i'm on holiday this week doing all sorts of bits and pieces and it has gone splendidly up to now, this morning I went to help a mate in Otley, he wanted a waste disposal unit removing from his kitchen, so out it went, new one and a half bowl plumbing in and I even levelled the floor under his washing machine with some screed to make up for the dip from when "John Wayne Kitchen Installers" had run out of tiles and off. Job finished and an hour early Stopped in Otley and bought lovely proper Yorkshire haddock and chips, eating them in the car when I find out a fly rod I've ordered is now ready for collection in York, so i think off I go, the day is now perfect I can collect my rod from the custom builder recommended by Tenet , I'm smiling cos it's even "free" as I've just recieved a nice payment ex e-bay for heavy fishing tackle shipped to USA

Then on the A59 (in the Beemer estate) I'm standing still in heavy traffic minding my own business , Bump! oh , another Bump and I roll forward 10 yards, I've been arse ended by a Mondeo, who has been rogered by a Peugeot, who has been stuffed by two youths is a Polo banging in so hard the airbags were deployed and they had no glass left in the car , can it get worse ? the second bump was a bloody big Kia 4x4 can it get worse ? yes it was towing a bloody big caravan ( I inform the driver I am a Freel2 driver and have never made a derogatory statement about vans - he admits he has got the wrong man should have turned off the A1 earlier around Boroughbridge). 2 hours later after police, ambulances, statements, I realise i won't make the shop I would write more but a number of the drivers are under caution so taking the mickey at this time might not be appropriate. Any way a hot bath with radox calls....... then an hour on the phone with the claims handler  2009 GS Auto Zermatt Silver - Sold June 21 after 10 years of ownership

2016 Subaru Outback SE 2.0 diesel SE Premium Lineartronic Sold 2024 after 8 years and 80k miles . Best Car I ever owned !

2023 Toyota Hilux invincible X 2.8 Auto .

Bloody hell Martyn, one minute life was good then it turned to sh te. I'm hoping the Beemer was a works vehicle either way think yourself lucky there was no personal injury

Loved the story telling BTW

Sorry to hear that. At least you weren't shoved into someone in front of you. 2013 RR Evoque Pure Tech
2012 TD4 GS Auto Orkney Grey - gone

Yes EY it's a works vehicle and on the face of it there are only two sort of pressure lines on the rear bumper, but I know from previous experience that you don't need a train wreck to have a big big bill, and you can think nothing is damaged and all sorts can be, anyway it's reported to our fleet management company so in real terms I walk away and someone somewhere gets it sorted, I keep thinking of coming out of the company car scheme but when things like this happen I think again.

and Bugblatter, yep, there was a truck in front and it had just pulled away, i was slow off the mark to follow as the Beemer had the eco-mode thing switched on and the engine was stopped untill I pressed the clutch again 2009 GS Auto Zermatt Silver - Sold June 21 after 10 years of ownership

2016 Subaru Outback SE 2.0 diesel SE Premium Lineartronic Sold 2024 after 8 years and 80k miles . Best Car I ever owned !

2023 Toyota Hilux invincible X 2.8 Auto .

Caravans with dodgy brakes  At work
At home

"I can't always believe facts I read on the web" - Charles Dickens

winner by default of the tractor vs caravan race