We do have buses here, and I can get to a railway station on them However, rail travel is extortionately expensive, especially at short notice, and I would have about a 300 mile trip to make each way to get down to Hertfordshire, which is Friday's destination. My plan was to go down (today) to Yorkshire, and spend some time with mu daughter, them go down further south on Friday afternoon to arrive when my friend gets back from work.

However, as long as I get the car tomorrow sometime, this is a possibility. I called the garage yesterday afternoon, and they had been sent the wrong part. They have had to strip loads off the underneath of the car to even get at the gearbox and clutch, and when they get the right part, which was due to be sometime around midday today, all being well, it's all got to go back. They said they couldn't guarantee it for today, but that I'd hopefully get it tomorrow.

Anyway, the scaffolders have been, and the existing scaffolding has been raised, and I hope the other bit may have been put up too next door.
I've put more photos onto FB.

Andrea