Get Down...

.... with the sounds.
The busker was much better than his dog would have you believe!! I asked if I could take a picture.
"Yes, unless you're from the inland revenue" He replied!!

The first eventful episode of last weekend was on the M25 on Saturday morning, when my car almost disappeared into a large crack in the tarmac. There was a horrendous clunk, but as the steering seemed ok I continued to my first destination - a friends' farmhouse in the Cotswolds.

It was only when I returned to my car some time later I noticed the front wheel was buckled and the tyre partially deflated. I drove a little way, hoping to make it to a garage, but the tyre was too flat to continue, so I turned off the lane and parked on some flat ground behind some cottages in order to change the wheel. I was unable to get the spare from the cradle under the boot as the release nut was stuck.

I saw a random guy and asked if her could help, but he didn't think he could and disappeared. I phoned the AA, and because there were no road signs in the village I had to knock on a cottage door to ask for their postcode, whilst still on the phone!! As I turned back to my car the random guy was there.
"Would you like a cup of coffee and to use the loo while your waiting for the AA?"

At that point in time I could think of nothing nicer - and more
desirable than both suggestions, so followed him to his cottage!
Delicious coffee, a clean loo and half an hour of very pleasant conversation ensued.

Thank you Richard, it was very sweet of you and I enjoyed meeting you and your dogs!!
Ironically I had been listening to a programme on Radio 4 discussing random acts of kindness by strangers - perhaps he had too.

I returned to my car only to have a call from the AA control centre to say the van was on its way, but stuck in traffic due to an accident on the A 40!!
Eventually he turned up, got the wheel changed and gave me directions for my onward journey.

By this time I was too late for meeting up with friends for lunch so I phoned them to cancel. I then had time to kill before heading on to Harry Stocracy's home. so decided to drop in to a favourite shop in a nearby Cotswold town.

I walked in and there was an old friend I hadn't seen for about 5 years!!! The last I heard, she had moved to Ireland - and then died!!
My face must have said it all!!!
I believe I may have actually said "I thought you were dead" Anyway, we had a good chinwag over a cup of tea and cake - she's had a tough time but is fine and has recently moved back to England.

We swapped numbers, and said our goodbyes as I headed off the the historical pile that is Harry Stocracy House.... Enough adventures for one day - or so I thought!