The Car.

I got up early for work, and as we have to always find a parking space on our road, its rare to be able to part outside our house. I walked up and down the street, trying to remember where I'd parked it the night before. Then I crossed over the road and walked down the other side, then back again and it was then I noticed a gap where my car was! Dogs! They had stolen my car! Why can't people just leave things alone? It happened on a Friday and as I work many, many miles away I wasn't able to go to work! But they didn't think of that, that some of us have to work!! My car was an old escort, tatty nothing special but it got me from A – B and that's all I need a car for, to get me there and back.

A few days later I had a letter from the car parking company to tell me, “I'd left my car all day in the supermarket's car park, that I had to pay £50” I explained it had been stolen and that was where they had left it, so I didn't have to pay. Eventually I got the car back but it wasn't 'mine' any more, so I sold it.

I wanted my next car to be one that idiots wouldn't want to be seen dead in, I asked people who I worked with, what they would recommend some said this and some said that, but my Brother-in-Law, said “The best car for me is a Skoda!” So with help from another family member I bought a Skoda. It was SO good it pasted it MOT months later without anything needed done to it! That's the kind of car I like.

My Husband and kids were with me in the car at traffic lights when a young woman crashed into us, writing off the car! And hers. Two Asians lads who were walking by, saw everything that had happened. We were in the middle lane and when the lights changed to green cars both sides and behind fled!!! The Asians lads, aged about eighteen came over to us, and said “We saw everything, we have phoned for the ambulance and police for you, they are on their way, we will be witness” I thanked them, for we were in no state to think straight or do anything. Paul had been asleep at the front and our kids in the back. The lads said, “You can't leave your car there, it is dangerous, you need to try and move it across the road and park it at the side” so that is what we did. The ambulance and police came very quickly, they checked me out and Anka the Polish girl who had crashed into us. When I went and looked at the back of my car I shouted at her, “look what you've done to my car!” Poor girl, she was in bits and I was thankful later to be able to say to her, “Sorry for shouting at you.” I would like to meet those lads again, one day and thank them for all they did ….

So I needed another car, so again with help from the same family member who had helped me get the last Skoda, from the same garage near their home they were able to get £100 off my next Skoda.

Four months later, I was stopped near my home, by a police car, I was cornered in a cul-de-sac sirens and lights flashing!! Me been nosey, wanted to know who they were after, so as I looked through my mirror to my horror they came out to me!? I wound down my window he said I had, “No insurance” I said, “I had, and didn't they have more important things to do than pick on me?” That made him angry and he told me to, “Get out the car, and go into their car!” I asked if I could bring my toddler Daughter with me, they said,”No!” so I told my older child to run home and get Paul, our Daughter was hanging our the back window crying in my direction I was afraid that she would fall out, but they wouldn't let her to be with me. My Husband was soon at the police car and the police man said, “Go home or we will arrest you, if you don't leave now.” Our Son, I have never seen him SO upset, crying lots seeing me inside the police car. My family went home, leaving me in the back seat while they tried to find my insurance on their data base. They took many photos of me from many angles, the cameras was around the car. Finally what seem liked a long time, they said I had to bring my insurance into the station, I had told them I am fully comp. and always have been, that I didn't see the point of having Third Party. I went home and looked for my insurance. To my horror it was for the car that was smashed and written off a four months earlier. I showed it them at the police station and they said I would have to go to court for not having insurance for THIS car!!!

it was my first day in court in my life. This lovely ginger haired man was going to be my lawyer. I wasn't nervous. I put my hand on the Bible to tell the truth, the whole truth and nothing but the truth, so help me God. There was more than one judge, to my right. I had taken a picture of my Auntie with me, to the court and had looked at it till it was my turn to speak, its my favourite picture of her and me together, she is holding up a bottle of tomato ketchup, and we both looked healthy and very happy.

Then it was my turn to take the stand. I was crossed examined and then my lawyer asked, “When you had the car crash four months earlier, why didn't you think to change over the insurance to this car?” I said, “As I always paid my car insurance fully comprehensive and direct debit, I knew my insurance was always paid and on time, it was one less thing to worry about with the accident and our injuries.” He said, didn't I think about letting the insurance company know about my new car?” I replied, they knew about the accident and my new car, they didn't say anything either, for they were still getting their money, no payments had been missed, the total for the year was £500 I have nine no claims that is protected,” He asked me if I have always paid my car insurance, I said, “Always, I have never missed a day and I have always been fully comprehensive, for I don't see the point of been Third Party.

The judges debated and then one of them said, “You didn't have insurance for this car, but it was not as if you did it on purpose, for you have always paid,” (I had brought the statements proof of my direct debit payments, going back many years to the present day) so we find you “Not guilty.” You will not know the relief that I had felt!

The children were at school and I wanted something to eat, so I went to my favourite place (Not my Husband's) and had a Big Mac, Fries and a yummy hot chocolate! It did the trick, I slowly unwound, and breathed sighs of relief.