Car

We picked up the repaired car today. Looks very nice indeed. Smells funny though: they'd valeted it as well inside using some sort of honey-smelling cleaner.

Outpatient appointment

I got the bus to Alton today as I was due to see the Doctor. That went well, however on the way back I couldn't find a bus stop that claimed to serve the bus I was going to get back (the 272). So, stupidly, I thought I'd walk back. I did a mile or so before I found that the pavement disappeared, so I had to walk in the road and jump onto the kerb when a car came by. Then it got dark too. I walked on to East Worldham (and 2 1/2 miles in all) then called a taxi to go the rest of the way. I should have given up on the 272 and got the no 13 and walked from Whitehill centre. Got home about 6 pm.

Half eaten

I was woken up last night by one of the cats meowing...usually a sign that she has caught something. No sign of anything when I came down stairs in the morning, but then I found half a mouse on the back step when I went out. She must have dropped it as she came through the cat flap...eugh! Apologies if anyone finds this disgusting.

Remembrance Sunday

Maria was playing trumpet (Last Post, etc) at a Remembrance Day service at a care home run by her Dad in Aldershot. We had lunch beforehand at The Princess Royal in Runfold. Lunch was okay...a bit dull I suppose, but the service was okay. Not as busy as last time we went there, possibly as the lunches were more boring. Most of the deserts had chocolate in them too.
The service went well...the old folks liked it

Refund

I got a letter from SouthWest Trains today (7th Nov).
They apologised for the problems I'd had last month (see post for 23rd October) and sent me rail vouchers for £10.
No explanation for what went wrong with the "live departure boards" though.

Neighbourhood Watch

Yesterday (3rd Nov) I went to a Neighbourhood Watch meeting at the Forest Community Centre. I'd registed with the Hampshire volunteer service and opted to help with the Neighbourhood Watch. I was called by the Inspector who passed my deatils to the Policeman who deals with the watch. In turn he suggested I could come along and maybe volunteer as local co-ordinator.
There was no obvious way to volunteer at the meeting, so I've emailed them today.

Halloween, Car, etc

On the 27th October we sent off for Maria's new driving licence - to get it updated with her new nam and add a new photo.

We picked up the wedding photo album from Coole Media on 29th October. It looks great. Nigel has done a great job on it.

After getting the album we went down to Lyme to stay with mum, unfortunately we had a small car accident shortly after Ringwood. The car in front of us (a BMW) was "tail-gating" the van in front if it. In short, the van stopped abruptly, the BMW in front of us stopped, released his brakes and then stopped again. Our car went into the back of the BMW. The BMW driver apologised, he said that his brakes "locked" but despite that it was "our fault" as we went into the back of his car. Not much damage to his car though. We were able to keep going to visit Mum, but called the insurers from the McDonalds at Dorchester. We then arranged to swap over the courtesy car on Saturday morning between 10 and 12.

After visiting Mum for a couple of days we went to Wells for Halloween.

We had fun going out with Rosie, Henry and Mary. We walked around Wells in the afternoon, then made "scary" biscuits with Rosie and Henry.

The kids dressed up (as a ghost, a skeleton and a little witch) and we went trick or treating. Rosie made Maria dress up as a witch too!

We left early the next morning to get home to swap the car. We got home at 9:45. The driver arived at 10:00. He'd arrived early but had gone off for a cup of tea while waiting for us. The loan car is a Mitsubishi Colt. Slight panic as Maria's driving licence hadn't come back from the DVLA yet, but they accepted the driver number only. Luckily the DVLA's form told us to keep a record of it.