Yellow Van People

Yesterday, just as I was going to pick the Emily and Catherine from school, the car immobiliser decided to activate and the central locking failed. Although I could get into the car using the key their was no way of starting it. A quick look on the internet suggested a new battery in the key fob might be in order, so I popped to town on the bus, got a battery and the shopping and returned home. Unfortunately, it wasn't the battery so it was back to square one, so I decided to leave it until this morning given the weather and the fact it was dark.

After more research in the evening I found a number of causes of the problem many very expensive while the most common fault was rather cheap. As I went to sleep I hopped it would be the former, but to make sure I got it right I decided to call out the AA given I have home start for just such problems. Handy when the nearest garage is miles away.

As always I was very impressed by the service the AA provided. I decided to phone them after the morning rush and they where with me within thirty minutes just before half past twelve. Soon the man was looking for the fuse box in the engine bay and quickly found the blown fuse in the central locking system. The only question then remained what caused it to blow in the first place. Using the knowledge of countless years he started looking in the flexible hosing that contains the wiring in the tailgate and he was spot on. Some of the wires had become exposed and had caused a short circuit. He repaired them, and within ten minutes at most I had a working car again and it hadn't cost me a penny and I even got a spare fuse if it goes again. 

I can't say how pleased it wasn't anything else. If the car was off the road than I can't get Lucy and there is know way I can afford to get her on public transport. There isn't even a bus as far as I can tell between Oakham and Leicester. Thankfully everything ended well for a change, lets hope it continues that way.

Blog Updates

Just a quick post to let people know that at last all the missing family posts have been completed for December. All that is left to do is finish the six posts that still in draft form, these will be done as soon as I have time.

Once again I want to thank all the people that read the blog for there time, be you a regular reader or someone who has just popped on to look a single page. I hope you are all having a smashing new year.

Stormy Tuesday

It been one of those days that come along now and again when high winds sweep the whole country and over turned Lorries and fallen trees litter the roads. Thankfully they don't come along too often and when they do normally they pass without too many serious injuries, but not today, two people have died and my heart goes out to their families.

As the wind blew outside and the roar filled the house, I was trying to remember similar days in the past. I can remember once walking past the end of the runway at Leeds Bradford Airport clinging onto the lamp posts, stop from being blown away after my car broke down, but I can remember the year, but hat wasn't the the worse. That is more recent.

I can remember was back in January of 2007 when I was travelling from Rutland back to Leeds. A journey of two hours took over seven hours and it was the worse car drive in terms of weather I have ever done. I wish I could have stayed where I was that day but I had to go back to Leeds for Emily and Catherine. I can still remember the over turned lorries I passed and see those that I overtook, when I wasn't in queues of traffic, looking like they were going to fall on me. When I got off the A1 there were trees on the roads and teams of men chopping them up to clear the roads. Nine people died that day including a two year ole child.

I do feel for anyone travelling today and I hope it will be another fives years before we have winds like this again. We could all do without weather like todays.

Home Again

With the approach of the start of a new school term today was the day that Emily and Catherine returned back home from being with there mum's for the New Year. By all accounts they had a smashing time in Leeds and they came back full of stories of the exploits.

As is now the becoming the norm, I am travelling that little bit further to pick them up because of their mum continuing back problems, but as I said to their mum many years ago now I would always make sure she saw them. Thankfully we are sharing the cost as much as possible, even if we can't share the driving any more.

It was lovely to have them home again, I do miss them while they are away. I just wish, especially now, that their mum was closer so they could see more of her. I was of course hoping that we would be seeing Lucy this week, as where she lives the school holidays don't finish for another week, but as careful readers will know that not going to happen. It would have went some way to making up lost time with her. All the same at least I will be seeing her at the weekend and I know she will be having a good time. I can't wait to have them altogether again, and I do understand her mummies needs too.

Anyway, it didn't take them long to get back into the swing of things. Soon as they got home that started catching up with their friends after we had popped to the supermarket for the food for dinner we had all agreed to on the way home. It was nice to have the noise of young people around the house again. I know some might disagree, but I rather like it.

As for me, I spent a couple of days in Wales, returning yesterday evening. It is a wonderful drive and some of the scenery is breath taking as you head down the Heads of the Valley Road which skirts the Beacon Beacons national park.

Film of the Week - The Black Book

This week film of the week is a bit different in that it the first that is not a English spoken film. In fact the film is Dutch, but don't let that put you off seeing it. It simply is a wonderful film with a wonderful story. It is the film Black Book.

The film is the story of rich Jewish girl hiding in Holland during the second world war who stars working for the Resistance after her family are murdered by the SS while trying to escape to liberated Belgium towards the end of the Second World War. Although set during the war it is a very human story full of twists and turns and it is not a typical war film. It has a mixture of action, romance and mystery giving it a wide audience appeal.

The film is directed by Paul Verhoeven who is better known in the English speaking world for his hollywood films like RoboCop, Total Recall and Basic Instinct. As you would expect of any european director that has been recognised in America the direction is first class as in the editing and cinematography. Add to this is some fine acting by all the cast it makes this film a must see. 

If you haven't seen a european film this is a good one to start with. It doesn't take you long to get use to the subtitles and after you do it like watching an English speaking film. I'm really looking to seeing it again and I hope you will join me.