Easter Weekend

It has been a very long weekend. I am now back in Aberystwyth.

For a change (and to try and save some money on the toll bridge) I decided to return home via Gloucester. The last time I attempted this route I ended up getting lost in Hereford's messed up one way system, so this time I took my time to plan the route very carefully so that I was sure of where I was going. Apart from one screw-up on a roundabout everything went quite smoothly. Until I got onto the A44, that is.

First the car overheated. Strangely I wasn't all that far from where it overheated the last time. Luckily there was parking on the left the very moment I noticed the overheat light so I pulled off the road. It is good practise, I am told, to wait at least 30 minutes before putting water in the engine as otherwise the engine can be cracked because it cools down too quickly. So I allowed it about 40 minutes to be on the safe side.

The car couldn't have chosen a more scenic place to die though. Over a fence on the left was a field which sloped very steeply down to a river. Off to the right was a huge hill. I decided to go for a wander while I waited for the car to cool down, so I jumped the barbed wire fence and made my way down to the river, passing the cases of 4 old computers. What they were doing in the middle of nowhere I do not know.

On reaching the flat part of the field which led to the river I stopped - realising it was marsh. ERK! There was no way I was going any further than that, I had already checked my phone and discovered I was far too far out to get a signal, so I didn't want to get into any trouble. I went back to the car and waited in there instead.

After the car was up and running again I got back onto the A44. The car seemed happy enough and things weren't too bad until I rounded a corner and some complete twat in a 4x4 was driving, literally, down the centre of the road. I slammed the breaks on and he, when he noticed me, swerved back onto his own side of the road. My hand was then quite firmly slammed onto the horn just as soon as my heart started beating again.

Smooth sailing after that. When I got back I went into the kitchen and emptied the contents of the milk bottle I left on the side on Tursday down the sink. Whilst holding my breath. I then rinsed it thoroughly, flattened it and binned it, then opened a window or two.

Anyway it is now time for work so I shall have to go and almost certainly fill the car up with water again.