# Caught in a thunderstorm.

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Posted by Jonno on October 27, 2019 at 16:03:15

I wrote this up a few weeks ago but was unable to post due to the problems this site has been suffering, so having written it and seen that the forum is working again, here it is.

Have not posted on here recently as I have been really busy with work, but glad to say that my latest project is completed now so have some more time to enjoy myself and spend time with Benny.

I'm also recovering from some minor injuries following a car smash - not my fault as I was sitting in my car parked at the side of the road sorting through some papers prior to a meeting with a publisher when an fool swerved and smashed his large van into the side of my car, tearing down the side, breaking the glass, and pushing it into the car parked in the bay in front of me. Luckily I got away with a few nasty cuts from the flying glass, some bruising to my chest, arm and shoulder and slight concussion from hitting my head on the B pillar. My car was a wreck and subsequently written-off by the insurers. The van driver, fool though he was, turned out to be a decent bloke and was quick to help me get out of the car and even gave me first aid before the police and ambulance arrived, both called by a passing pedestrian. He was mortified by what he had done and couldn't stop apologising. Seems he had swerved to avoid a kid on a bike who had ridden onto the roadway from his right. It is a narrow one-way street where you drive on the right with parked cars on the left so no room to take much avoiding action.

So, I'm all healed now apart from a few fading bruises and a couple of scabby cuts still visible on my arm. I've also got another car since the van drivers insurance paid out promptly and even gave me some compensation as well as paying for some medical consultation and treatment. Benny's brother was about to advertise his car, having been waiting some months for his new one to be built (a flash new Bentley saloon), so I made him an offer on his old Continental GT and to my surprise he accepted and I collected it last weekend. It is by far the nicest car I have ever owned even though it is eight years old and has done nearly 90,000 miles. It looks magnificent in a deep metallic ruby red paint with grey leather interior and has obviously been cherished and looks far more impressive than buying, say, a well-specced Golf/Focus/Astra for similar money.

Anyway, today I had a meeting to attend and left the car in a quiet car-park about a mile from where I had to be - I didn't want to try and park any nearer and not find any spots that I could easily park in, I'm not fully used to the size of the car in tight spots as yet, so it seemed the easy option. It was a sunny day when I left home, but as a precaution I dropped a shower proof jacket in the boot and, dressed in smart black jeans and a dark grey shirt, drove the thirty odd miles there and parked up. Still bright and sunny when I parked so took my portfolio of illustrations and walked to the meeting. It took longer than expected but went well and I was invited to stay for lunch in the publisher's board room, a rare treat with these particular guys, so I willingly accepted. I was careful not to drink any alcohol and had a delightful lunch, made myself pleasant company and sealed a few new business relationships in the hope of getting more work in due course.

It was mid afternoon when I left and as I stepped out of the building and started to walk back to the car park, there was a clap of thunder, the skies darkened and it started raining really heavily. There was no real cover anywhere so I thought 'what the hell' and just hurried my pace a bit. By the time I had hurried a couple of hundred yards my shirt was getting wet enough for me to feel the fabric sticking to my back and shoulders. After half a mile I was pretty much soaked through so stopped hurrying and just enjoyed the walk getting thoroughly soaked, it felt great and my shirt and jeans were nicely shiny, my hair was plastered to my head and rain water was dripping off my nose and chin. I must have looked like the village simpleton as I could not stop grinning.

I sat on my jacket to drive home so as not to get the seat too wet. I stopped to get some petrol on the way and got an odd look from the young guy at the cash desk as I walked in obviously soaking wet. He grinned as he saw me and said "Nice weather for ducks. There's paper towels in the wash-room round the back if you want to dry off a bit." I thanked him and said I'd be fine. "OK, enjoy the wetness - if I wasn't here doing this, I'd be tempted to join you in the rain." he replied.

I had dried off mostly by the time I got home, but I enjoyed a nice hot shower in my clothes before changing and starting to get supper prepared for us all when Benny, James and Mark got home from work.

Follow Ups:

- Re: Caught in a thunderstorm. Rick 05:45:21 10/29/2019 (1)
  - Re: Caught in a thunderstorm. Jonno 10:35:21 11/01/2019 (0)
- Re: Caught in a thunderstorm. Zonie 16:38:26 10/27/2019 (6)
  - Re: Caught in a thunderstorm. Jonno 22:11:40 10/27/2019 (5)
    - Re: Caught in a thunderstorm. LeviLovR 23:01:35 10/27/2019 (4)
      - Re: Caught in a thunderstorm. Jonno 09:38:35 10/28/2019 (3)
        - Re: Caught in a thunderstorm. Zonie 12:03:36 10/28/2019 (2)
          - Re: Caught in a thunderstorm. Jonno 10:37:26 11/01/2019 (0)
          - Re: Caught in a thunderstorm. dolby1000 13:59:55 10/28/2019 (0)

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