test please delete

[NickFitz]

In other news: the car won't start

The Toyota, this is, not the Orion.

Mystery solved

As I waited for the breakdown guy, it occurred to me that the "fuel low" light was among the dazzling constellation on the dashboard that illuminated as it attempted to start, and I seemed to recollect that it didn't usually come on then. So I grabbed my torch and went down to the car again. Sure enough, the flap over the filler cap had been pried open, and the filler cap was loose. Someone had apparently nicked the fuel

I grabbed the (empty) spare fuel can and popped to the Shell place down the road. While there I asked the chap, and he said somebody had reported a similar thing last Monday.

As I was almost back at the car, the breakdown chap phoned to say he was outside, so I went to get him and bring him to where the car was. I explained that it was almost certainly a fuel-theft situation. He said he'd come and do his tests on the battery etc. anyway, as then he could put the paperwork through and nobody would be any the wiser

As he tested various things I poured the fuel into the tank. Once done, he gave it a try and after a few moments it fired up, nice as pie

Then I shone my torch downwards… to reveal a stream of petrol flowing away from under the car

I called him round, adding that he should probably kill the engine first. He had a look, then got right down and looked underneath. Turns out they'd drained the fuel by puncturing the tank; the cap was just loosened to let air in as it drained

He explained that he wasn't sure what to do for the best, as all the garages we might take it to would be shut by now. I asked him what time it was; he said it was 6pm.

I hoiked my phone out and called the little backstreet mechanics I always use. Sure enough, Jason (the gaffer) answered and, when I explained the situation, said "No problem, drop it down here, I'll be here for another hour or so."

Mr Breakdown was quite stunned that I'd found somewhere open (he kept saying that his boss would never believe it), but quickly drove the car out onto the road while there was still some fuel left and got it on the back of his wagon. So we went, and dropped it off, and now I'm waiting to hear how much a new fuel tank is going to cost, and when it'll be fixed

But, but, but Toyota motor carriages are soooooo reliable, they just don't break down.

Their reputation remains unimpeached, though they need a bit more armour plating round the fuel tank

[mudskipper]

Parkrunner who keeled over at yesterday's run died.

I'd assumed he was a New Year's Resolution runner who'd overdone it, but he was one of our regulars with 115 parkruns under his belt, the run yesterday being his second of the day (as many of us were doing the 'double'). Very sad news. Makes you ponder...

[NickFitz]

Parkrunner who keeled over at yesterday's run died.

I'd assumed he was a New Year's Resolution runner who'd overdone it, but he was one of our regulars with 115 parkruns under his belt, the run yesterday being his second of the day (as many of us were doing the 'double'). His brother also runs at our parkrun. Very sad news. Makes you ponder...

Bummer

[TykeMerc]

Parkrunner who keeled over at yesterday's run died.

I'd assumed he was a New Year's Resolution runner who'd overdone it, but he was one of our regulars with 115 parkruns under his belt, the run yesterday being his second of the day (as many of us were doing the 'double'). His brother also runs at our parkrun. Very sad news. Makes you ponder...

People keel over and pop their clogs with strokes/heart/organ/major blood vessel failures all the time, that doesn't make it any easier to witness of course.

It happens to both the fit and the fat, but in reality the fitter the less likely and the more shocking it is.

[barrydidit]

Turns out they'd drained the fuel by puncturing the tank; the cap was just loosened to let air in as it drained

That's an unwanted new year bumming if ever there was one. Be worth letting know too, I imagine.

[mudskipper]

People keel over and pop their clogs with strokes/heart/organ/major blood vessel failures all the time, that doesn't make it any easier to witness of course.

It happens to both the fit and the fat, but in reality the fitter the less likely and the more shocking it is.

Yep, of course they do. I think there were 3 parkrun deaths in 2014 - but there's 1000s of runners of all shapes and sizes every week, so inevitable that it will happen occasionally. Didn't know the guy personally (he's much faster than me) but I recognise his photo as one of the faces you see every week. I was mistaken in saying his brother is a regular at ours - got the wrong end of the stick.

[NickFitz]

That's an unwanted new year bumming if ever there was one. Be worth letting know too, I imagine.

Just waiting for them to call back and take a full report. Not an emergency, but it's useful if they know this stuff is going on and can watch out for it - the local policing unit is pretty good here

[mudskipper]

Just waiting for them to call back and take a full report. Not an emergency, but it's useful if they know this stuff is going on and can watch out for it - the local policing unit is pretty good here

It'll go on the neighbourhood watch stats.

[FiveTimes]

22 mins remaining

And its back - slightly different

[TykeMerc]

And its back - slightly different

How much storage space are you down as a result? I noticed some action being taken against Apple over that.