In life, some rain must fall

I cannot believe X'mas is only a week away. The past 2 months have been very busy for me and I feel that 7 days is not gonna be enough for me to get everything done before Santa knocks on the door. Wish there is a way I can buy time.

I spent almost 4 hours with the japanese police yesterday afternoon, an experience I wish I didn't have to go thru. It was about the accident where my car collided with a motorbike at an intersection in my residential area 2 weeks ago. After the accident happened, the police had me described the entire incident and told me they would contact me again for a formal statement. And that was why I had an appointment with them yesterday in the afternoon. Although I kinda knew what to expect, I couldn't help but ended up feeling frustrated (with them) and downright pissed off. They told me that they were not taking sides, yet they insisted that they did not believe that the biker were going beyond the speed limit when he crashed into my car. It frustrated me that they jumped into the conclusion when they were not even there to witness the accident. The photos that they took at the scene showed very clearly that my entire car was already in the middle of the junction when the collision happened and until today, I still cannot figure how the biker could have not seen me! But the police insisted that it was my fault because I had not checked my right which wasn't true. I had already stopped at the stop line (before it all happened) and that was to check on the opposite mirror for vehicles coming from the right. And because the road was designed in such a way that there were many blindspots, I had to also check my left (apart from checking right) since I was crossing over to the left lane as I turned. I couldn't believe when they actually told me that I didn't have to check the left! And let any car crash into me as I turn into that lane? I wonder.

I knew dealing with the japanese would be hard but still, I was angry as they didn't seem to be taking in anything that I said. Even my japanese friend who accompanied me yesterday (and also acted as the translator) was on the verge of quarreling with them. The last straw was, they tried to make me sign a statement that indicated clearly "I caused the accident because...." and "I could have avoided the accident if I had...." . Doesn't that sound like I am saying that I should be held full responsibility for it? I'm not saying that I have no part to play but it was an accident and I believe I wasn't the only party involved in that. Fortunately, my friend managed to make them change the statement as she insisted that it was simply too unfair to me. Just when I thought this whole episode will be over, they told me that they were charging me with causing unintentional injury to the other party. Never mind the fact that there was a very hugh possibility that he was speeding. And that he was negligent or daydreaming  to the extent that he could not see my big silver car a good distance infront of him. His crash tore off my number plate and damaged my bumper which had to be replaced. If he had not been speeding, the impact would not have been that great

When I finally got home last night, the exhaustion hit me and it was only then I realised how mentally drained I was. It will be 3 to 6 months before I receive the summon to see the proscecutor who will decide how much fine I will have to pay (and it really appears to me that they are trying to make money out of this). I am not worried as there's nothing I can do except to wait. The feeling sucks especially when I have never even gotten a parking fine in my 10 years of driving in Singapore and Australia.

Amidst all the frustration and stress, I am just so thankful that I have the help and care from people around me. My friend who stayed with me for the 4 hours yesterday and helped with the translation, standing up for me to the local police when I cannot speak the language. She and another friend also helped ferrying Aiden to school (without me asking) during the 2 weeks that my car was in the workshop having the bumper replaced. And most importantly, my husband who has not once blamed me for the accident but been giving tremendous emotional support and shouldering the stressful tasks of dealing with the insurance side and the car workshop so that I need not worry about the nitty gritty stuff.

For now, I just wanna put this behind. Well, at least until I receive the summon letter. It's gonna be X'mas and I'm determined to enjoy it.