I hit debris in the road tonight, bursting both offside tyres, killing the front alloy, and bending something in the suspension and/or steering, and I think I have burst a brake line too. Luckily it was my Vectra I was driving.

Called the AA at 21.44, and explained I have the kids in the car - "No problem sir, we'll be with you in 40 minutes."

Got a text at 22.43 - "We are pleased to advise assistance will be with you by 23.30."

23.30 comes and goes so I called again at 23.45 - "Sorry about this but the estimated time of arrival is 00.50. We're having bother finding anyone to take the job, so I need to check and will call you back." Explained again about the kids in the car and am reassured that my case has been made a priority.

She calls me back at 23.59 to say "I can't see the job has been given to anyone, but the ETA is still 00.50. I've tried to contact someone in Service Delivery but they have had to evacuate their building, so I've left a note for one of our managers to call you back to apologise." Explained again that I have kids in the car, and this time I mention that not only is the car covered under the Vauxhall AA cover, but it is owned by Vauxhall and I work for General Motors. Any sane person might then think that they should prioritise the call, if not for the kids then at least for the breakdown contract.

I call again at 00.55 - "Sorry for the delay, but the patrol is on route and will be with you in 22 minutes."

At 01.02 I get a call from the patrolman to say he was given the job at 00.58, but will be with me in 20 minutes.

At 01.20 he arrives, puts my spacesaver tyre on the back and gets the car onto the spec-lift, and off we go to the local Vauxhall dealer where we abandon the car and stick the key through the letterbox.

Then off to Edinburgh Airport to get a hire car at 02.25, and arrived home just after three am. And still no call from a manager - maybe they were worried that they might wake me up.

By now you probably think "3 hours and 36 minutes for the patrol to arrive - he must have been in the middle of nowhere"....
...
...
...
...
...
...
I was on Princes Street in the centre of Edinburgh, FFS !!!!!