First thing, my wee car went off to the garage with the message “I don’t want to see it again, until it is deemed safe and roadworthy”.  This morning was then spent fighting with BT (changing the account into my mother’s name and trying to clear up the billing mess that is Broadband).  All I can say is for a communications company, BT are ridiculously difficult to talk to!

Little Ted is as always a joy.

Mum’s garden is beginning to think it is Autumn but is still going strong in colour.

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This is the Eden rose in its second flowering this year.  No scent but a beautiful shape – flower and buds – and perfect colour.

The huge and marvellous catalpa tree is about to produce its beans and then drop them everywhere along with its leaves.

I have propped my phone on the gate post in case Mr Fox appears (oooh, I hope he does!)

So, let’s see what the garage say.  I am not holding my breath but at least I am safe.  I was very worried.

A horrible eventful day.  It started well. Floss and I found her accommodation easily (we had learned our lesson – don’t listen to the Sat-Nav, he tells lies) and en route stopped off briefly to sight see.

This is the view almost from her house. Not bad really.

I tried to tell Floss about the Severn bore. I am not sure she understood my description. I wonder if she will see it?

Goodbyes said, sat-nav (grrr!) set, I drove off to my mother’s – one and a half hour down the M4. I was trundling along happily when two rather important and necessary looking lights appeared. Panicking, and thinking the car now felt “different”, I managed to get safely to a service station and park up.

And with that, my brain froze. I had no idea where I was so, after a good slug of Rescue Remedy, I phoned the RAC who wanted to know where I was.  I had no idea but I used What3Words –  mine were “Tower, Crank, Depended”.  A bit of a wait and I was rescued, sort of.  Many hours later, I have limped to stay with my mother, feeling utterly shattered.  The car is not well. That I do know. But come Monday, I will phone a garage and see what they can do.

Well me and my ancient sat-nav now loathe each other.  I have discovered that he lies, can turn himself off when most needed, his voice gets tetchier and tetchier and hasn’t heard of half of Bristol’s postcodes. He even tells me to pull a uey when things are going badly! Unhelpful.  We have had words, possibly almost caused a few accidents and I am now seriously considering replacing him.

Or, as Floss remarked, despite not having an old fashioned paper map, we are still enjoying the full experience!

Bristol is pretty, in parts, if you are living in the rich expensive bit. The architecture is truly stunning and they have a nice suspension bridge.  There are tiny narrow streets with cars parked (badly/thoughtlessly) on either side. The roads are terrible – potholes and lumpy.  Cycling would be certain suicide.

Today was spent finding Floss’ new abode (three attempts, thank you Mr Sat-Nav), emptying Tesco’s, and then spending a few happy hours in a massive Chinese supermarket – Floss’ idea of heaven.

Tomorrow, I am back on the road again.

Well, I feel a bit calmer now.

Floss and I arrived safely at our new hotel in Bristol after a much nicer and less worrisome drive.  I think the lorries are better behaved as you get south.  We had a stop for lunch somewhere and then pushed onto our destination.  Yesterday I found driving difficult but today seemed much better.

I am currently lying on my hotel bed, listening to Classic FM on the telly, with two large cups of tea and the shortbread from yesterday so life is good.

News from home is that BeAnne is eating and smiling (all I want) and that everyone is fine.  Daisy sent me a photo from the Minion’s new field.  Nice to see home – it feels like a world away.

Well, we’ve reached half way and I am currently lying on my hotel bed somewhere in Cumbria having a well-earned cup of tea while munching the complementary shortbread.

En route, we stopped off at the mighty Temple of Tesco in Dundee.

It was so huge that I kept a good eye on Floss in case I never saw her again. We did not split up to shop. That would’ve been a very bad idea.
   

Things I notice south. No one is happy. Folk are surly.  Lorries drive way too fast. We had one argument. I feel I made my point, though. Also, Tesco’s may be huge but their aubergines are crap!  Not like the ones I have happily pack on a Thursday for Transition Turriefield.

Also, while I am ranting, Lake District “Farm Shops” should not sell Charbonnel and Walker chocolates (possibly the most poshest London chocolate ever) but local produce. It’s like a branch of John Lewis here.

Still, the view is nice and, apart from the headache (thank you Mr far-too-close Lorry Driver), I hope we will get a good night’s sleep and be ready for Round 2 of our car journey to Bristol.

A wee film of Her Maj (sent by Daisy)

They do have very fast broadband here in Englandshire.