One for the road

The story so far.

I am currently in Surrey. I am supposed to be driving to Scotland - Dundee, to be exact - for tomorrow's Scottish Cup tie between Dundee United and Rangers, kick off 12.45.

The match is on TV but I am determined to be there because Rangers, the bully boys of Scottish football, have advised their fans to boycott the match because of some perceived slight by the United chairman Stephen Thompson.

It's a bit more complicated than that but I won't bore you with the details. The short version is that Rangers (fans and board) want to hurt United by denying them gate receipts from their travelling supporters. Pathetic.

United, in response, launched a 'Beat the boycott' plea to all their supporters. I've already bought my ticket but I want to be there in person as well.

Small problem.

Driving to Surrey this morning my rear indicator light developed a fault and stopped working.

I had already lost the use of another tail light so when the meeting finished I went in search of a Mercedes dealer to get some replacement bulbs.

That was at 3.30. It's now five o'clock and I have been told that the problem is not the bulbs but the entire fitting which has open wires that are slowly blowing the entire rear light cluster.

It's dark now so the car can't be driven anywhere because none of the rear nearside lights, including the indicator, work.

Worse, Mercedes have informed me that they will have to order a new light fitting which won't arrive until tomorrow morning. Can I wait?

Update: The joy of being a Mercedes customer. (Seriously, I have had my current car for four years - 110,000 miles - and I have never known a company provide such consistently good service.)

A member of staff has told me that although they can't get a new fitting until the morning a new loan car has just come in and they will take the fitting from that and put it on my car.

Although the workshop is due to close at 5.30 a mechanic has volunteered to stay late and replace not one but two light fittings on my car. (The offside rear is showing signs of wear and tear too.)

Goodness knows what time I will arrive in Dundee but get there I will.

Watch this space.