Only there was virtually nothing worth buying in the sales. The entire world cinema and anime sections weren’t in the sale at all, the dvds I might have considered were discounted by all of a pound (get them online, it’s cheaper…) and the quid-ish section was tiny. I did find 3 cd’s (well, 3 double cds) for 1.99 each (which meets my under a quid a disk price requirement) which allowed me to get some new dancy stuff. Certainly one CD of which is cool.
Unfortunately, after several hours of traffic jams; in the rain and the cold (heater / wipers on) Rebecca’s battery decided to pack up and leave for swizerland; with us in the righthand lane of traffic. The engine just *stopped*. I’d noticed the voltmeter hanging around the 12volt region (instead of 14.6 volts) and was starting to get that nervous “I need to up the revs and get this battery charging) when the engine stopped. And didn’t want to start. So, yeah, bang on the indicator (left one) and hop out to push the car over to the side of the road. And what happens?
People, of course, get out to help push, that’s what I’d do. And someone stopped traffic in the left lane to help….. No, I’m lying. That’s what I’d do. What actually happened was that the bastards all started undertaking in the left hand lane, meaning I was stuck. In the end, my housemate Lauren had to go and stop the traffic so I could push the car across; then of course I couldn’t get out the drivers door as the cars all pushed past in the gap and ended up climbing out the passenger door. I couldn’t believe it, I mean it was just unbelievable.
So I grabbed the starting handle and ran round to the front; just as policeman number one on rather nice Pan Euro arrived; had a couple of goes, but she wasn’t having it. Policeman number 2 arrived and they gave us a push; which resulted in the car starting again, and us managing to get back into the righthand lane. They were dead nice, and major thanks to the policeman. Of course, from that point on I was trying to hold the car at 1,500 rpm to keep the battery charging, and at the same time having to brake and change gear with my left foot; which lead to some entertaining moments (one particularly as I tried to change gear using the brake pedal; fortunately no one was behind us). Also, driving with only sidelights in the dark…..on the lit stretches. And the police appearing behind us with my rather erratic driving….. and trying to brake using the handbrake a bit.
At any rate, we got home okay. But I fear I need to charge that battery. I’m beginning to wonder if that battery is getting a bit past it; actually.
On the bike front, the bike shop wasn’t open to get the bike MOT’d; but hopefully it’ll be open next week. I’ve got the wing mirror and light (thanks Dave! (you rock!)); so when I’ve finished the Essay I’ll stick them on.
Oooh, I nearly forgot, with help from Lauren yesterday we produced a really lush dinner; pseudo-chicken with stir-fry veg in herb pancakes. Was incredibly good, especially being one of those spur of the moment random ideas (stood in sainsburys, saw the pancakes and thought; hey, I could make some with herbs and stuff in; and put some savory stuff in it).
Lauren, it turns out, is very good at cooking pancakes :)
