FML

[Squirrel]

Wiggle contact the restaurant. My husband did this and they were able to cancel it directly for him, rather than appealing it with the parking company. I guess it may help if you have a table booking that they can verify or evidence of payment.

[Princess Morripov]

Yes - same for A and his barbers - they can retrospectively sort for you.

[Froozy]

M&S keep having to do that for my dad as it takes him so long to do his food shop there Hopefully the restaurant will be able to sort it for you Wiggle.

S was due to go on a school trip tomorrow and D was going as a parent volunteer. They were going to leave the house at 7am and not be back til 8pm and I was going to spend most of the day in glorious isolation. Then S vomited yesterday morning and it’s all off

(School would have waved the 48 hour thing because it would have been about 45 hours and he’s been fine ever since but the idea of him being 3+ hours from home and being ill again just doesn’t seem sensible)

[Wiggle]

Thanks all! I do have a booking reference and will contact the restaurant tomorrow to see what they can do.

Froozy, I think that is a wise decision, hope S is okay.

[Lily]

Did you get anywhere, Wiggle?

I complained to the breakdown lot and got £100 refunded which I think I will take as it is better than nothing. The rest of it I'll put down to learning an expensive lesson!

[Wiggle]

I've just got an email confirming they have cancelled it from their side. I've asked if I should expect a letter from the car park company as well. So a massive thanks for your help!

Lily, that's some kind of progress that you got some money refunded back.

[Lily]

In a coda to Tyregate, in a twist which will shock absolutely nobody, I've just cleaned my car and I do have a spare in the boot. Fffffffffffs.

[Luna]

Noooooooooooooo

[Margo]

Oh, Lily, no!

[Little My]

Annoying, but at least now you know for future reference.

Honestly, they should have double checked whether you had one or not though before towing.

[nineseven]

Last night I popped out to the corner shop with no coat, no glasses and no phone, came back and couldn't open my front door. My neighbour (a builder) failed to open it too and let me use his phone to call an emergency locksmith. I had to wait in another neighbour's house for 1.5 hours for him to arrive and smash his way in - the night latch had given up the ghost. That cost £227. Then he quoted me an additional £671 to replace the lock

I said no as I still have a mortise and a lockable porch and got quotes this morning - someone is doing it tomorrow for £118.

Absolute chancer.

[Luce]

That is terrible but the thing that made me shudder there was an unexpected 1.5 hours in a neighbour’s house

[Lily]

I read that as sitting in the house for the neighbour to arrive.

Poor Nine! I got one of those little boxes to stick on the wall with a code only you know to put spare keys in.

Little My, I'm wondering if I might give that a go to see if I can get any more money refunded. I need to renew my breakdown cover with someone, but I really don't feel like doing it at the moment. :grump:

[Kenickie]

I reckon they should have double checked like my breakdown person did, Lily. Even if you don't get money back it's worth raising it so the next person won't have the same experience.

What a nightmare, Nine!

[Tabitha]

I got one of those little boxes to stick on the wall with a code only you know to put spare keys in.

That won't help if the lock is broken though.

I had a neighbour in mine a few years back for similar reasons, I don't think either of us were very comfortable.

[Disco]

I just waited outside my house when my key snapped off in the lock.

[Lily]

That's true. Stupid of me, sorry.

Thank you Ken, I will definitely mention it as it might help someone else.

[Kenickie]

I mean, honestly, we can't be the only two in the world who had a spare and didn't know. ;)

[Pippedydeadeye]

Mine aren’t as expensive as the last two, but I’ve pulled threads in the sleeve of my new fine knit jumper on the stupid Velcro on the stupid recycling bags and I bought Squeak some fine liners in a little stationery shop earlier and they were dead expensive for what they are and 2 of the 5 don’t bloody work. I’m not about to go back over it, just moan here.

[overthehill]

I mean, honestly, we can't be the only two in the world who had a spare and didn't know. ;)

Probably not, as the spare wheel is often much narrrower than the 'proper' wheels on the car and, therefore, much easier to hide in the boot. (Beware though, you aren't supposed to drive very far or very fast on them.)

I'm in London for 24 hours to see my sister in hospital. Stayed at a Heathrow hotel last night, as it was too late to negotiate public transport into town. Just had breakfast. Alone. Seated next to a heavily-tattooed lone man who looked like Drax in a basketball vest. He never. Stopped. Farting. He did say "excuse me" each time. Which I suppose was something.