The Centre of Attention

I found a very effective way of meeting new people in the neighbourhood. It's astounding how many people come out of the woodwork when there's something to look at... and yesterday it was me, after a truck crashed into my car.

Everyone's ok, phew, but of course both drivers involved were extremely shook up and I know I'm still a little out of sorts. I was just pulling out of the parking space in front of our house, we live on a T-junction which can be very busy, what with our little corner shop accepting deliveries and mums on the school run etc. A HGV was pulled up blocking the junction, and I thought that he was probably dropping off goods - which he was, but actually to the community centre around the corner which he had overshot somewhat. There was a car behind beeping him to move on, and someone else trying to pass from the other side - apparently he was arguing with one of the drivers (which prompted the shopkeeper's wife to come out to see what was going on) and made a snap decision to move, to let at least one of the drivers out.

However, he didn't check his blind spot before moving (yes, that's where I was, in our little buggy) and just as I was checking mine for the second time before moving off - I suddenly saw a window full of truck as it slammed into me. Glass rained down as the driver window was decimated, and the door impacted towards me, rather a little too close for comfort. Next thing I know he's outside, frantically trying to make sure that I'm ok, and the audience starts to gather! The driver thought he had really hurt me as he heard screaming, but I think that was the shopkeeper's wife, not me - though perhaps in extreme need I could project that far...

That all led to a very shaky day, trying to sort out details and recovery vehicles and hire cars and tow trucks. The other driver completely admitted liability - and we reported it to the one of the local Mounted Police - they pass by our house six or eight times a day as I presume they are stabled nearby, I was very glad to see them yesterday. Very possibly the worst part of the day was when the @*&%$£$ at the insurance company misinformed me that in fact I wasn't insured on the car - at which point I very nearly threw up, the thought of driving around without insurance... anyway.

What was really reassuring about it all was that lots of people came to help, or came by during the day - one of our new neighbours, everyone from the shop, the manager of the centre that the driver was delivering to, and even the foreman of the site down the road - firstly he thought that it was one of his drivers - he was incensed, and said he'd effing kill them. I don't doubt he would have done it personally. God knows what or indeed who will end up in the foundations of those flats.

So much for collecting the new curtains (which was where I was headed). I think I'll get them posted to me.

In other developments, I may now have made the disaster dress a bit too small! Hah, is that the metallic tang of irony that I'm choking on.

My brother comes to visit tonight, for the first time in about seven years, which is very cool. He'll be off haunting the Imperial War Museum, he's such an anorak.

And to end, I think I found the perfect secret garden in Lewes this weekend. Can you imagine the girl with long brown hair, wearing the crinoline dress, peeping out from behind the roses?

Comments

[ruth singer]

Oooh where is this garden? I want to go and see. I'm only up the road.

[Flibbertygibbet]

It's just behind Lewes Castle. We wandered past it and found ourselves on sort of a 'ring lane' which brought us meandering around to the high street again... but this little oasis is just past the castle, up the hill. I think it might be part of the castle grounds?