Oh the shame......

[Karl]

Working at a clients today, worktop replacement. Working outside with the Dewalt plunge saw, router, dewalt biscuit joiner, Makita jigsaw etc...

Anyway, I finished with the power tools outside, so decided to pack them away and put them in the car. Then went upstairs to fit the 'tops.

After several trips to the car to pick up odds n sods, all was done and it was time for the mastick. Went out to the car, only to discover it wasn't there :shock:

Quick look round the cul de sac to make sure I hadn't parked it somewhere else and simply forgotten (yep, done that before too ) I decided it was time to phone PC Dibble.

Lady PC arrives to go through the details of when I last saw the car, was it locked, any suspicious activity etc. I said that I had been using my tools outisde and that I thought somebody had been eyeing them up (the property fronted onto a stream and canal, so had open views from the other side) and decided to swipe the car to sell the tools. Swines would probably then torch the car just to water me off even more.

Off she went and I phoned SWMBO and began to mourne the loss of over £1k's worth of tools, and the inconvenience of having no car until the insurers pulled their finger out.

Anyway, I got SWMBO to pick me up and I then left her and the kids at home while I went back to the job to finish masticking. As I got there another PC was there. "Are you here about the Ford Focus" I asked him. "Yes - i've found it" was his reply

It turned out not to be nicked after all - I hadn't properly engaged the handbrake, and it simply rolled 30 yards down the road, veered to the right and plunged down the bank towards the stream. It's a steep bank, so the car isn't visible from the road.

It's now been recovered, and has quite a bit of damage.

I'm in the doghouse with SWMBO - or at least sleeping on the sofa tonight.

But at least I got my tools back :lol:

Cheers

Karl

 

[wizer]

You really Wizered that!!!

:lol: :lol: :lol:

 

[lurker]

You really Wizered that!!!

:lol: :lol: :lol:

I concure :lol:

 

[Smudger]

World-class chimpin'. I feel for you!

 

[CHJ]

Karl, Ford Focus have some history with hand brake failures, do a google , we had similar experiences with a Ford escort some years ago.

That handbrake leaver was fully on when the car was recovered from a neighbors property, we always left it in low gear/reverse from then on.

 

[Paul Chapman]

Bad luck, Karl.

They tend to teach the opposite these days but ALWAYS park your car in gear, then that sort of thing can't happen.

Cheers :wink:

Paul

 

[studders]

Bad luck, Karl.

They tend to teach the opposite these days

Paul

Yup. In my day it was handbrake, in gear, wheels to the kerb.

 

[OPJ]

How very unfortunate, Karl.

...Are the tools okay??? :twisted: :wink:

 

[Ironballs]

You great pillock

If you think the handbrake on a Focus is iffy you should try a Fiat Coupe, that car got me into the habit of parking in gear. And with the handbrake off in winter as the handbrake could freeze on. Which was always something to ponder whilst you boiled the kettle to pour on the door locks so you could get in the car

 

[Karl]

you should try a Fiat Coupe,

I used to have one. 20v turbo plus.

SWMBO made me sell it cos it cost too much in juice

Cheers

Karl

 

[RogerS]

you should try a Fiat Coupe,

I used to have one. 20v turbo plus.

SWMBO made me sell it cos it cost too much in juice

Cheers

Karl

Bloody nice car, though. I had one until i forgot to keep checking the engine oil. That cost me £3500 in a new engine. There is no exclusivity in being a bit of a pillock!

 

[Dibs-h]

Bad luck, Karl.

They tend to teach the opposite these days but ALWAYS park your car in gear, then that sort of thing can't happen.

Cheers :wink:

Paul

I was taught to always park the car in gear.

My other car unfortunately has to be parked in a forward gear downhill and reverse uphill - or the timing chain tensioner can back off momentarily and upon start you think WTF? Goes away in 2s and has no long term consequences - but not the best noise to hear when turning the key.

Never just the handbrake.

 

[TrimTheKing]

Ouch, bet the pride has taken more damage than the car though eh mate?

 

[TonyW]

Bad luck there Karl. At least your tools are ok and as my old mum always says 'things could have been a lot worse!'

Hope you get it all sorted soon

Cheers
Tony

 

[woodbloke]

You really Wizered that!!!

:lol: :lol: :lol:

I concure :lol:

Jeez :shock: ...first time for everything! :lol:

Glad you got the kit back. The Landy as a matter of course always has the hand brake on and gets stuffed into gear (1st or reverse as appropriate) when parked.

Sofas can be quite comfortable though :roll: - Rob

 

[Ironballs]

A plus, very nice, mine was the plain old 20VT.

Agree about the oil, I got into the habit of checking the oil weekly as it went through about a litre every thousand miles.

Has to be said it was a very reliable car, sold mine at 114K miles with no problems. The Focus has been more unreliable and it doesn't make women squeal when you plant it in second and third

 

[wizer]

I'm still chuckling about this. I've told everyone I've met today

 

[Ironballs]

Made up the bed in the spare room for Mr Cockup then?

 

[Karl]

Cheers guys.

Damian - back in the marital bed now :lol:

Cheers

Karl

 

[BradNaylor]

:lol: :lol: :lol: :lol:

You daft pipper! Well done for fessing up here - not sure I would have...


I once left my handbrake off while parked outside a prospective client's house. I was alerted by honking horns to my car slewed right across the main road completely blocking traffic in both directions.

Despite feeling and looking a complete silly person, I still somehow managed to secure the order.

Cheers
Brad