Car Troubles

Don't you love Google Maps?

No doubt many are aware now about 3 miles from Heathrow on the way to pick up Cal, our car engine died - just on the on ramp to the M4 from the M25. The oil light came on just as I was exiting the M25 and . . . "bang" many clunkings and reduced power later . . . off on the side of the road. It took some time to get a tow, but the tow truck did drop me off at Heathrow, so that was good. At the end of a long flight, this was just about the end for Cal. We ended up hiring a car to get home, but at least we got home, had dinner and sent Cal to bed for some much needed sleep.
 

View from the stranded car . . . the M4 on ramp

Initially we had no idea what the damage was going to be . . . we have a better idea now. After getting word that the car was ready to be picked up, Mark got on a train to travel up to London. It looked only like a new oil pump, but there was still an abnormal noise in the engine that we would monitor. Anyway - more than halfway to London (Woking) Mark received a phone call from the garage to say that they'd just test driven the car (what . . . you sent me to London to pick it up without taking it for a drive??) . . . and they found that we'd also blown the turbo. A slow u-turn at Woking and it was back to Salisbury £25 and 4 hours poorer. Hopefully with the turbo fixed that will be it. The really good news is that the warranty company has acknowledged that it is their responsibility - we just have a £70 excess - whew.

Salisbury Cathedral from near the Old Mill

Salisbury Cathedral from the town path

A view of the town path

One silver lining in the cloud is the fact that Mark is now forced to get some exercise - has to walk into Salisbury to get the bus out to Porton down - there are only three in the morning (0730, 0800 and 0830) and two back in the evening (1650 and 1800). OK, so Mark could also catch the number 5 bus from about 200m up the road, but then there is no exercise. The walk is via the town path (and the Old Mill). The Cathedral is always a wonderful sight - it is truly a beautiful building - the view takes you back in time about 500 years - no cars or civilization in sight - just the water meadows, the sheep and the cathedral. Takes you back to the days of Constable from Bishop Fishers Grounds.

Salisbury Cathedral in the early
morning light from the town path

Constable's Salisbury Cathedral
from the Bishop's Garden

A view of the Old Mill in the early morning

On the way home from the aborted London trip, the only thing that stopped Mark from enjoying a quiet pint at the Old Mill (maybe a pint of "Old Speckled Hen") before facing the final 1/2 mile was that he gave Cal all the cash left in his wallet cash to get into the hospital (X-rays on her knees) . . . Oh, and maybe the fact that a warm beer is fantastic - except when you've been walking hard. a relaxing pint by the water would have been good though :-)

Here's to X-rays that show what's wrong with Cal's knees, and that it can be readily looked at.