19th January, 2021. 311 days of isolation/lockdown.

Had a bit of a drama with the car today. I was going to see Mum in the pouring rain and the car wouldn’t start. Nothing at all and the steering wheel was stuck in the “lock” position. As I went back inside the house, the key fob lock would not work, for the same reason. I wasn’t worried as we were insured for homestart etc. I rang the insurance company and all was well until the final bit when they informed me that the car was untaxed. I had been driving around for 10 months untaxed. It is amazing that we have not been stopped in all that time by the police. I therefore had to ring DVLA who were excellent and allowed me to pay the arrears with no penalties. I have also paid up for the next 12 months. I rang the insurance company to tell them but they responded that I was not covered at the time of my call when I was effectively untaxed and they told me I would have to call out a garage. I understood the logic and rang Northmoor Garage who told me it sounded like the battery had died suddenly which is what they can do so they will come out tomorrow with a new battery. They were too busy to come out today. The car will have to remain unlocked on the driveway all night in the pouring rain. I therefore had to go to Mum’s by bus.

At the bus stop, I saw two people picking up litter in the rain. It looked like something they did regularly and I shouted my thanks across the road. When I got home, I posted on the Cottingham Community Facebook site what I had seen and that they were real troopers. So far there are in excess of 70 likes. They deserve high praise.

I went to see mum who seemed well but a bit confused. We talked about Covid and her getting injections at home by the doctor. Later on Angela reported that Mum had been mean to her on the phone. Apparently it can be a symptom of a water infection and the doctor has prescribed medication which will start tomorrow, administered by Elaine a really good carer. Let’s hope it it not the start of something worse.

Last day for Trump tomorrow. Hooray!!!! Sadly, Boris has a long way to go.