Chas had a somewhat challenging day on Saturday. Being very organised she was up early to get plenty of jobs done, while I was out of the way in Wales, and before Andree and Ian visited later in the day. Being very organised she knew that her car tax was due, and that she needed her MOT certificate. She couldn’t find the certificate. After two hours she still couldn’t find the certificate, and still hadn’t started her list of jobs. Feeling a bit less organised, and a bit more stressed, but still confident, she remembered that MOT certification is now on line, and Chas went on line to find hers.
It was very shortly after this, while trying to organise about 60 potential climbers and abseilers on a Welsh hillside, that I got a plaintive phone call. “My MOT ran out in March! What shall I do?” “Err….take it for an MOT urgently” “Won’t I owe the Government some money or something?” “No, but you are not insured without an MOT, and haven’t been since March.” “But it will be 2 weeks before I can book into the garage” “You’ll be able to book it into that tyre place, you know, they do exhaust as well, err… can’t remember the name…” At this point there was a shout from a team behind me “Kwik Fit. MOT costs £35!” I relayed this to Chas, who found the details on the Kwik Fit/Halfords web site
On arrival at Halfords it was clear that the price was double that advertised. Apparently Chas should have booked on line. It is not good to negotiate with a stressed Chas, and the receptionist promptly gave in and halved the price. Two minutes later a scared looking “technician” appeared. “That was quick!” says Chas. “Err….” Says the technician, preparing to retreat, “we’ve not started” Why not?” “We’ve locked your keys inside your car….”. Halfords promptly allocated three blokes to the job – two to try to break in, and one to fetch Chas a cup of coffee and keep her calm.
It was at this point that I got another call from Chas to ask for our Recovery Policy details, just in case. My details were in my car 100 miles away. Chas’ details were in her car, just a few feet away, but inaccessible. However Halfords managed to enter the car, and test it. It failed. There was obviously some vigorous arguments over who was going to break this news to Chas, and so, in the interests of their own health and safety, they sweetened the news by a further 50% discount on the MOT.
The VW now has an MOT, has valid insurance, and, being very organised, I am sure that Chas will remember the next due date
Technically we live in Oaktree House, but sadly the tree had to go.
We now have a thriving Oakstump at the front of the house.
