13 February 2004
Just when I thought my life couldn't get any more surreal, the phone rang.
It was my mum.
She somehow chemically senses the worst time to call, and calls. Last night was no exception.
We exchanged the usual pleasantries. I lied and told her I was fine. She told me she'd had a bit of a shock.
"Oh?" I said, hoping that the rundown of today's totally non-shocking event would be mercifully short.
"Yes, a Parcelforce van was parked up the street today..." she continued, as I murmured "uh huh..." in a flat tone, not really paying attention to what she was saying.
"... and the postman was in the back of the van getting a parcel out..." and again I murmured the usual noises, irritated by her pauses for effect.
"... and the brake cable snapped."
Now this got my attention. You see, my mum's house is at the bottom of a rather steep hill, and I had a feeling I knew what was coming.
She then went on to tell me that the unlucky postman had, as the van picked up speed on it's roll down the hill, tried to jump out of the back of the van. Unfortunately, in doing so, the van ran over the top of him, leaving him with a fractured skull and broken legs. The van then continued it's journey downhill, trashed the next-door neighbour's front garden and smashed into the corner of my mum's house.
The outside wall has been partially caved in and bricks knocked out. The cavity wall insulation is no longer in the wall cavity, and there's a 2 inch crack from floor to ceiling in the living room, the corner of which the van hit. There may also be some damage to the room that used to be my bedroom, which is directly above it.
The structural engineer has told her that it's safe for her to remain in the house, so long as she uses the other half of the house, and doesn't go into the room that used to be mine. They estimate that it will take three weeks to fix the damage caused.
... and the best part?
It wasn't even Friday the 13th, yet.
Bloody hell - what a shock for your mum. Was she in the house when it happened? And that poor postman, hope he'll be okay.
Omigosh! How terrifying for your mom. Doesn't help your snowglobe to settle down, though, does it?
Jeepers.
well i am still waiting for the parcel force van to arrive they have lost my parcel im sure bloody useless
... the online home and (not very) alter(ed)-ego of Ann McMeekin, a recently freelance Web Accessibility Consultant.
... passionate about many things, most of which will turn up on this site at some time or other.
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