dirty neighbours were not really going away. They even
brought a bucket of diesel with them. Wow, visit or no visit, now the bus was interested. It has
forgotten what diesel tasted like, so it will not miss a chance like this. It barely noticed that there is
an unknown man, taking pictures, getting in and out, even looking under the bus. Bus was not
interested, it was keeping his eyes on that diesel that was smelling so nice. Some one was running
around yelling, taking more pictures, even videos.
– Brumm brum dha dha. - the bus cought as it was drinking fuel skills were rusted.
– Brumm, brumm – dum dum dum dum dum dum dum dum dum dum. - it was a
pleasure that was long forgoten. Ahh how nice is the feeling to have all the pistons moving again.
– I wonder if the gears are in order? Thought the bus and pushed himself forward, -
ahh I still have it !
Bus was full of excitement and joy, it went around the parking place, making some smoke,
but hey who wouldn’t, after 2 years of sleep? It didn't pay attention to the people around, to their
conversations nor talks He missed the young man's conversation with the owner or the intensive
handshake they gave to each other. Only after bus has parked itself in the place, it noticed a big
smile on guys face, who at this moment was looking at the bus like he is trying to say something.
Long hair guy approached bus swiftly and started talking:
– Hello sir, My name is Romas and I need you to take a team of young teachers to
Africa. We need you to be our centre of the education, it that has history of having many
descriptions but never just one. You are DNS 2011 bus, and you will go with us to adventure of a
life time, so prepare yourself mentally and physically.
Romas explained the program that DNS has for the bus, it was out of this world! But he
sounded so firm that not for a second bus doubted his words.
– Who will drive me? - asked the Bus
– A driver - Romas answer.
– Driver who? You?
– No! I don’t have license. A DNS'er is taking drivers license as we speak, she is a nice
young lady, she will take you to Denmark, for your final preparation.
– What? I was never driven by a lady! But I never went to Africa too.
– Right then! I will leave you now. You. Shape yourself up, take a bath, get your
batteries and filters changed. I will try to keep you updated, but don't be surprised if I will show
with a short notice. OK?
– Okeiih...
And he left, just like he came. Bus was totally stunned, was it real, he looked at his ex owner
and he noticed him looking back with the pleasant smile. - It's true! The wires jumped, engine got
worm, lights sparked, life energy came with a wave! Depression … gone, will is back, joy for
adventure is taking over!
Next month was busy, two years made some damage, but off course Bus is 36 years old, that
is not without a trace. Fuel filters has to be changed, need new oil, new battery is here, a crack in a
window cant give a green light at inspection. But little by little documents were fine, and bus was
ready go.
Romas called, said he is coming, then he called and cancelled. Again Romas calls, he
announced that the new driver is ready and that he is coming to take the bus to Denmark … and
again he failed to full fill. The enthusiasm started to shrink, what if they changed their minds, what
if they don’t want it any more? They transferred all the money, but why would they not come, don’t
they need to work on design before they leave for Marocco, what is going on?! Winter came, and it
was almost obvious for bus that no travel will be soon, new year will be just as interesting as last
year.
Again Romas called, but this time he was on his way, with a driver and couple of students,
wow. On December 15th, its cold and a weather is bad, temperature will soon drop below zero. Is he
crazy, the bus is slow and it has not driven for so long, where will we sleep and who will pay for all
the diesel... it was so obvious that Bus was freaking out!
- Calm Down, said Romas, we know what we are into and we will not step down, nor
you will be lost or left behind, so pull yourself together man and lets get going. By the way, meet
CJ, she will drive you to Tvind.
(To be continued … )

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