October 9th

For years I’ve used the same mechanic. My old pal Eamon trained under him and has always said he would never make any money because he’s too honest. That’s why I still use him and drive out to Hertfordshire for the privilege. So I leave the smoke this morning and drive to his new premises but a stone throw away from Mel’s house boat. They change the break lights and check the breaks as they’re making a funny sound. All sorted and his new apprentice put the car back together and I set off with a view to popping into Rickmansworth and maybe seeing Mel for a cup of tea and a chat about our potential gigs as a duo. I’m just a minute or so out of the workshop and travelling down the hill when several things happen at once. When moments like this occur the memory remembers it all in a kind of cinematic slow motion. It happens in a flash and yet there’s lots to take in.

What happened was this. The car lurched over to the left, there was a horrible loud screeching sound, I lost control of the car and just in the corner of my eye I saw a wheel go bouncing off over a fence and into the undergrowth. It took a while for me to realise it was my wheel. The new boy hadn’t tightened the off side front wheel after checking the breaks. Somewhat shaken I walked back to the garage. I tried calling them on the mobile, but couldn’t get it together as I was shaking a bit. They were rather shocked. So was I. I drove away in a Range Rover, given as a loaner till my car is fixed.