We’ve just received Penelope’s car back from our friendly neighbourhood garage after a peculiar incident – one evening last week she discovered that the whole of her front grill, including the number plate, had gone missing. Intriguingly, she heard nothing to indicate that the front of her car was falling or had fallen off and was perplexed as to how and when it might have happened.
In the interests of full disclosure, I need to admit that it was me who first dislodged the front grill. We had gone to visit the Forge in Culworth some months ago to see if we could find some suitable gifts for a visit to someone, somewhere. As we left to drive home I attempted to turn around in a narrow lane with a steep verge. After suitably loud and prolonged grating & scraping noises I succeeded in manoeuvring the car into its new orientation. I was about to set off again when Pen politely informed me that I had left the grill on the side of the road. We picked it up and re-attached it when we got home and it has clearly been very happy in the months since then.
For some reason, though, it disappeared and in retracing her steps we didn’t run across it anywhere. So, Penelope drove down to the local garage to ask them to order a new grill and number plate and fit it for her. Since the number plate had gone missing, they suggested that she contact the police – it was unlikely that it had come off when Pen was driving or parking – she would have heard it. More likely, they said, it was stolen! By someone who wanted to steal her identity! Next thing you know she’s being arrested for joy-riding in a stolen car in Milton Keynes! Or involved in a car-jacking, bank robbery or worse!
So, when Pen got home she did ring the police. They took all the details and gave her a crime reference number that she was instructed to carry with her at all times. Presumably, this is so that when she is stopped for driving a car with stolen number plates she could produce the note and escape prosecution – a “Get Out of Jail Free” card, if you will.
More comfortingly, she also received an e-mail offering emotional support and counselling following her loss!
Sallie and Rod have moved on to Switzerland following their occupation of the Guest Wing. We had a lot of fun and visited lots of places including some local ones which I’ve always said we should visit someday. Unfortunately, after a week to ten days of quite lovely weather and dining outside, it started raining the day after they left.
Up to the Chinese Visa Processing Centre on Friday to collect our visas for the trip to China – just me, this time. Pen and her sister J, our newest Guest Wing resident, have decided that their time could be better spent painting the dining room and re-painting the lounge. I know. The lounge had only recently been painted but the colour never quite sat right with Pen. So, she and J conspired, bought forty-three additional sample pots and splattered the walls with blodges and swathes of colour. I was summoned to give my expert opinion – “Whatever,” I said and they eventually choose something which is more to her liking. Now we need to decide on a carpet and rug and that room will be more or less finished! And then we just need to get the electrician back to finish his work and find a few side tables and we’ll be set.
I can’t remember where I ran across this – probably on Facebook:
Remember back in the day when Sarah Palin was the craziest person in politics?
Good times.
Finally, Penelope’s Gladioli are the talk of the village – they’re all out and standing proud and majestic along the front of the house. Magnificent colour.
Much love to you all,
Greg