All On A Summer's Day

Monday, 18 May 2009

The sun was shining and the clear blue sky promised a good day ahead. It was Tuesday the 19th April 2005 and excitement was high at the thought of going to Tesco to do the weekly shop.

Those of the female gender will be familiar with this heady experience. Checking that I had my shopping list, for God forbid that I should be rendered helpless by forgetting same, I opened the garage door and got into the MGB GT, put the key into the ignition, and after a couple of tries the engine roared into life and relief flooded my soul. The old girl and I set off for Bloomfield, and don't you have any unkind thoughts regarding the age of the driver. After doing the shopping and loading up, the thought of a seat in the garden under the sun brolly munching my chicken and bacon sandwich was uttermost in my mind. I turned left making for the Newtownards Road roundabout and the short drive home.

Approaching said roundabout I kept to the inside lane to make my right turn, keeping a sharp eye on the traffic which is always busy at this junction. Then, how do I put it, an alarming thing happened. All mechanical life beneath me ceased and I was left stranded in this precarious position at approximately 2.30 pm. Putting on my hazard lights, I grabbed my mobile and rang the RAC helpline and gave the required information to be told it could be an hour before the Cavalry would arrive. I could only imagine what the poor guy on receiving the call would be thinking, "Dear God, an MGB GT, it's yer woman again."

Suddenly a car pulled up in front of me and a friend came back to see if he could help, but as Danny is in his seventies he was in no fit state to push me to where I needed to be. I explained that I had phoned the RAC and sent him on his way. So there I sat with the traffic maneuvering round me and wishing I was somewhere else, whilst giving vent to my feelings in my usual colourful fashion.

Then there appeared at my a window a young man of approximately 30 years old who offered to push me across the road onto the cobbled hard shoulder, to which I expressed my grateful thanks. The times I have wished for a young virile male for one thing or another, but the genie got it wrong, location, location. He then went to the rear of the car and with his hands under the bumper levered me slowly but surely onto the safety of the cobbles. During this heroic act not one person came to his assistance, and my admiration was unbounded. Since he had parked in an unlawful position he immediately ran off to a white van bearing the words MAYPOLE GARDENING and I resolved to contact the firm.

Well I thought, now being out of danger and nothing to do but wait, I turned my face to the sun and decided to enjoy the day. After some time had passed a Landrover and trailer came alongside and David, another friend offered his assistance. However having raised the bonnet and poked around in the car's innards he had to admit defeat and left me to my sunbathing. With resignation I put my head against the side of the open window and with the warmth of the sun and the soft hum of passing traffic I became pleasantly drowsy. Somewhere in my subconscious I heard an ambulance siren and thought at least I'm not needing that like some poor soul.

Next moment I was aware of a car beside me, and I opened my eyes to find a policeman looking down at me and enquiring if I was alright, "Oh I'm fine officer it's the car that has the problem". He was then joined by his mate who asked me if I had heard the ambulance, to which I glibly replied that indeed I had and was thanking my lucky stars it was not for me. A smile spread across the two faces. "Actually it was looking for you; we had a call to the station from a lady who said that a car was pulled up on the hard shoulder and the woman inside appeared to be unwell". I am not usually slow but it did take a little time to filter into my brain just how ludicrous the situation was, and how it might have looked to a passing motorist. "O God, I'm so sorry I was enjoying the sun and awaiting the RAC".

Meantime his companion was recalling the ambulance to base. I can only imagine the curses on being told there was no body to collect. Having cleared up this mix up the policemen raised the bonnet to test their skills at a quick fix, alas with the same results as David, down went the bonnet again, and they bade me a cheery farewell. Needless to say I did not return to my previous position, but leaned across the passenger seat where I could not be seen and went into convulsions of laughter, which for the sake of decency had had to be suppressed until my company had gone.

Sometime later, one does not keep track of time when one is enjoying oneself, the RAC man arrived and up went the bonnet again. "Oh great, a real engine to work on", and after working for a short time made a temporary repair which would get me to Chris at a later date. The crunch was to come that evening when I attended the Bangor Wine Circle meeting and a very loud voice ask for all to hear "And what were you dong on the hard shoulder at the Newtownards roundabout at 5 o'clock?" Oh, the shame of it!!

And the moral of the story is, if you are the lucky owner of an MG of whatever ilk and therefore of celebrity status, you must be prepared to be in the public eye in good times and bad.

This story has even travelled to Australia courtesy of Maureen when there visiting her son.

All On A Summer's Day

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