When you need a friend........

Yesterday didn’t quite end in the way we expected.
I drove the car taking me and Stephen, to deliver a card and present to my friend who has difficulty with speech since her stroke 3 years ago.
We only intended to knock on the door and stand back, leaving the gifts on the doorstep, with the Christmas card included. It’s a 35 minute or so journey.
She came to the door, and as I surmised, wanted us to go into the house.
It was with some difficulty that I had to repeat many times that we were not allowed due to these present restrictions. (Which she does not fully comprehend)
It is sad but that’s how it is.
Eventually we had to just say we were going and got back into the car.
It wouldn’t start.
The upshot of all this was a call to our insurers who cover us for breakdown assistance.
They were very good but told me there was a 90 minute wait.
This meant that Bobby, our friend got very distressed as we would not go into the house and eventually I had to to tell her to go back indoors instead of standing by the front door of the car just saying “I feel awful, can you not come in?” And that I would let her know as soon as they arrived.
I was more bothered about her in the end than having the wait.
But she did go indoors and came out again several times.
The man arrived just on the 90 minutes.
It was going dark by then as we were sitting in the car..
He had it going in no time. The battery had died. It was apparently a feature of lockdown this year with so many cars sitting at home idle, only doing small journeys.
I drove home, relieved to have made it back on to the drive. Just to check I thought I’d turn the engine over.
It was once again as dead as a dodo.
The friend (from our church) had contacted us to see if we were back, as I’d let a few people know what had happened. (It’s like a prayer chain).
He came this morning to check the battery, and then said it was on its last legs anyway. But he would go into Sutton and buy a new one for us straightaway, which he did, coming back here and then refitted it having taken the old one out.
So here are the “boys” outside. Stephen on the right. I got Stephen just to stand there for the photo.
We had several people call yesterday morning.
A cake arrived as a gift, then a friend who used to live a few doors away who was delivering her cards by hand, having driven here.
It is so good to actually see friends in person these days even on the doorstep and socially distanced!
But hugs as not allowed.
We are all hoping that the New Year will see some improvements once people have been given the vaccine.
Brexit could not be happening at a worse time, but a lot us didn’t want it to happen anyway! It’s a year today since the last General Election which gave Boris his thumping majority as he campaigned to make sure “We’ll get Brexit done!”
Well we’re done alright and looks like it will be without a deal.
Off we go over the White Cliffs of Dover.
Anyway I digress!
Our friend who sorted the battery gave us a bag with two presents inside.
We feel very blessed.
It’s our Carol Service tomorrow on livestream.
Whoever would have thought it would have been like this last December.