Sunday should have been the day I took part in the Kings Lynn Santa Run to help raise money for “EACH” (East Anglian Children’s Hospices).  We awoke to the sound of sleet on the window, looked outside and everything was starting to turn white.   As the time to leave for the run came closer, things got whiter and real snow started falling - I wasn’t particularly relishing the thought of going out for a run in the snow, but got into the car and headed off.  I took the Smart, coz it had lovely heated seats….

I didn’t quite make it to the Santa Run, in fact I didn’t make it very far at all.  Slowing for a sharp corner on the snowy country roads I noticed a large 4 x 4 coming round in the opposite direction slightly faster than I would have liked - when I say coming round the corner, in fact what happened is that it only turned part way before it started sliding in my direction.  There was that moment of inevitability where you just know there is nothing you can do to avoid a situation, then a crunch and an inflation of airbags like an explosion in a marshmallow factory and the car filled with smoke.

Scary is the only word for it.  Shaken and stired, I managed to open the door of the car but didn’t seem to manage to move to get out of it for some time.  Then I found that I had hurt my foot, although as the snow cooled things down it sort of dumbed it enough to walk ok.  The guy who hit me drove me back home after pulling the Smart well off of the road - a small panic attack on the way as in my opinion he was still driving too fast in the snow and I envisaged sliding on another corner.  Details were exchanged, RAC called to remove the car, and then a chauffeur driven trip in the 2cv to casualty to sort out the bits that hurt.  Result is, after x-ray, no broken foot (thank god!), no neck/shoulder damage either, although i certainly hurt in all of thoses places, plus a lovely bruise is appearing thanks to the seatbelt.  I left casualty with crutches as once the foot thawed out it hurt like hell and hopping was the only way of getting about.

The next day was spent sorting out insurance, loan car etc., and gave time for all the bits that seemed ok the day before to start aching - feeling like I’d seriously overdone things at the gym.  Two days later and things are slightly better, walking again and shortly to attempt a drive to college in the loan car before trying the heavier pedals in the 2CV to get to work tomorrow.  The car isn’t faring quite so well, possibly to be written off by the insurers - we’ll have to wait and see.

Guess it could have been a lot worse……I could have changed into the Santa suit before I left home…

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