h2g2 The Hitchhiker's Guide to the Galaxy: Earth Edition

It's hard being a dog walker without a van.

The clutch went on Thursday, well, still useable, I was hoping to nurse it for another two months until service time in Feb, but with this weather it just had to go in.

Managed to rearrange Monday morning jobs while it was being done, only to find out the parts hadn't arrived. One of the pain in the backside things about owning a not-very-common model is that it can take a while to get things in, even when booked in advance - last Feb the van was out of action for a WEEK waiting for a part for the brakes.

So had to cancel the jobs I'd moved, then spent the day going around on the bus and shanks pony. I spent in total, 1 and 3/4 hours waiting for the buses on one bus route. So today I've had to cancel the job I had on that route. I just can't spend that much time waiting for buses.

Just hope the van is back this afternoon. If not I'll be getting a bus (different route, hopefully more reliable!) to pick one dog up, walk him round to another dog's house, walk them both back, then taking the second one home before dropping in to feed some cats and then getting a bus home again.

And the annoying thing? My mum 'collects' motorhomes and small day vans. She's got 2 microvans, a pick up truck, *and* two Bambi motorhomes (ignoring the other two Bambis that either have no engine or no interior). And NONE OF THEM ARE RUNNING!

Mothers

Wrong part sent. Not v happy. Asked why proper part can't be couriered over. If it's not there tomorrow I'm going to have to go and get the van back and book it into the local garage.

The reason I went to these people was because they ONLY do clutches so I thought it would be quicker!

So annoying, as I could have been using the damn thing. It wasn't 100% not working yet.

I have taken my van back as the idiots are getting on my nerves. I've booked it into my local garage who are getting a member of staff in especially to do it the first day back after xmas because they know I need it for work and am now desperate.

Why do I ever go anywhere else? They're so close I can drop the van off and walk home, and one of the mechanics there is *my* mechanic who came out one morning to check my van after kids had been crawling under it *and didn't charge me a penny*.

And the award for Super Customer of the Year goes to owner of the three large dogs I look after - today she leant me her estate car so I could walk not only her dog, but two others too!

Oh, that's nice, that's proper seasonal spirit!

Mol

Ms L is loverly!