When you own a vehicle that's over 40 years old you're kind of aware it's not going to be the easiest of rides. In the few years Bonnie has been on the drive we've had all sorts of adventures and mishaps, I may share them in more detail at some point, but just to paint a picture these include
- Ending up nose dive in a ditch off the A1 at midnight because the electrics decide to completely stop working.... no engine, no lights, no hazard lights. Thank heavens for a passing ambulance, but that's another story.
- Being unable to start her at a tiny village fete in the back end of no-where where we just happened to park to go on a coastal walk. We became the star attraction - the very kind village folk pushed us round the car park twice to try and jump start her before giving up and taking us to the garage next door. People are so kind.
- The gear box falling out in a car park in the pouring rain in a car-park in Bodmin. Cue hubby spending quite some time under the van and me trying to work out whether being broken down counted as parking by the ticket machine.
- The break lights not working for our Peak District camping trip - my parents followed us home so no-one drove into the back of us.
She did however get me to my wedding in one piece and not too late!
Oh Bonnie.
But now we've had a more dramatic mishap - a fire - which only thanks to the quick thinking of C and our ex-fireman next door neighbour (lucky, huh?) didn't destroy her completely.
She was stationary on the drive, C had started her up and run back to the house to get something and when he came out - flames! With the help of our neighbour he managed to get it out before it caught too much, but the engine's pretty damaged and the paint work is peeling, upholstery burned at the back.
We're waiting for the insurance to sort out where she will be taken and when - we think it will be fixable but no idea how long it will take. We are not complaining though as it could have been so much worse, I can't even bear to think about what it would have been like if he'd been on the road. He's safe, if a little frustrated, Bonnie's intact, if a little worse for wear, and I am glad C is ok, but a little disappointed there won't be any camper adventures this year.
I hope you're all well and have no dramas whereever you are :)