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Wednesday 11 September 2013

Riding along in my automobile ...

Thank you all for the good wishes for the Vintage Pop-up Shop last Saturday ... it was a great day and I sold a good few things so went home lighter in car and not pocket, as I was very good, and for the first time ever, didn't buy anything!



When I got home we had to unload the car straight away, to reload it with Harry's University stuff, because we were heading off to Salford, first thing Sunday morning.  You may be aware of my fear of driving long distances, it has been recorded on this very blog, so my little sis was kindly doing the honours.

Sunday morning dawned bright and sunny (thankfully!) and we made our way to Helen's, where we swapped seats and the trip began.  There were four of us, me, Helen, Steve and of course the studious one, Harry.  Plus all his worldly goods.  (It's amazing what you can get in a Micra).

courtesy of Google - thank you!

We had been travelling along for about an hour and a half and Helen remarked how well the car was doing (it was a big day out for Minnie Micra, she only ever travels ten miles away at the most) when suddenly she said, "your oil light's just come on", Steve said "I put oil in this morning", next moment she said that it was losing power, and pulled onto the hard shoulder.  Smoke started to come from the bonnet and I had a bit of a flap.  I think I'm calm in a crisis if I'm the only one there to deal with the situation, but if there are more grown-up people around, I crumble a bit and hope they'll deal with it ... I panicked again when Helen asked me if I had breakdown cover ... I couldn't for the life of me remember if I had, but fumbled around with my phone looking for a likely number.  I found one, but when I rang it was an obsolete number.

To cut a long story a bit shorter, I then rang my insurance company to ask if I was covered, and they put me through to the RAC.  I was explaining what happened when my phone went dead.  Helen wasn't impressed with my lack of organisation (I have had a lot on, and didn't think to charge my phone, as I didn't think I'd need it) so we used hers.  Luckily I did have cover (there is a God, after all!) and the RAC duly arrived.

Google

I only had cover to take us to one destination so we had to decide whether to go to Salford, where I would have to then dispose of the car as it was dead, (RIP Minnie, you've been a good and faithful friend, but you certainly chose your moment) or have it taken back to a depot and arrange its disposal afterwards.  Harry said that he'd get a taxi to Salford on his own, and we could just go home.  Of course Mammy wasn't having any of that so it was arranged  that me, Steve and Harry would get a taxi to Salford and Helen would go back with the RAC man who had very kindly made arrangements to take the car (and Helen) all the way home.

A taxi was then called ... we had to unload all Harry's stuff onto the hard shoulder to await collection by the lunatic who picked us up.  We loaded his taxi, got in and waved goodbye to Helen and Mr RAC, and then began the nightmare journey ...

Mr Taximan pretended he didn't know the area ... he told us this fabulous news after just driving straight into the line of traffic on the motorway, whilst fiddling with his satnav. I had a scrap of paper with directions, which I relayed to him, but he still wanted the satnav on.  I put the postcode in and the voice began.  We were approaching a crucial part of the directions on the post it note, and I told him where to go (in the nicest possible way) but he said he was going via the satnav now.  We totally missed the turning and then went on a round trip around Salford, so by the time we did arrive, Harry had had a whistle stop tour of his new city.

Thank-you Google!


We experienced a hairy u-turn on a busy dual carriageway ... we went through a red light ... the explanation given that he didn't have time to stop! We eventually got there, miraculously in one piece, but not until after he shot past the building which was our destination, so he did another dramatic emergency stop, with a loud screech of brakes and rapid change of gears into reverse ... and so our arrival was announced.

He unceremoniously turfed us out (we felt like the Clampetts, surrounded by boxes of Coco Pops and tins of beans, rolling onto the road), charged us £48 for his service, then kindly reduced it to £40, as he had made a couple of  mistakes and taken wrong turnings. Yeah, right ...

Thanks Google!

Some lovely ladies from the University listened to my tale of woe and sprang into action.  Harry and his Dad went to register, which only took moments, and then a man arrived with a van and loaded Harry's stuff in and delivered it to his new room.

We unpacked, made his room a little more homely and then took him for something to eat.  As it was Sunday, we weren't sure about train times, so thought we had better leave sooner rather than later and with a heavy heart, had to say goodbye to Harry in his lonely student rooms of which at that time, he was the sole occupant.

We walked to Salford station and forked out another £60 for 2 single tickets back home, and arrived home at about 6pm.  The end of a very eventful day.  I felt drained, and very emotional ... I had worried about this day for a long time, but never envisioned that it would turn out this way.

Before bedtime I rang Harry ... he was in the pub with two of his new flatmates and sounded very settled, so I went to bed, and slept for a long, long time.

The next day when I awoke I expected to feel quite down and depressed but instead just made myself think that the situation could have been much, much worse.  We were all safe and well, the car was back home and I did have breakdown cover, otherwise I dread to think what the cost would have been! We had a bit of an adventure that will be talked about for years to come,  but despite all that, I couldn't help thinking "Thank God it wasn't raining"!

Have a lovely week

Love, Claire xxx

PS: I have not been sponsored by the RAC, or received anything from them, apart from excellent service! Thank you so much ...

PPS: Helen has the only photographic evidence of this adventure ... don't even want to imagine the grim images!


62 comments:

  1. Aw Claire, what a nightmare! Glad you got home safe & sound & good luck to your son at Uni xxx

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    1. Aw thank you Anne ... we are seeing the funny side now ... we love black humour! xxx

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  2. Sounds like a very stressful day for you, but at least your son didn't seem fazed by it. Hope that you can get the car to recover!

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    1. Am afraid the car has gone to the great scrapyard in the sky Amy! Engine needed replacing ... xx

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  3. I have the visual reminders, but I think your description does the whole day justice without these! An eventful day but Harry got where he had to be and everyone else got home safe and sound, worse things happen at sea (I think)xxx

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    1. I know Helen, and we'll laugh about this! xxx

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  4. Well, that was a scary read... you should report the taxi driver for dangerous driving (Mr E works in road safety).
    Hope he gets the train home when he visits! EE xx

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    1. Unfortunately I was so wound up with everything that was going on I didn't take his number, and the RAC man ordered the taxi, so I don't even know the company name ... Harry will be getting the train home, and I definitely will never drive on a motorway now xxx

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  5. It sounds that you had all had a bit of a nightmare time of it. Glad everything went right in the end. Taxi drivers can be a nightmare. I think they forget that they are offering a service.

    It sounds that your boy has settled right in though. That is the main thing!


    P x

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    1. Hello Paula, lovely of you to drop in! All's well that end's well, or so they say ...

      Love Claire xx

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    1. It definitely was! Thans for dropping in, you're very welcome!

      Love Claire xx

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  7. What a day you've had! The main thing is that you all got safe at your destination and your son has settled in very quickly! And when the child is happy....so is the mum! Enjoy the rest of (which I hope) peaceful week! Anita xo

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    1. It is a relief that he's settled in Anita, and yes I'm haly that he's happy!

      Love Claire xx

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  8. crikey - what a journey - sounds like a very expensive day out when you had been so good the day before!!! i haven't been on a train for years but i can just about remember that it is almost as expensive to buy single tickets as return ones ...... i'm glad that you can see the funny side of it now - a sense of humour is a life saver and cannot be bought (i have a friend without a sense of humour and she is completely screwed up!!!! when we go out as a foursome 3 of us can be rolling on the floor laughing and she is "margo" - bless her)...... how lovely to hear that he was at the pub with his new flatmates - it would have been worse if he had been all alone!!! hope he enjoys the term - only a few weeks and he will be home again for christmas - take time to recover from your journey - hope you can get a new car soon because we rely on them - don't we? xxxx

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  9. forgot to say that the beverley hillbillies were my favourites when i was growing up - i am singing the theme tune now!!!! come listen to my story about a man named jed - a poor mountaineer who kept his family fed .......xx

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    1. Oh I loved the. Too Lynne! Love the take about your friend, poor thing, does she never laugh? Thanks for dropping I and for your lovely comments

      Claire xx

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    2. feeling guilty now about my comment on "margo" - she does have the odd laugh BUT she genuinely doesn't have much of a sense of humour and a lot of funny situations completely wash over her head - which i feel is very sad for her and obviously she is aware of it so feels it xx

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  10. Oh! Claire what a day..that taxi driver needs shooting he sounds like a shyster (not sure I should say that)
    I did have a giggle when you said Harry was in the Pub.. exactly the same thing happened to me when I worried about my youngest son on his first day at Uni..
    Poor little car she was not used to going so far!
    Glad you are all home safe and sound... and dry
    Thank you Claire for all your sweet words I really love them
    Thea xx

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    1. Hello Thea, my son Jake was in the pub as soon as we left too! I had visions of him sitting all alone in his room ...

      My poor little car is sitting outside, waiting for the breaker to come and collect her tomorrow. Feel a bit sad really as I've had her 6 years and she's only let me down once before ...

      Love your comments too, Thea, I always cheer up when I see you've posted one!

      Have a lovely eveni g

      Love Claire xxx

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    2. Ooops Claire I mean Jake (its been one of those days)
      Thea xx

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    3. You were right first time Thea!We took Harry to Salford this weekend, I was just referring to when we took Jacob 5 years ago ... he did exactly the same thing!

      Hope it's not one of those days today ...

      Love Claire xxx

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  11. Well he's never going to forget his first day! Goodness Claire ... when you have a bad day you don't do it by half do you ;) So glad it all worked out okay in the end!

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    1. Haha, I know Annie ... I'm sure people think I make things up!

      Have a lovely day

      Love Claire xxx

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  12. Such a stressful day for you!! But it all turned out all right in the end! It made a riveting read, and I am so glad it ended happily. Your son sounds very cool, and he has obviously settled right in with his new friends. Hope the rest of your week is happy and relaxed after your ordeal!
    Helen x

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    1. Hello Helen, we are laughing about it now, but it was awful at the time ... Harry is cool and doesn't like a fuss, he just gets on with things really.

      Finish work at lunchtime today, so going to do something nice at home ... hoping to get a car this weekend.

      Love Claire xxx

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  13. Claire,
    It is always emotional and stressful taking our children to Uni, but is sounds as if you had a bucketful of it! It will be a story that won't be forgotten! I'm amazed how much you managed to get into the car, it must have been dreadful to unload.
    I'm glad you had a successful day on Saturday.
    Sarah x

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    1. Hello Sarah, the photo of the car was just an image from Google, but ours was equally tightly packed! As my phone had died I couldn't take any pics, but my sister has a few, that I really don't want to see ...

      Thanks for dropping in, it's always lovely to have you here!

      Love Claire xxx

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  14. The university trip is always fraught with emotion at any time but with everything else on top of it you did amazingly well - and even though you might not think so at the moment you will be laughing at this before long! Well done on coping with an extremely difficult situation and I'm glad to hear Harry sounds settled x Jane

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    1. Aw thank you Jane, what kind comments! Everything fine, and we are having a laugh about it already ... these things always happen to us, we shouldn't really be surprised!

      Love Claire xxx

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  15. Oh no. I'm sorry you had to deal with all of that but it sounds like you did well. I'm glad Harry is getting settled in. Best of luck to him.

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    1. Hello Jennifer, thank you so much, and it all turned out ok in the end!

      Love Claire xxx

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  16. Hi Claire,
    Sorry to here about your bumpy adventure but at least you are all in one piece and Harry arrived safely in his new place. Why is it always us parents who foot the bill when moving our children to their own independent homes? It was the same with us when we moved John into his flat two weeks ago. Last minutes buys to make sure he had everything he needed and diesel to to put in the van for a two hundred mile round trip! It costs a fortune but they're worth it! xxxx Julie xxxx mrsmelwoodbeer

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    1. Hi Julie ... it has cost a small fortune, but hopefully I won't have too much outlay to come! saying that, his laptop has decided to go on the blink! As you know, I try to be thrifty with everything, and plan things in advance trying to get the best deal, but some things jut can't be foreseen! Why are you anonymous? I've had some dodgy 'anonymous' emails lately, so was glad to see your name at the end of it!

      Love Claire xxx

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    2. Hi Claire,
      Sorry for the anonymous but I couldn't log in to my account! I've remembered the password now so hopefully won't be anonymous anymore! :-)
      Julie xx mrsmelwoodbeer

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    3. Aw, glad you've got it sorted Julie! It's just that a lot of the 'anonymous' comments go straight to spam, and I forget to check it ... would hate to miss one of your lovely comments, my dear!

      Love Claire xxx

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  17. Oh Claire I gasped when I read that Minnie had given up while you were on your way to Salford. I was relieved that you all got there in one piece despite your long trip. It sounds like Harrys settled in really well, so less worry for you. My daughter has lots of plans for freshers week, she runs the social side of the dance society, so he may bump into her. I think she studying socializing while at uni. At least thats what she seems to spend most of her time doing. Have a lovely stress free day.
    Ali x

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    1. Oh Ali, I know, poor Minnie is no more! I'm waiting for the breaker to come and take her away ...

      I'll tell Harry to look out for your daughter, though he doesn't do much dancing! I could have got a degree in socialising at their age too, sounds great!

      Love Claire xxx

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    2. I thought it highly unlikely he would do much dancing :) But the dance society did go on 'tour' to Spain last year with the rugby club. If there's some fun to be had my daughter tends to be there. Hope Harry enjoys freshers.
      Ali x

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    3. And so she should Ali! Sounds like she's having a ball ... xxx

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  18. OH MY GOODNESS!! My heart has been racing faster and faster reading through this - oh my word what a start to new uni life indeed. Very sorry to hear about your car - having broken down more times than I care to remember we now ALWAYS have breakdown cover (I will never forget the time I had to put snow into the water cooler thingy to stop the engine blowing up....).

    You son will have the best of times - root and wings (possibly more wings than roots for a while!!)

    Thank you for your very kind and lovely emails Claire - only just got round to reading them as busy with work but will reply. It is very kind and thoughtful of you dearie

    Best wishes
    Jenny

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  19. Aw thanks Jenny! I will definitely always have cover now ... I always have, it's just that it's that long since I used it, I wasn't sure! I never really go very far anyway ...

    Harry is doing fine, although his laptop is on the blink, grrr! As it's his chosen form of communication (he does have a phone, but rarely uses it) this is a bit of a crisis, but hopefully it's getting sorted.

    Hope you're ok, Jenny, love your pics on Instagram too xxx

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  20. Oh Claire, what an adventure!!! I always think these little mishaps make things a bit more memorable looking back and I'm glad you're already laughing about it now. And your Son off to Uni now, I can't even imagine how emotional all that is as some of mine are still not even at full-time school yet. Hope he settles in well and you adjust to the new family dynamics. Love Mel x

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  21. Hello Mel, I agree with you, but I always seem to have a tale to tell about every possible experience! Perhaps I'm just a drama queen!

    Make the most of your gorgeous children, their childhood goes sooooo fast!

    Love Claire xxx

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  22. Goodness me Claire, could it have been any more traumatic! You sound very stoic throughout, well done for holding it all together and it sounds as if all's well that ends well. I shall make sure I pack our Insurance cover document tomorrow!!
    Fiona x

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    1. Hi Fiona, thanks for dropping in, you're always welcome! Thinking of you today and hope it all went well

      Love Claire xxx

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  23. Oh my GOSH Claire!!! What a nightmare for all of you, but really, mostly you and poor Harry who would've been feeling nervous about the whole transition in the first place. You did have me laughing though (now that it's all over it's ok to laugh, right?). I think you had a dishonest taxi driver, and he probably grew up in Salford! Murphy's Law through and through. I just can't believe all of this happened to you ... the tins of beans rolling onto the road were a great touch! So glad that it all ended well enough ... ok, so maybe you lost your dear car, but Harry is settled and has made a couple of friends, so that part is the biggest worry off your mind at least. How we try so hard to make our kids are settled and cozy. Big BIG hugs to you for braving through this remarkable day! I would've had a tizzy fit too ;) Wendy xox

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    1. Hi Wendy, of course it's ok to laugh, though I must admit it wasn't funny a the time! Harry is a cool customer, and wasn't nervous at all, he would quite happily have gone on his own ...

      Have got Harry home again this weekend, because he's had so etching to sort out at this end, but he's going back on the train this time!

      Love Claire xxx

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  24. Oh - thank goodness, not just me that doesn't like driving long distances, especially can't do cities and TRAFFIC...
    Lovely to hear you had a good day in Ulverston on Saturday. Am off to Morecambe ( I've practised the drive- how sad is that) on Sunday 15th for the Vintage Village Hall fair at the Platform. Have just read headlines in the Daily Express while out shopping - 'torrential rain and 70 mph gales will peak on Sunday with the danger of structural damage to coastal towns in the North West' Eeek!
    Hope your son has settled at uni - sometimes more stressful for Mum than offspring!
    xx Heather

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  25. Ooh Heather, I do all those things ... I worry about where I'm going to park, if I can unload, etc, and yes, I've done practice runs too! You're very brave, I haven't driven to Motecambe on my own ...

    Hope you've had a great day, and looking forwards hearing all about it ...


    Love Claire xxx

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  26. Thank you for your lovely comment! I loathe break downs... I"d rather go to the dentist, but so glad to hear you got it all sorted eventually! xx

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    1. Hello Jus! Popped over to you yesterday, glad to have you back ...

      Love Claire xx

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  27. Bless you a traumatic time when our fledglings leave home without all the extra hassle. I don't mind longer journeys as long as I have company but know how you feel. I'm so glad you could see the best side of the day in the end.

    Peg xx

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    1. Hello Peg, a big welcome to Thriftwood! I could have done without it at the time, but all's well that ends well ...

      Love Claire xxx

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  28. Flipping heck woman. You had a nightmare, I tell thee. A nightmare.... poor you, sounds mad.

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    1. Hi Gem ... I know, it sounds like something that would happen to you! Thanks for popping in ...

      Love Claire xxx

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  29. oh my goodness - what a trauma! I don't do long distance driving either....so scary! Thank goodness you were all ok and you had company.....certainly a day you will never forget in a hurry!Take care x

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  30. Hello Miss Squirrel! I'm glad i'm not the only one that doesn't do long journeys .... I keep meaning to conquer my fears, but I definitely will NOT be doing motorway driving now ...

    Have a a wonderful weekend!

    Love Claire xxx

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  31. OOh Claire! Sending thoughts out your way here! Poor you's and Harry! Tis all stress full enough with out break downs occurring on this day! The break down services are jolly decent.We are with the AA and as you know I am not a driver, but should I be in another car travelling, Pats cover would artomatically apply through me to the driver of the car if we broke down! not bad eh..Hope Harry has settled in to' Freshers week'!! and is making lots of new friends! ( I am sure he is) Hugs Maria x

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  32. Hi Maria, I have wheels again ow, s thnk we need a road tri soon! Harry has settled in well, but things haven't really gone smoothly but hopefully we've had the 3 bad luck things now, so onwards and upwards!

    See you soon

    Love Claire xxx

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  33. Oh Claire what a nightmare!! I've just been reading this with my hand over my mouth groaning 'Oh nooo!' lol Glad you got back safe and sound. Everything seems better after a good sleep eh? xx

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  34. Oh My Goodness! What a nightmare, but at least you all made it in one piece and you saw him settled. I have no breakdown cover and keep thinking perhaps I should ...
    M x

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I love to hear what you think of my ramblings and value all your comments ... I will try and get back to you, but am sorry if I don't always manage this ... sometimes real life just gets in the way! Claire xxx