Floods and destroying my car

13 posts / 0 new

Tue, 2012-11-27 16:37

I knew I shouldn't have set the theme of floods for the IP this week - they came back to bite me.

My wife has been ill for some time and so I haven't been out a lot lately. Ho Hum. On Saturday night it was the 10th birthday party of my daughter's business (see it at www.bunyipbeads.com) (shameless plug - but there's great Christmas presents there!) - and, having been involved from the start, I really wanted to go. So I set off for the centre of Exeter in the torrential rain and reached it OK. You may know that I live on the edge of Dartmoor and things can get a little strange weather-wise in these parts.

I left early as the rain was unrelenting - I've never seen anything like it - and drove slowly back. I was within a mile of my house when I crossed the River Teign and there in front of me was another large puddle. Into it I went. It was when the water went over the headlights that I knew I was in trouble.

My dear old car chugged through the lot - losing its front number plate on the way - only to splutter and fail on the far side. Now, this is only 200 yards from my garage but the first bit is uphill and I couldn't push it on my own. I waited for about half an hour - turning away a few other cars from the river. They were all being driven by incredibly old men and women so I couldn't ask them to help me. In the end I tried the car again and it spluttered into life, belching white smoke and coughing its way back home.

I tried to run off the water from the engine on Sunday to no avail and took it to the garage on Monday. It's a write-off. It's very old but it went like a dream and I loved it. Now there's not a hire car to be had anywhere in Devon so I am awaiting my 'courtesy car' from the insurers. Then I can go and start to look at replacements. But it won't be the same and I won't be driving into rivers any time soon.

Tue, 2012-11-27 16:45

denni1

Hope your wife is ok xx

Tue, 2012-11-27 17:38

alex_tomlin

Sounds like a nightmare. Sorry about your car. Hope your wife is okay too. I love the idea that everyone who drove up to the bridge was 'incredibly' old. With long beards and impossible wrinkles I imagine.

Tue, 2012-11-27 18:14

Silver Spun Sand

Tony - I am so sorry about your car. I also send all my best wishes to your wife. On a lighter note, I just clicked on the link for your daughter's business. What a delightful website;-) My dear hubby has been stuck for Xmas pressies to buy me this year as he can't get out on his own anymore, and those delightful CHERRY earrings and necklace to match, are just the ticket, so I think she will have at least one taker;-) Warmest regards and good luck with sorting out your mobiblity problems. Tina;-)

Tue, 2012-11-27 18:29

lavadis

Goodness me Tony what a total nightmare. My best wishes and thoughts for your wife. I was saddened to hear about your horrendous flood experience. Everything I owned in the world was destroyed by a flood of slurry which came out of the toilet in the basement flat in Hampstead where I was living and rose to 4ft. You know you are in trouble when you open your front door and the toilet seat floats past your feet in a sea of shite. So I claimed on the insurance, moved out for 3 months whilst industrial dryers and specialist cleaners sorted everything out and I moved back in. Then a week after my wedding whilst I was on honeymoon in France it did it again - everything I had bought to replace everything I owned was destroyed by a 6ft flood of slurry out of the bath and toilet and sink. How I laughed. L x

Tue, 2012-11-27 18:52

Richard L. Prov...

A pool of water is full of surprises, eh Tony? Glad no one was injured. Richard

Richard L. Provencher

Tue, 2012-11-27 18:56

scratch

Lav', I know I shouldn't but you just made me laugh out loud. I love your understated bone dry sense of humour. Bloody hilarious, but I'm sorry to hear of the loss of your possessions. Tony, do you ever recall watching the TV news and guffawing when they show pictures of drivers stranded in flood waters? I do, and can remember saying to my wife 'look at those bloody idiots driving through floods, what fools....' It cost me three and a half grand to get my car fixed after I became one of the fools.

Tue, 2012-11-27 19:21

Highhat

I have been reading about your floods and seeing pictures on the news- looks like a miserable time. Sorry to hear about your dear old vehicle Tony but I am concerned about your wife too. I hope she is getting better. I also hope that your new car will become a cherished possession.

Tue, 2012-11-27 20:01

celticman

Nows the time to trade up Tony and get a couple of horses.

Tue, 2012-11-27 20:33

#10

scratch

That's right Celticman; second class riding is better than first class walking anyday.

Tue, 2012-11-27 20:49

#11

Florian

Commiserations and hope all turns out well. I was struck by the fact that the car managed one last effort to get you back home before finally giving up the ghost. I don't really mean that as a metaphor. I was on a lonely road in a newish car a few years ago. It was night and bucketing down to the extent that it was almost impossible to see through the windscreen, even with the wipers going full belt. The car was full of small kids and I was having nightmares about a breakdown or loosing sight of the road altogether. Sure enough there was a loud and terrible grinding noise the engine started missing and doing strange things but somehow the car staggered on for another thirty kilometres, rain pouring lightning striking all around and scaring the hell out of my tiny charges. We eventually reached a small motel and the car literally died on the doorstep. There was was a garage nearby and it was towed there the following morning. I'll spare you the technical details but the mechanic said he couldn't understand how the car could possibly have run at all, let alone so far. Neither do I.

Wed, 2012-11-28 13:37

#12

hulsey

An excuse to buy a new car, Tony. Seriously though, your experience cannot have been pleasant. You mentioning Dartmoor brings back fond memories for me. Many years ago, I stayed at an army camp in Oakhampton, on the edge of Dartmoor. Is it still there? Anyway, I hope that your wife is okay. Incidentally, have you considered an ark?

Wed, 2012-11-28 16:26

#13

tcook

Thankyou all for your kind thoughts - and to SSS for going to bunyip beads! More please! I have finally got a 'courtesy car' out of the insurance company and agreed a reasonable deal for my old and lovely heap (a grand total of £800, less the £150 excess!) I have gone crazy and bought a brand new Skoda Yeti today - it will be ready next Wednesday. I can't afford it as the builders are taking all my money but what the hell, you only live once. I shall be buying lottery tickets for the next few years. Ho Hum.