Nowhere to Hide

I’ve just had an interesting one! Have been driving on air since about yesterday lunchtime but kept quite not being able to fit in quick dash to petrol station. Knew I was pushing my luck and was getting a bit sweaty palmed about it. Coasted downhill to deliver children to school but then forced to engage gears to get out of village. Safety net of petrol can for lawnmower in back (actually had some in it for once). Sit at temporary traffic lights in town, cursing the hold up, as engine ticks over – manage to pull away ok and just reach brow of hill in town before engine starts juddering. *****r! Have hit town at ‘rush hour’ so irritating people wanting to turn left and right and buses and lorries fighting for space through the traffic calming scheme, thus impeding my freewheeling all the way down the hill to Morrison’s and the now rather urgently required petrol! Engine finally gives out just before pelican crossing, 50 yards from target. Too irritating to stop and get mower can out now, so engage hazard warnings and attempt to negotiate mini-roundabout and juggernaut making deliveries. Instantly becomes scary as power steering and (more alarmingly) brakes now disabled! Much heaving on unresponsive wheel and stamping for dear life on brakes as somehow squeeze my way between vehicles and people on station forecourt to only free pump. Get out of strangely positioned car with certain amount of relief and feigned nonchalance to be greeted with ‘Hi C!’ by a friend from school. Oh yes, there is truly nowhere to hide when you live in a small town community! You have been warned…