Man, what a day! I swear, if I had a quid for every crazy thing that happened, I’d be rich. So, I’m a mechanic, right? Just your average grease monkey, fixin’ up cars in Kidlington. You know, that little gem just north of Oxford? Yeah, that place.
So, I roll into work at 8 AM, right? The sun’s barely up, and I’m already feelin’ the weight of the world. I park my rusty old van on the side of Oxford Road, and boom! First customer of the day, this bloke in a shiny BMW. He’s all posh, like he’s just stepped outta a fancy magazine. “My car’s making a weird noise,” he says. I’m thinkin’, mate, it’s a BMW, not a bloody spaceship.
I pop the hood, and what do I find? A rat’s nest! No joke! I’m like, “You sure you don’t have a pet rat?” He looks at me like I’m mad. I mean, who doesn’t check their engine for critters? Anyway, I clear it out, and he’s all grateful, throws me a tenner. Sweet!
Then, I get a call from my mate Dave. He’s stuck on the A34, right? His car’s dead as a dodo. I’m like, “Dave, you’ve gotta be kidding me!” So, I grab my tools and head out. The A34 is a nightmare, man. Traffic’s crawling like a snail on a Sunday stroll. I finally get to him, and guess what? He ran outta petrol! Classic Dave. I’m just shakin’ my head, laughin’ my arse off.
After that, I’m back at the garage on Station Road, and it’s like a bloody circus. Cars everywhere! I’m tryin’ to fix a Fiesta, and this lady comes in, all flustered. “My car won’t start!” she yells. I’m like, “Did you try turning the key?” She gives me this look, like I just insulted her. Turns out, she left her lights on. I mean, come on!
By lunchtime, I’m starving. I pop over to the local chippy on The Green. Best fish and chips in town, no contest. I grab a portion, and while I’m munching, I see this kid on a bike zoom past. He’s got no helmet, just flying down the street like he’s in the Tour de France. I’m thinkin’, “Someone’s gonna end up in the hospital.”
Then, outta nowhere, it starts pouring! I’m talkin’ torrential rain, like the heavens opened up. I dash back to the garage, soaked to the bone. I’m tryin’ to fix a Mini Cooper, and the rain’s hammering on the roof. It’s like a drum solo in there. I’m losing my mind, but I can’t help but laugh.
Later in the afternoon, I get a call from a lady on The Moors. “My car’s making a funny noise!” she says. I’m like, “What kind of funny?” Turns out, her kid’s been playing with the radio. I mean, really? Kids these days!
As the day winds down, I’m knackered. I’m about to close up when this old fella comes in. He’s got a classic Ford, and he’s all nostalgic. “I used to drive this to the pub on The Oxford Road,” he says. I can see the sparkle in his eyes. We chat about the good ol’ days, and it hits me—this is why I love my job.
Finally, I lock up the garage, and I’m walking home. The rain’s stopped, and the sky’s clearing up. I stroll down the High Street, feeling grateful. Kidlington’s got its quirks, but it’s home. I can’t wait to do it all again tomorrow. What a day, eh?