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| Lizzie (a muggle cyclist) |
I have a wife who's madly into cycling of all varieties. Sadly, she's not similarly enthusiastic about the maintenance of the several bikes she uses and relies on a little recognised service known as "The Magic Garage"...
Perhaps you have access to one of these fabulous facilities too? Although little talked about, they're nevertheless a nationwide phenomena and can be located in the most unlikely places. The common link tends to be that it's usually a male of the species who is the 'guardian' although there are rare exceptions in these extraordinary times I'm told.
The principle of the Magic Garage is straightforward for anyone to comprehend but exactly what happens within must remain a close secret to be taken by guardians to the grave. In essence, one enters the Magic Garage with a sickly or dirty piece of sports kit – in our case it tends to be a bike or in extreme circumstances, an item as big as a sailing dinghy. The door is lowered and the non magical deliverer and usually owner of the kit (a muggle) leaves the facility.
Some time later (and this depends entirely on the magical level of the guardian), the kit emerges from the Magic Garage, fully restored to its former glory and ready for action and further abuse from the sporting muggle owner.
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| Before... |
Though I have taken an oath of secrecy about the inner workings of the Magic Garage, I can reveal that there are three levels of magic that a guardian may be qualified in. The ultimate level is one that I have studied years to attain and is unlikely to be held by anyone under the age of forty. Of course, there are guardians like my friend Mick who studied at British Aerospace's School of Magical Mechanical Engineering and therefore fast tracked at an early age to top flight magical fixing.
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| ...and after the Magic Garage! |
Guardians practising at the beginner or intermediate levels tend to experience problems based on a lack of confidence and often succumb to pressure from their muggle partners to take on magical mechanical tasks which are way beyond them. In these instances, mentoring help can be sought from prestigious magical mechanical training institutions – specialist shops such as Mountainfeet, Surosa Cycles or the Saddleworth Cyclery are just a few examples. Apprentice guardians are usually reluctant to call for help but as one who is older and wiser than most guardians, I most strongly urge them to seek advice from those more qualified than themselves. This will generally save them from self inflicted bloodshed, domestic violence and engaging in dark magical mechanical practices such as the use of hammers or internet forums.
Now the role of the Magic Garage has been publicised, muggle benefactors of the facility may stop taking the service for granted and bestow the respect due to the particular guardian who performs this often thankless magical repair work for them...
Next week: The Magic Laundry Basket...
