We've had a couple of bouts of snow in the last two months. Nothing here to get very excited about, but enough to make things interesting when you aprk your car on the side of a road just where the hill gets steep. It's a known danger that drivers may lose control just at this section of road and skid into parked cars. It happened about five years ( Read more... )

I've been meaning to check the tyre pressures on the car for a couple of weeks, so decided to do it today, as it was sunny. Got to the garage, off Netherthorpe Road, all right and did the tyres. As I was both off the road, and on level ground, I decided to open the bonnet and check the fluids. I can't do this properly at home, as I park on sloping ( Read more... )

More stress at the end of the week - Thurs might feeling the worst. I needed to put cheques in the bank and do a bit of money juggling, and was considering calling Helen to say I couldn't go to the Kelham Island Xmas market on Sat. Just didn't want to go out, or have to cope with anything ( Read more... )

Yesterday, I took delivery of my new Motability car. I was a little sad to see the Fiesta go, as it's a lovely car to drive. I drove to the dealers and it was inspected for the good condition bonus, while I poked about inside the new car. I could get up to £250 back for the Fiesta being in a good condition, which it is, apart from scuffing on the ( Read more... )

The standard 3-year Motability lease on my Fiesta runs out at the end of next month. It's slightly hard to believe that I've had it for three years now, but at the same time, it feels like a regular part of my life. I'm immensely grateful to the Motability charity that runs the scheme, as it makes such a difference on an everyday level ( Read more... )

At least it's been a bit warmer lately ( Read more... )

It feels like I've been on the phone all day ( Read more... )

Yes, still down in Norfolk. I was promised a courtesy car, but there was a delay as the garage's cars were all out, and they were waiting for customers to bring them back. So instead it was arranged for me to have a car through a rental firm. I had to pay a refundable deposit, which has eaten a chunk out of my available cash and rather limits where ( Read more... )

Today was largely spent waiting for the phone to ring. The garage man didn't call until gone lunchtime and it turns out that Motability don't give the go-ahead for getting a new wheel. I had to call the insurance company and sort things out with them. The insurance person was nice, and sympathetic to the fact that I'm not at home, don't have half ( Read more... )

Now Mum and Dad are settled in their new house, and Dad's had his op and is nicely recovered, I thought I'd come down to Norfolk for a visit. No need to book a train ticket well in advance - I can just get in the car. It's the longest drive I've made so far, but I know the route so it felt quite straight forward. I stopped a couple of times en ( Read more... )