The Apple Cart: upset.

Today: The plan

Take car one to garage for two new tyres and the annual service and test. Drive down to Luton in car two to see the 'Wildlife Photographer of the Year' exhibition. Carry on to Ayot St Lawrence and visit 'Shaws Corner', the home of George Bernard Shaw. Have a leisurely lunch at the Brocket Arms, Ayot St Lawrence. Drive back to collect car one after service and continue to home.

Today: The reality

Take car one to garage for two new tyres and the annual service and test. Have blazing row with the garage when they refuse to honour the price I was quoted for the two new tyres. Say rude words. Demand to see the Service Manager. Honour partially satisfied by a reduction on the price of the service. Return to car two to continue with planned day. Find car two will not start. Go back into garage to ask for jump-start. Car two still won't start. Call Breakdown Service and am told they will be with me in 30-60 minutes. Wait 90 minutes. Call breakdown service again. Wait 10 minutes. Breakdown service arrives; asks me to try and start car two. Car two starts first time. Feel embarrassed. Breakdown service conclude battery is failing and recommend new battery. Book car two in for a new battery this afternoon. Original garage tell me an extra load of work required for car one to pass it's test. Spend an hour wandering around Marks and Spencer killing time while battery is fitted to car two. Collect car two and spend another hour wandering around John Lewis as it isn't worth going home before car one is ready. Drive home. Open bottle........

This VW camper in John Lewis is actually a Bluetooth speaker. It is the nearest I want to get to a car for the rest of today.