So today was the day when we were going to go to pick up a new car. Well, not new, very second-hand, but new to me. At 7:35 AM I heard my mobile phone ring and stumbled to it through a haze of sleep to have the purchaser tell me that he had not been able to fix insurance from his traders’ car insurance for me to drive the new car home. He told me that he had expected the office to be open on Saturday but it was not, so for some reason he waited until Sunday morning. to give me a call basically telling me not to come. I received an apology but that doesn’t really do it

We then had a lot of to-ing and fro-ing by e-mail in which we discussed whether my car was worth repairing, whether he wanted it in part exchange. If he didn’t, then how he would get back from Midsomer where I live to his base.  The dialogue was fairly good natured but after three or four questions he ended up by saying that I sounded like “a fussy old woman! With respect!”   When people say ‘with respect’ they normally mean without respect and I didn’t appreciate the last comment, but I decided to give him the benefit of the doubt as his ratings by eBay were good.

Anyway, we have arranged that he will come to my house with the car and drive away with my car for which he will deduct £150 from the sale price