Old Trafford

What a day!!! We were working at Old Trafford today and it is always a day job there. I was a driver so I had to be in base by 8:40am. Even though it is half term the traffic going into Manchester at that time can be horrendous, especially with all the road works. I decided to leave at 7:40....I hardly stopped all the way in and was there within half an hour....I could have had another half hour in bed!

It was a busy morning, but the afternoon was okay. Kim travelled in the lorry with me...I was so glad I had a co pilot as I broke down on the way back to base. I couldn’t get second gear, then first was a no go and then there was a smell of burning as I stopped at traffic lights in the city centre and no gear would engage. Thank goodness it was two lanes as I was at the front of the lights and going nowhere. We phoned Fraikin and they said they would get to us within the hour. Jeff was already back at base with mini bus and I couldn’t leave a lorry full of blood.

I waved people round and a few stopped and asked if we were okay...one guy did ask if I’d checked the fuel....cheeky sod! Jeff came back and waited with us. A man asked if we were okay and then threw me a big bag of sweets for us to have whilst we waited for the recovery man...there are some lovely people out there.

Of course, when the guy with the tow truck arrived the gear box had cooled down and we could slip into gear. I managed to drive it the last bit back...about half a mile. We think it’s the clutch and it will be sorted tomorrow. But it added nearly an extra hour on my day...sigh.

I’m shattered now as it’s been a long day. I’m up early for my swim at the Quays in the morning....I shall christen my new swimming costume. It has sharks on it!!!! Yes!! Sharks :))))