The start of the end

Conscious of the ageing process I try to keep an eye on any strange behaviour that would indicate that I've started 'the end process.'

Well yesterday was a good indication. We had just driven back from Manchester and decided to stop off in Harrogate to fill up with cheap diesel.

Cheap diesel, that's a laugh! No sooner had I replaced the holster in the pump when I realised that I'd just filled up with unleaded. What an idiotic thing to do.

Full of genuine contrition I told the cashier who tried to cheer me up by saying that there are lots of idiots in the world and that it happens quite regularly.

I called the AA who came to the rescue after I'd given them £200 over the phone and fairly quickly and easily drained the tank and got me going again. At least I knew not to start the car after realising my mistake to avoid taking the wrong fuel into more inaccessible parts of the engine (he said in mitigation.)