Get this. Took Mum to Waitrose in Holsworthy, Devon. Parked in blue badge bay. Blissfully did shopping, Loaded it into car, went back in and had cappuccinos with Mum and Mrs Steve in coffee shop.

12.30: Came back to car, loaded Mother in.

Car dead. Electrics all totally shot. Even remote entry key wouldn't work. Nuthin.

Rang AA (which I have with my TSB account).

25 minutes later, the AA man arrived. Took him two minutes to diagnose that my bloody alternator was shot. Bugger.

He towed us back to Bude, ten miles, with a tow bar. Well I've never been towed before. Lovely chap but he took no prisoners. Hurtling along at 40 on a narrow road, unable to see a damn thing, but obliged to steer and signal and apply brakes to order.

Arrived at his recommended garage in Bude. They promptly supplied us with a very nice courtesy car so that we could get Mother back to her home and get our shopping home. Told us they'd try to get the part and do the job as soon as they could.

5.20 pm, exactly five hours after I rung the AA, my car was fixed and ready. I charged back to the garage in the courtesy car and paid the bill. Total cost for new alternator, belt and labour, £230.

And my mum offered to pay!

What's missing from this account is the sheer friendliness of absolutely everyone involved. Great good humour at every juncture. I think everyone in this forum should seriously consider moving to north Devon/North Cornwall immediately!