Further activities of the gremlins....

At about 12.30 on the 13th (a Tuesday) as I drove through Catford on my way to see a friend, I was waiting, in the left hand lane at some traffic lights. They changed. I started to move off. A white box van pulled in front, left signal flashing. I stopped. He stopped. I couldn't work out whether he intended to turn left or go straight ahead. I engaged reverse. He turned to go ahead, and the upright rail of his lift platform scraped my wing.

He drove off. I drove after. I wasn't sure if he was planning to stop. He turned in to a side street, I followed, we parked, and exchanged the usual pleasantries. He semi acknowledged fault. Because of following, I have no witnesses.

This was two days before changing my insurer. So, consequences....

My new premium goes up £142, thus wiping out the advantage of changing. My new company ups the excess to £250, £50 more than the current one. I have to pay the £200 excess on the repair. I have to pay £50 deposit on the courtesy car. I have an extra £6.60 on my mobile phone bill (0800 number, not covered in my "plan") I have overfilled the courtesy car tank because the gauge didn't show the amount until I drove off, so it looked as though I had calculated wrong. That's £5. Most of this should evaporate when the other party owns up.

I am now stuck indoors waiting for the car transporter, possibly until 6 pm, unable to do anything.

Meanwhile, on Monday, I'm sitting in my kitchen at 2.30 pm when I see a bright flash, like lightning, inside the room, in my right peripheral field. I check all the electrics, and there's nothing wrong. I can't work out how someone could be using a flash on a camera outside and it reflect into the place I saw it. So I rang the NHS line 111. They advised me to see the doctor, sharpish. So I did. She finds I have raised blood pressure, and organises checks, and tells me to have my eyes tested.

A friend suggests that the sun could have flashed into my window with someone opening one of theirs. This isn't feasible from the positions at the time. On Tuesday, I see a lot of flashes, from the rear screens of cars picking up sunlight as I drive to the shops. Thsi gives me an idea. At 2.30, I set up a video camera where my head would have been, and go outside with a mirror. This shows that I do not have a head problem. A car, going over a speed bump outside, would provide just the same sort of brief flash.

The first blood pressure test is down a bit, but not enough. The optician finds my eyes healthy, but also that I need a new prescription - over £300 (at Specsavers) for reaction lenses and a polaroid pair for driving. Varifocals.

The second test is also down, but not enough, and next week I have a day with a 24hr monitor. I do not want to have to go on medication for this. I'm already doing the right things diet wise, but need to lose more weight. And exercise. Exercise is so boring.