went to manchester (4.5 hour drive) for the weekend, took my mum to Tesco's about 8 in the evening, came out, car wouldn't start. Recovery guy hit me £80 for a new battery. Seems the old one wasn't holding its charge. was painful.
not as painful as
these mind you!
Also, many years ago, as the line of traffic I was in was pulling away from traffic lights, I spotted a friend on the pavement (sidewalk?) so beeped the horn and waved 'hallo'. While I was doing that, the line of traffic stopped and I drove straight into the back of the car in front! Talk about wanting the ground to swallow you up, boy, did I feel dumb.
Pleased to say I've learned from these early mishaps and have now (touch wood) enjoyed 15-20 years of trouble free motoring. When we're young, we get annoyed at insurance companies penalising us with higher premiums, but now I'm, well, not so young, I have to say, I think they have that absolutely right.
My Dad could have written that last sentence, LOL.
-marko.