What I did today.

Am in doghouse. This does not often happen. DH rang about half an hour ago. He has broken down on an A road about 15 miles away and thinks it is because he let fuel get too low. He is tired and frazzled. Thinks the best solution is that I go to petrol station , buy diesel and then find him on a road in dark. I suggest that the sensible thing to do is to call out the breakdown service that we have paid for and let them rescue him. This seemed logical to me because if it was not fuel low, then he would have to call breakdown anyway. So going straight to breakdown service probably best. But was not right answer. I am debating with myself what I would be thinking in his shoes. I think i would go straight for the breakdown service option. but he is feeling it is his own stupid fault, and they might charge him for callout.

Even if it is caused by low fuel, as it's diesel you can't just top it up and restart the engine, the whole system would need bleeding which is a complicated procedure. I'm with you on this one Jess - he should have called the breakdown service. That's what you pay for anyway. Let us know what happens. . . .

He's a man - calling out breakdown through lack of fuel not a good idea - bad for macho. He'll get over it. He needs to call breakdown.

Today I visited DH's cousin's wife in the local cottage hospital. J is in her mid 70's and has always been a busy little woman - dashing about doing things for the church and RBIB. A few weeks ago she was diagnosed with an inoperable brain tumour. A couple of weeks before that, her husband was diagnosed with a tumour on his lung. I'm just so glad that I went to see her today, but I don't think I'll ever forget how hard she held my hand and how searchingly she looked into my eyes. I've known her since I was eight-years-old.

I meant RNIB.

I'd imagine one of the main reasons for call outs is no fuel. I learned my lesson about that years ago when I let an old car we had run very low on petrol. All the mucky stuff at the bottom of the fuel tank caused all sorts of problems..the car was awful to drive, kept cutting out etc. Hope the road he's broken down on isn't too dark and dangerous. At least he a]had his mobile with him and b] it was charged up. Brownie points for that.

I'd heard that one of the main reasons for an emergency call out was to people who had put diesel into a petrol car

Oh, Marelli what a poignant moment for you. That is a long time to have known someone. x

It was the fuel - and he's home safe, and forgiven me. And himself. Never believe a 10 year old car when the dashboard controls tell you there is another 10 miles in the tank !!!

How sad for you Marelli

Oh Marelli how very sad. I'm sure it must have helped your cousin's wife to see you but how hard it is to see someone so afraid. I have never forgotten my auntie many years ago looking at me as you describe and saying 'I don't want to die'. I didn't know what to say. Do take care of yourself

And soop I am hoping for good news for you tomorrow

marelli
crimson hope the chickens are ok.

nightowl just read your post. What a sad thing that must have been, fr both you and your aunt

Perhaps she's scared of dying alone without her husband as he is also ill?

Thank you nanadog it was a sad thing, and she was a lovely auntie. She was only 63.

(((hugs))) Marelli how sad for you and your friend's family.
soop hope all looks brighter this morning
nightowl 63 is really no age at all and your aunt must have felt there should have been so much more time.
crimson how are the chooks?

Marelli

Just caught up whilst eating b/fast porridge.

Some good news (lovely wedding photos), some not so good -refusing to say bad- Builders 'revised' estimates, illness and more.
for all.

Have had friends to stay, we enjoyed Racing (Badgers Ales.... Crimson) and bird watching. Thanks to T.V. our favourite site is now inundated, so far the starlings seem unaffected by the crowd murmuration!

MIL (Port Talbot) sounded like Gladys Morgan but never said 'look you', altho' she often said:
'Now, in a minute.'
FIL always said 'mun' after most things e.g. 'Leave it alone, mun'.
Coming from a 'different' country (N.Wales, Jess) I thought this quite amusing.......at first!

Thank you for your lovely comments. . I thought a lot about J last night. Her illness has appeared over the last month and we hadn't known even that she was ill. We live in the same area, but tend just to bump into one another only when in town, and stand talking for ages, catching up. She and her DH are always together and it was when I met her DH on his own last week that I found out that she was ill.
I just kept thinking last night that if he hears about going in to hospital for his own operation, he won't be able to be near J in her last days. When we came home DH and I felt 'quiet', if you know what I mean.......?

oh marelli what a very sad visit for you. Makes you think, we must enjoy what we have.

Oh Marelli how sad

celebgran - isn't that so very true! As I sit here (cereal dish, empty mug by my side as is usual for this time of the morning!) I can see from my window the now bare oak tree - and all over it, with the low sunlight catching them, are perched a flock of collared doves.

Marelli my heart goes out to you.

Marelli it is very sad and one feels helpless in these circumstances.

After yesterday's "blip" Mr soop and I are beginning to rally...thanks in the main to you lot. We're off to see friends at the orchard plot for a . I shall be back later to catch up with all the news. In the meantime, I've selected an appropriate passage which sums up my feelings for my dearest GN pals...

'And in the sweetness of friendship
let there be laughter.
and sharing of pleasures.
for in the dew of little things
the heart finds its morning
and is refreshed.' Kahil Gibran 1883 - 1931