Saturday 31st July 2010
2020
We’re sitting in Rosehip cottage in Kirk Michael IOM watching Willy Wonka and the Chocolate Factory.
I got up at 0600 and was very productive before we left – I even did nearly an hour piano practice!!
Packing the car was a challenge to say the least – the amount of stuff we’ve got just for 2 of us is ridiculous.
We left the house at around 10ish and got to the ferry terminal at about 1020. Check-in was really easy, just drive up to the booth hand over your booking confirmation and get your boarding cards. We were then directed to a queue where we waited in our cars for an hour. At about 1120 cars in the queue to the left of us began moving then we all followed on. When we got onto the boat the workers were directing us where to park and I was told to reverse into a space on the bottom level next to a black jeep – the man said we’d be off first :-D
Obviously we then went up into the passenger decks and found ourselves a seat by a window. We spent a boring 3 hours up there. We did both go for a wander a couple of times – there was a shop on board but it wasn’t the impressive, though I did buy a map. I was wishing I’d brought my DS onto the boat with me – I’ll know for the journey home!!
When we got back to the car it was obvious we’d have to wait a little while before we got off so I got my sat nav from the boot to try and programme it ready for when we got into the open air. Well I’ve discovered today that my sat nav is stupid – it has countries such as Spain, Sweden, Switzerland, even Vatican City but no Isle of Man!!!! Thankfully I’d printed off some instructions from google maps and also the cottage owners had given us instructions too. All was going well until I missed the entrance to the cottages and had to go past and turn round then I missed it again on the way back.
Eventually I found the entrance and the cottages are down a long track-like lane. I stopped the car right outside the cottage to unload and we’d only got one or two item out when a lady came past saying she needed to get out in a few minutes (and we were blocking the way). There is designated parking but it’s a bit further down so for loading / unloading it’s easier to park right outside. We did manage to be out of the woman’s way but only cos we rushed and because we’d rushed my mum fell over in the cottage cos there’s a step both sides of the front door – you have to step up into either the kitchen on the right or the living room on the left. She’s ok but will have a lovely bruise on her knee and finger. When I went to park the car in its proper place I’m not sure if I disturbed a flies nest or something but there were flies swarming round the driver’s side of the car – eeww!!! Thankfully the other side of the car seemed relatively clear so I climbed over and got out of the passenger side.
Once I’d unpacked all the kitchen stuff into the fridge I decided to see if I could get my computer onto the internet and my mum said to do the same for hers. I knew how to get my own computer onto a new network and there was a password in the guest information pack. I then had to figure out how to get mum’s computer to connect – I don’t know what I clicked but I managed it haha.
For the rest of the evening we haven’t really done an awful lot – just sat and messed on the computers and watched telly. Mum cooked us a mixed grill for tea and I expected to be on washing up duties – I was surprised to find that she did the dishes as well :-o :-)
I noticed the time a short while ago (it’s now 2135) and I realised I haven’t even opened my suitcase :-o And I don’t know which bed I’m sleeping on – I have 2 to choose from!!
Saturday, 31 July 2010
Thursday, 1 July 2010
CRASH!!
Monday 28th june 2010 10.05am
Driving along Queen’s Drive from OLGH to Netherton Moss. I was in the left lane and a lorry was in the middle lane, came across to the left lane and hit me. I went into a 360* spin and ended up with my driver’s side embedded in a tree. The lorry driver was very apologetic about it and admitted straight away he hadn’t seen me. In fact later on he said the first he knew was when I went spinning across his front. My windows were down and I was a screaming, crying, shaking, gibbering wreck, he leaned in and told me to take his hand and then both hands and I think I crushed them - oops
A police lady appeared moments later, she said they’d been going to a very minor shunt who’d requested police assistance but saw my car in the tree and the lorry in the middle of the road and knew they couldn’t drive past. She was lovely, the lorry driver moved away and the lady got in the car with me and told me to hold her hands – I crushed her hands too. I was still crying and shaking – basically hysterical and, very gently she was telling me to calm down, she said she couldn’t slap me across the face cos she’d lose her job LOL She was also worrying I’d start hyperventilating. She started trying to guess my name and I began to calm down, probably cos I had to concentrate to answer her and then she was guessing my name. she originally guessed 23 but I was shaking my head so she said “don’t tell me you’re 54!” when I said I was 31 she laughed and said “I want your cream” I eventually calmed down properly, well to the point of being able to talk in full sentences and make sense anyway and she said let’s get you out of here. I didn’t even bother trying to open the driver’s door as it was embedded in the tree branches cos it was a tree where the branches fall down towards the ground, I just tried to clamber over the gearstick. Normally I’d have done that easily but cos I was so shaky I was having trouble so she was trying to help me across and at one point was laughing a bit saying “come on this isn’t a good look”
Once I was out of the car I was still really shaky so I plonked myself down on the grass behind my car on the central reservation. I then heard sirens but thought nothing of it till 2 paramedics appeared on the grass beside me too – obviously the police had sent for them as a matter of course / precaution. I didn’t need the ambulance, miraculously I’ve come out without any injuries at all. They did test my oxygen sats with the thing on my finger but it was funny cos I had one on one finger but it wasn’t working so I asked did that mean I was dead haha. I then ended up with one on each hand so they could actually get a reading. They asked me was I sore anywhere but I had to say I didn’t really know cos I was sore anyway after the triathlon and to make matters worse I had period pains too. One paramedic laughed and said I was having a great day – and told me to pick some lottery numbers!!
At one point the police lady asked me was there anyone to pick me up so I said there wasn’t.
While I was sitting there I realized I needed to ring work so I asked the lady if she’d ring for me and she said I just had to ring the number and she’d speak to them for me. The next thing I knew my boss was going to come and collect me :-o He was the last person I’d have liked to see in that situation!!!
While I was sitting on the grass I was breathalised – purely for formality cos I’d been involved in a collision and she gave me the tube as a souvenir haha.
Somebody asked me what job I did so when I said I was a music teacher the police lady said she’d learnt recorder in school, I said I had a recorder in the car and she commented she had a horrible brown plastic one – I said I’ve got one of them in the car, along with a clarinet and flute. One of the paramedics suggested we put a hat out and I give a rendition to get some money, then he looked at the police lady and laughed, saying “but you’ll tell us off for that won’t you?” haha
The police lady said we had to take my stuff out of the car cos recovery was on the way and obviously then they’d have my car for ages. While we were getting everything out she was amazed at the amount of stuff I had and I commented that wasn’t as much as normal cos I’d partly emptied the car to get the respray done.
Not long after that the paramedics checked I was ok and left me with the police looking after me – they said to get any pains at all chcked out by A&E / GP or walk-in-centre.
While I was sitting on the grass I went into silly giggles and when the police lady asked what was up I looked at the amount of stuff that had come out of my car and told her that chris drives a 2-seater sports car!!! She was then asking me about him – is he nice, I said no he’s bald, round with a beard and I also said he’s an awful public speaker, saying ermm ermm errmm all the time. With my description she said she couldn’t wait to meet him. She also said to put the breathaliser tube where the sun doesn’t shine and it might make him a better public speaker hahahaha. Later on when we were waiting for chris I’d said I’d rather it wasn’t him picking me up but then we had a bit of a giggle and she said “think of the tube”
While we were waiting for recovery the police were checking round the car and brought a long quite thin bit of plastic and put it in the boot saying “that belongs to your car” and then a short time later they found a different bit of plastic grille so they threw that in the boot too.
The recovery truck arrived but didn’t actually say who he was – the police lady had to ask him to confirm, and then she asked where they were taking it and it was going to a compound which I had actually driven past a couple of hours earlier!! I hadn’t even seen the damage on my car before that point and even then I only had a brief look but while it was getting pulled up onto the back of the truck the front wheel buckled :-(
After that there was nothing left to do except wait for chris to come and pick me up. We did have to get my stuff off the central reservation and onto the proper side of the road though – and it took all 3 of us (2 police officers and me), each carrying quite a lot to get it across.
I then plonked myself on the grass again – this time on the correct side of the road and the police lady moved their car off the road onto someone’s driveway a little way up. A lady who lived in one of the houses near where it had happened came out and offered cups of tea all round. I wasn’t going to have one but was almost forced both by the householder and the police lady so I accepted and when she asked did I want sugar I said I did – they reckon sugary tea is good for shock. I don’t really like tea but can tolerate it.
I had just plonked myself anywhere on the grass but the police lady said “you might want to sit in the shade” so she moved a bin bag that was under the tree so that I could sit there.
While I was sitting there another lady came along and because I was sitting on the grass just a small distance away from my big pile of stuff she asked had a been thrown out of home haha. I explained what had happened and pointed out that the police who were standing by their car were looking after me until my lift arrived.
I then just stayed sitting on the grass waiting for chris to come, it would’ve actually been quicker for the police to take me home but apparently you’re not really allowed in the back of a police car unless you’ve been arrested.
Once chris had arrived we then had to see if my stuff would fit into his tiny car. Thankfully his boot was empty and my stuff *just* fitted – although I did end up with 3 bags on the seat with me. As the police were checking I’d be ok from there the lady gave me a knowing look and said again “think of the tube” haha. I also hugged the police lady cos she’d been so nice to me – I know it’s part of her job but I appreciated it at the time. I have even sent an email to the police to tell them to say thank you for me. Unfortunately I didn’t get her name or number, I’m sure she must’ve told me but I was in such a state I don’t remember.
If it had been a normal Monday I would’ve been able to go home and chill out on my own and not have to deal with anyone for a few hours but my mum has finished work for the summer so obviously she was home so I had to deal with that straight away. Yes she went into panic mode but because I was relaxed by then (an hour and a half after it happened) and I was just very matter of fact with her it was fine.
Then began the raft of phonecalls I had to make – firstly to my insurance but the person I spoke to at the time couldn’t take any details from me, he had to get someone from a different team to ring me back later. A couple of hours later I got a call from the lorry driver’s insurance saying he’d fully admitted liability so they were dealing with it and could sort my car out for me and arrange a hire car. Later on in the afternoon my own insurance rang me back so I explained the other company was sorting it so they just took the incident details for their records.
The car hire company rang me at some point in the afternoon and said the hire car had been approved by the other insurance company and was I ok for a pick-up between 5-6 in the evening. At about 5.10 they rang me again and were very apologetic saying they’d only just realised that I’d only been approved a small car so I had to ring the insurance to get it upgraded to like-for-like. They did say they could get me in a small car that night and swap in the morning if I wanted but I said it wasn’t worth it, I’d just have the big car the next day.
I’d realised I’d left quite a few bits and pieces in my car so once I had a hire car the next day I rang the recovery company to see if I could collect my stuff. They said my car had gone but my property was still there so off I went to collect it. They handed me 2 pairs of sunglasses!!! When I asked where everything else was they said it must be still in the car so I’d have to find out where my car had gone and to go and collect it from there. I already knew my car had gone to Warrington so I headed up there.
The people there were great, a man came out to the car with me and helped me to find EVERY bit of my stuff that had been left – I came back with a big shopping bag full of stuff plus my wheel lock and the big green rug that lives on the floor of the boot. I also had a proper look at the damage to my car – the front driver’s side wing was the worst but then there was also damage all the way down the driver’s side :-( There was also some maroon coloured paint from the lorry on the wing :-(
On Wednesday afternoon when I got home from work there was a voicemail message on my phone saying that it wouldn’t be financially viable to repair my car so they were treating it as a total loss. I thought I’d accepted that this would probably happen but to hear it officially made me really upset :’-( I had a good cry after that :’-(
I’ve now got to try and sort stuff out for getting a new car. One good thing though when I bought my car 2 and a half years ago I took out a GAP insurance policy which meant that if my car was written off within the first 3 years of buying my car then I would be guaranteed to get back the full price I paid for it. At least it means I will be financially ok and will be able to go to Fords to ask for their best deal on a Mondeo for a cash sale. Normally I really enjoy buying cars but not this time – this car was supposed to have a dignified death through old age, not be killed by a large lorry :’-(
Driving along Queen’s Drive from OLGH to Netherton Moss. I was in the left lane and a lorry was in the middle lane, came across to the left lane and hit me. I went into a 360* spin and ended up with my driver’s side embedded in a tree. The lorry driver was very apologetic about it and admitted straight away he hadn’t seen me. In fact later on he said the first he knew was when I went spinning across his front. My windows were down and I was a screaming, crying, shaking, gibbering wreck, he leaned in and told me to take his hand and then both hands and I think I crushed them - oops
A police lady appeared moments later, she said they’d been going to a very minor shunt who’d requested police assistance but saw my car in the tree and the lorry in the middle of the road and knew they couldn’t drive past. She was lovely, the lorry driver moved away and the lady got in the car with me and told me to hold her hands – I crushed her hands too. I was still crying and shaking – basically hysterical and, very gently she was telling me to calm down, she said she couldn’t slap me across the face cos she’d lose her job LOL She was also worrying I’d start hyperventilating. She started trying to guess my name and I began to calm down, probably cos I had to concentrate to answer her and then she was guessing my name. she originally guessed 23 but I was shaking my head so she said “don’t tell me you’re 54!” when I said I was 31 she laughed and said “I want your cream” I eventually calmed down properly, well to the point of being able to talk in full sentences and make sense anyway and she said let’s get you out of here. I didn’t even bother trying to open the driver’s door as it was embedded in the tree branches cos it was a tree where the branches fall down towards the ground, I just tried to clamber over the gearstick. Normally I’d have done that easily but cos I was so shaky I was having trouble so she was trying to help me across and at one point was laughing a bit saying “come on this isn’t a good look”
Once I was out of the car I was still really shaky so I plonked myself down on the grass behind my car on the central reservation. I then heard sirens but thought nothing of it till 2 paramedics appeared on the grass beside me too – obviously the police had sent for them as a matter of course / precaution. I didn’t need the ambulance, miraculously I’ve come out without any injuries at all. They did test my oxygen sats with the thing on my finger but it was funny cos I had one on one finger but it wasn’t working so I asked did that mean I was dead haha. I then ended up with one on each hand so they could actually get a reading. They asked me was I sore anywhere but I had to say I didn’t really know cos I was sore anyway after the triathlon and to make matters worse I had period pains too. One paramedic laughed and said I was having a great day – and told me to pick some lottery numbers!!
At one point the police lady asked me was there anyone to pick me up so I said there wasn’t.
While I was sitting there I realized I needed to ring work so I asked the lady if she’d ring for me and she said I just had to ring the number and she’d speak to them for me. The next thing I knew my boss was going to come and collect me :-o He was the last person I’d have liked to see in that situation!!!
While I was sitting on the grass I was breathalised – purely for formality cos I’d been involved in a collision and she gave me the tube as a souvenir haha.
Somebody asked me what job I did so when I said I was a music teacher the police lady said she’d learnt recorder in school, I said I had a recorder in the car and she commented she had a horrible brown plastic one – I said I’ve got one of them in the car, along with a clarinet and flute. One of the paramedics suggested we put a hat out and I give a rendition to get some money, then he looked at the police lady and laughed, saying “but you’ll tell us off for that won’t you?” haha
The police lady said we had to take my stuff out of the car cos recovery was on the way and obviously then they’d have my car for ages. While we were getting everything out she was amazed at the amount of stuff I had and I commented that wasn’t as much as normal cos I’d partly emptied the car to get the respray done.
Not long after that the paramedics checked I was ok and left me with the police looking after me – they said to get any pains at all chcked out by A&E / GP or walk-in-centre.
While I was sitting on the grass I went into silly giggles and when the police lady asked what was up I looked at the amount of stuff that had come out of my car and told her that chris drives a 2-seater sports car!!! She was then asking me about him – is he nice, I said no he’s bald, round with a beard and I also said he’s an awful public speaker, saying ermm ermm errmm all the time. With my description she said she couldn’t wait to meet him. She also said to put the breathaliser tube where the sun doesn’t shine and it might make him a better public speaker hahahaha. Later on when we were waiting for chris I’d said I’d rather it wasn’t him picking me up but then we had a bit of a giggle and she said “think of the tube”
While we were waiting for recovery the police were checking round the car and brought a long quite thin bit of plastic and put it in the boot saying “that belongs to your car” and then a short time later they found a different bit of plastic grille so they threw that in the boot too.
The recovery truck arrived but didn’t actually say who he was – the police lady had to ask him to confirm, and then she asked where they were taking it and it was going to a compound which I had actually driven past a couple of hours earlier!! I hadn’t even seen the damage on my car before that point and even then I only had a brief look but while it was getting pulled up onto the back of the truck the front wheel buckled :-(
After that there was nothing left to do except wait for chris to come and pick me up. We did have to get my stuff off the central reservation and onto the proper side of the road though – and it took all 3 of us (2 police officers and me), each carrying quite a lot to get it across.
I then plonked myself on the grass again – this time on the correct side of the road and the police lady moved their car off the road onto someone’s driveway a little way up. A lady who lived in one of the houses near where it had happened came out and offered cups of tea all round. I wasn’t going to have one but was almost forced both by the householder and the police lady so I accepted and when she asked did I want sugar I said I did – they reckon sugary tea is good for shock. I don’t really like tea but can tolerate it.
I had just plonked myself anywhere on the grass but the police lady said “you might want to sit in the shade” so she moved a bin bag that was under the tree so that I could sit there.
While I was sitting there another lady came along and because I was sitting on the grass just a small distance away from my big pile of stuff she asked had a been thrown out of home haha. I explained what had happened and pointed out that the police who were standing by their car were looking after me until my lift arrived.
I then just stayed sitting on the grass waiting for chris to come, it would’ve actually been quicker for the police to take me home but apparently you’re not really allowed in the back of a police car unless you’ve been arrested.
Once chris had arrived we then had to see if my stuff would fit into his tiny car. Thankfully his boot was empty and my stuff *just* fitted – although I did end up with 3 bags on the seat with me. As the police were checking I’d be ok from there the lady gave me a knowing look and said again “think of the tube” haha. I also hugged the police lady cos she’d been so nice to me – I know it’s part of her job but I appreciated it at the time. I have even sent an email to the police to tell them to say thank you for me. Unfortunately I didn’t get her name or number, I’m sure she must’ve told me but I was in such a state I don’t remember.
If it had been a normal Monday I would’ve been able to go home and chill out on my own and not have to deal with anyone for a few hours but my mum has finished work for the summer so obviously she was home so I had to deal with that straight away. Yes she went into panic mode but because I was relaxed by then (an hour and a half after it happened) and I was just very matter of fact with her it was fine.
Then began the raft of phonecalls I had to make – firstly to my insurance but the person I spoke to at the time couldn’t take any details from me, he had to get someone from a different team to ring me back later. A couple of hours later I got a call from the lorry driver’s insurance saying he’d fully admitted liability so they were dealing with it and could sort my car out for me and arrange a hire car. Later on in the afternoon my own insurance rang me back so I explained the other company was sorting it so they just took the incident details for their records.
The car hire company rang me at some point in the afternoon and said the hire car had been approved by the other insurance company and was I ok for a pick-up between 5-6 in the evening. At about 5.10 they rang me again and were very apologetic saying they’d only just realised that I’d only been approved a small car so I had to ring the insurance to get it upgraded to like-for-like. They did say they could get me in a small car that night and swap in the morning if I wanted but I said it wasn’t worth it, I’d just have the big car the next day.
I’d realised I’d left quite a few bits and pieces in my car so once I had a hire car the next day I rang the recovery company to see if I could collect my stuff. They said my car had gone but my property was still there so off I went to collect it. They handed me 2 pairs of sunglasses!!! When I asked where everything else was they said it must be still in the car so I’d have to find out where my car had gone and to go and collect it from there. I already knew my car had gone to Warrington so I headed up there.
The people there were great, a man came out to the car with me and helped me to find EVERY bit of my stuff that had been left – I came back with a big shopping bag full of stuff plus my wheel lock and the big green rug that lives on the floor of the boot. I also had a proper look at the damage to my car – the front driver’s side wing was the worst but then there was also damage all the way down the driver’s side :-( There was also some maroon coloured paint from the lorry on the wing :-(
On Wednesday afternoon when I got home from work there was a voicemail message on my phone saying that it wouldn’t be financially viable to repair my car so they were treating it as a total loss. I thought I’d accepted that this would probably happen but to hear it officially made me really upset :’-( I had a good cry after that :’-(
I’ve now got to try and sort stuff out for getting a new car. One good thing though when I bought my car 2 and a half years ago I took out a GAP insurance policy which meant that if my car was written off within the first 3 years of buying my car then I would be guaranteed to get back the full price I paid for it. At least it means I will be financially ok and will be able to go to Fords to ask for their best deal on a Mondeo for a cash sale. Normally I really enjoy buying cars but not this time – this car was supposed to have a dignified death through old age, not be killed by a large lorry :’-(
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