Welcome to blog! I started it in 2020 to chart my recovery from breaking my ankle (hence the name). I guess no-one saw a global pandemic coming. It's turned into a place where I can talk about the things happening in my life, my horse and my cats. Enjoy!
Well this isn’t how I thought I’d spend my Friday. Sat at Birchanger Services waiting for a recovery vehicle. The Comedy Car is poorly. And I’m rather fed up after 3.5 hours of waiting so far.
At least I have access to a toilet, food and I was able to charge my phone in the Ramada hotel. The staff in there were lovely. Well I did walk in in tears.
So was the first garage I tried. Was driving down the M11 when the engine warning light came on and I lost oomph. Let’s face it, there’s not much oomph to start with. Pulled off but mechanic couldn’t sort it. So headed to Birchanger to hang out and wait for recovery. It’s going to be a long day me thinks.
I was en route to my parents for my Mum’s 80th birthday lunch tomorrow. Let’s hope I get home soon.
So I had a fun morning. The Buddymobile is having its MOT on Friday. So it was going to the garage today so they could give it the once over. Why are both of those such a stressful thing?!
All was going well till I turned off the bypass, the dashboard light up and the engine cut out. Right on a roundabout!
Only I can breakdown on my way to the garage!
Thankfully I wasn’t too far from the garage, so they came straight out to rescue me. Very sad watching The Buddymobile being towed away.
Lucky that I didn’t have Buddy onboard this time. And that Colette was there to pick me up and take me for a medicinal cheese scone. I’m making that a thing.
Fingers crossed it’s a simple fix and it sails through the MOT. The irony of it all was that I was driving along thinking how lucky I am to have my little lorry. Then it conked out. You have to laugh. No really, you do.
Back home after another great camp. It was an emotional week for many reason. Camp is such a happy place for me. Time away from it all with good mates and Buddy.
So many more memories to add to the camp collection. And another camper rosette too. We came 4th in the jumping competition. I know I’ve ridden better but we went clear and it was a meaty course.
We won’t mention the utter car crash that was our dressage test. Good to know that even though we’re making progress in so many areas, we still make an absolute horlicks of pretty trotting.
Still there were definitely more pros than cons to my camp experience.
Talking of experiences, the journey back was certainly one.
The fan belt went on the Buddymobile not long after I’d left Swaffham. Managed to limp it to the garage at Necton. Fun times with no power steering!!
My knight in Hi-Viz then drove to Dereham to get a replacemen fan belt and fitted it in the pouring rain. Buddy was as cool as a cucumber on the lorry while we waited. I was definitely not. I was rocking the drowned rat, overly tired and slightly emotional look.
Still we were soon on our way again. Then got stuck on A47 and my diesel went from 1/4 tank to light on. Cue minor freak out!! But as soon as we started moving, it went back up to 1/4 tank. Bizzare.
Stopped at the next petrol station to get more, just in case.
It took us nearly 3 hours to get back. A journey that normally takes just over an hour. I’ll have to sort the lorry out on Sunday. For now, it’s bed for me ready for my 5:15am alarm call tomorrow as I’m working in London for the day. No rest for me!!
So this wasn’t how my day was meant to go. The Buddymobile wouldn’t start this morning. We tried jumpstarting it, we tried banging it, we tried cleaning bits, all to no avail.
A lovely man from the local garage came out too. But he couldn’t get it to start either. His best guess, something electrical. So we’re grounded for now. Well until I can get it fixed.
Any advice or tame mechanics gratefully received. 🤞🏻
After our best day at camp, this wasn’t quite the way I planned to finish it. Sadly my little lorry broke down on the way back. Thankfully was able to limp to a garage and didn’t breakdown in the contraflow on the A47.
A wonderful friend came to rescue Buddy. My main concern was that he was OK. Bless him he was such a good boy walking off my lorry and onto hers in the middle of the busy forecourt.
I can’t fault NFU Mutual. They were brilliant. Kept me informed every step of the way and checked that we were both OK.
The BP staff were the same. Even giving me a free hot drink while I waited for the recovery lorry.
The same can’t be said a few of the next door McDonalds customers who made their feelings known about choice of parking spot. It wasn’t like I had much choice?!
Buddy and I are both home safely and that’s what matters. The lorry can be fixed. And we had a brilliant time away.
Tales, Tails and Talus 