Exensive time of year

Yes, Christmas is upon us and it's traditionally an expensive time of year, but boy, this year takes the biscuit.

First the washing machine decides it wants to be a shopping trolley (i.e. have a mind of it's own) and not wash/dry what's put in it to the program selected on the dial.

Second breakdown was Mark's car. On the main, narrow and twisty road up through Castle Donington on his way to work it stops, having over heated. Due to the sub-zero temperatures it soon cools down without any coolant being added and he gets to work. And later, he drives it home. The water pump is leaking a pretty flow so that's the obvious culprit, and is duly replaced only for a second leak to then be found at the union of the block to the heater matrix part of the system - an elbow piece of plastic with a temperature sensor is having a hard time and leaking coolant at a rate of knots, so a new one is purchased and fitted. Job done, the banger lives again and at least he can get to work.

Next up, the boiler decides to follow suit so we get the local man in who diagnoses the fault and we then have to wait 10 days for the bit to come and for him to fit it, a ten minute job, an expensive ten minute job, but as always he sticks with his quote so we are just happy to get hot radiators when we turn up the thermostat.

Then yesterday Sue gets her car out to drive to work, only to find it's pulling to the left. that might be because the near side front tyre has a damned great big nail through it. That's one new tyre then.

So when I get home to insurance renewal notices for (i) my car insurance, and (ii) the home contents and building insurance I'm not well pleased. All due by the end of the year, they bring the tally for December to £1,600.

And I still have to find £300 from somewhere for a replacement exhaust for the motorbike - so that'll be on hold until February (at least).