Decisions, Decisions

Today I saw my GP and I have decided to voluntarily surrender my driving licence on medical grounds.

Regular readers will remeember that this is something that has been at the back of my mind for several months.

This is a very appropriate time to take this decision as my current car was due to be returned to Motability and I was due to collect a new car shortly - but had not already done so. It is now arranged that Motability will collect my car on 20 January.

TBSITW came over and emptied my car of all that should be taken away, and gained some useful things that were lying around in the boot. Unfortunately one of the things she found was a gift token for a £10 car valet. Given to me several years ago. Oh, sorry TBSITW

I am an ungrateful hussy.


Now, to top all that she has done for me she is offering to be my chauffeur for things like my physiotherapy and my hairdresser - the latter of which we shall try to synchronise.

Incidentally, she also put away all my Christmas decorations.

The Albatross Strikes Again

Went out this morning to go to big garden centre for two or three things and to get some meat as well as to order lean ham and round steak minced together for collection next Wednesday.

When I got to the car, I could hardly believe my eyes.

The roof,

The windscreen,

The driver's window,

The front offside door.

All plastered with the stuff.

It was as though someone had placed a bleeper on my car calling the albatrosses to overfly and let go.

So, the first thing I had to do was to go to the car wash. On the way, I noticed quite a few people look at my car and start laughing.

Okay, clean car and off to the garden centre. Did my shopping and had a cheese scone with Lemon Refresher.

Back home in time for a cup of tea and a chat.

Once Again, With Feeling...

Went this morning to near by small town to have the new spare tyre and decal fitted. Got there bang on 10 am as promised, parked in the forecourt, bent down to pick up my handbag..

..and there it was gone.

So back home again, collected handbag then back to garage.

Job done quickly.

So then I went on to a Metro branch of that supermarket that begins with T.

I had tried to place an order on-line with the one that starts with A, but so many things that I wanted were unavailable that I aborted.

At least I had a shopping list.....

I very rarely shop on foot as I find it too tiring, but thought I would have a go this time as it was a small branch.

Managed to find everything on my list.

However, I had forgotten how easy it was to be tempted when the goods were there in front of me...

So, over and above the list I bought Yeo Valley organic fruit compote and organic creme fraiche to go with it, and came up against some seriously good wine offers - half price on wines costing usually £14 or so - a claret, a Rioja and so on, and also 2 books for £7.

When I got to the checkout, the bill was over £100.....

Got back home, unpacked the shopping then checked the supermarket bill.

Okay, I know you should do this before you leave, but I defy anyone to hold up a growing queue to do this.

What has transpired is that the till programming did not recognise all the wine discounts.

So, I shall go back tomorrow after Church.

The Car - Again

Today I was up at the crack of dawn, and headed to Kwik-Fit . I first visited them on 25 April, which is 3 weeks ago. I made several phone calls and one visit to find out what was happening about my spare wheel. The last call was two days ago where I got a new manager who told me to come in today. There I was at 9am.

So he had a look at it.

And said I would have to go to the Vauxhall garage as they couldn't supply it.

Now, why didn't somebody tell me this before now?

So, off to nearby small town to Vauxhall garage. They will have a new wheel, tyre and trim in for tomorrow morning.

I am not getting my hopes too high, but....

And the downside?

£135.

Ouch.

and it would be at the same time as I am having to pay a £250 excess on my insurance claim for my hob.

Still at least the weather is better, with temperatures in the low teens.

The Car.....

Went to that nice Kwik-Fit as arranged for them to look at the wheel to order a new one in; they also checked the steering which was fine.

But they found the wheel was out of alignment and fixed that.

Just got a phone call to say that the new wheel won't be in until Tuesday, so I shall call in on my way back from physiotherapy classes.

On my way home, I popped in to the small Asda and found, to my horror that, not only did I not have a coin for the trolley, but that I did not have my purse. (Glad I did not find that out when I reached checkout with a full trolley!)

Came home and found it hiding under a book I was reading yesterday. It had got put down on the stool after I entered any credit card statements into Excel, then had later put the book down on top of it.

Silly me...

but successful shop done.

Just a quicky...

... two people came to the door before I was fully dressed this morning. The first one told me I had a flat tyre, the second that I had left one of my car windows open.

And it was raining.

So out I went and dealt with the one thing I could do, which was to wind the window up.

Saw that I had, not only a flat tyre, but missing wheel trim. I doubt that that will be lying where it came off, but I can't really go and look for it with a flat tyre.....

Seen the day when I would have set to and changed the tyre myself.

So I called these nice tyre fitters (the ones dressed in blue who dance in their ad) and am going this afternoon after the cleaners leave.

Don't want to be out when they call, and am not sure there would be time to get it fixed before they arrive.

LATER

Sister called and told me off that I could NOT drive the car with a flat tyre. At her suggestion, I called the insurers who told me to call the RAC. A very nice man was there in less than an hour, and changed the wheel. He also had a loook at the steering and said it should be safe. I think I am going to need a whole new wheel rather than a new tyre, so am going round to the tyre place tomorrow.

Not fit to go there today as I am still somewhat shaken.

And besides I have a nice pot roast simmering away on the hob!