Tyred

What a farce getting a new tyre for the blown one turned out to be.

As it is a company car, Claude had to take it to Kwit Fit - a company whose name alone surely contravenes the Trade Descriptions Act.

After two trips there - and a jaunt to Sheffield's Audi dealer for a nut lock in between - I managed to get the tyre changed in just over four hours.

Luckily I managed to arrange working from home, when it became apparent it would be fruitless to get to work.

Blow Out

The M1 strikes again.

Driving home tonight after a quick shopping and dinner trip to Meadowhall and just getting past junction 32 the car suddenly violently jerked. It then started shaking, as if it was on a really bad road surface. Then it really started jumping and it was tricky to keep the car straight. It was obviously a tyre blow out. All this was happening while travelling at 80 mph in the 3rd lane.

I quickly managed to get us across to the hard shoulder, where we scrambled out and got as high on the verge as possible. One phone call and 20 minutes later the nice AA man had sorted putting on the spare (something I couldn't do as it was on the driver's side right next to the speeding cars and needed a nut lock to get the wheel off) and we were back on our way.

I will need a new tyre - the old one was completely split apart - but at least I won't have to pay. I love company cars...

Weekly Musings

Just some thoughts on a crazy, busy, manic week:

• The M1 truly is a horrible place to be
• The kebab I had on Tuesday tasted good - but reaked a terrible revenge
• Is recognition better than reward?
• Our living room is hot as an oven
• Trying to sing like John Lennon hurts your throat
  

To Bracknell And Back

Claude was sent all the way to Bracknell today. It is where my company's HQ is situated and our entire team had to trek all the way there for the annual awards ceremony.

Needless to say, Claude won sweet FA, but did clock up 360 miles and had the pleasure of a fun day involving leaving home at 6am and returning at 8.30pm.

Gotta New Motor?

Family chose and reserved a new car on Sunday.

Not really for Claude - the Audi remains as the company car - but we got a really nice Skoda Octavia Elegance:


Funny, I, like most people, had the same prejudice for Skoda cars, based on the rather poor models we saw in the late 80s. However, they genuinely are good now and, also being Czech, means it has to be our first choice.

The only thing that slightly disconcerts me is that "skoda" is Czech for pity...