(Yes I used this picture from last year's advent calendar, because it's wintry).

Yesterday's trip out involved using my car, and it was immediately being odd. It's awkward to drive since the powered steering packed up shortly after I'd got it, due to some electrical (module) fault - I'm electing to look out for another car instead of paying £000s to refurbish a part that may or may not solve the issue (it has some other issues and that may or may not be all related).

At best I could only describe the handling as somewhat "squirrelly". This was most noticeable when I drifted (not actual drifting!) over some cat's-eyes to give some road-side workers some extra room. Then, with my brother in the car with me, as we were arriving at our second supermarket of the morning, poodling along slowly on a smooth patch of road, I remarked "I think I've got a flat..." I could feel a gentle thud-thud-thud from what I felt was a rear tyre. Once parked up in the carpark we took a glance round each wheel, but none were flat. I shrugged and we proceeded to do some shopping.

Back out at the car and upon starting it the battery light remained on. Perhaps just another symptom of the electrical issues my car has? With the car still running I popped the bonnet to inspect the alternator belt; it was still there spinning round. Again I shrugged and went to close the bonnet... It didn't close. I tried again, still the catch wouldn't catch. I inspected the catch and could see that it wasn't springing back and forth freely; clogged up with soot and grime. I'd get some "WD-40" later, for now I would keep my speed down, and drive with the bonnet not fully latched down.

My brother and I drove on to a nature spot for a short walk (where we saw yesterday's owl). Then back at the car, it started fine and the battery light went out as normal. Weird.

Next stop was for the "WD-40" and I successfully freed up the bonnet catch, but still the latch wouldn't latch! FFS. At least the car didn't now feel the squirreliness it had earlier.

Anyway, beyond these particular car issues, this year has been a bane for driving since the implementation of 20mph speed limits for most of the roads that were previously 30mph. This blanket "ban" and an undemocratic one at that has annoyed me pretty much as the political "Covid" crap the powers-that-be inflicted on everyone back in 2020; I'm pretty sure these speed limits, and such things as ULEZ and 20-minute cities wouldn't be implemented so callously if it wasn't for what governments learned what they could get away with back when Covid was a thing; namely that people are sheep - I see this whenever the "good citizen" slow to the stipulated 20mph and everyone else is left trailing behind them like they're following a hearse.

I was always a good student at school, never stepping a foot out of line, but as an adult these days I feel the strong desire to "stick one to the man", and shake the school-boy shackles.

Along with this car post I have added a Cars section to the Shrines section.