Yesterday,

My inner idiot got a workout yesterday. Ho hum. I went into town to do various jobs, but when I parked in my usual car park, I discovered that although I had the right amount for the fee, the spanking new ticket machines didn't take £2 coins, so I couldn't pay, which meant leaving and finding space elsewhere. I was reversing out when a speedy type in a red fiesta came roaring in behind me, right into where I was about to turn, so I turned tighter and reversed neatly into another parked car. My fault: I should have been much more alert, and worrying about fiesta man is not an excuse. The net result was a dent in the other car, a split in my rear bumper and me feeling like a total waste of space. (I do not handle failure of perfection in myself at all well. I may be obsessive about my good-girlness.) Anyway, I left a note with my phone number on the other car, and went off to do chores in fear and self-loathing, and feeling very shaky. At this point I was anticipating Huge Drama, major financial disaster and all things dire, because, as we know, I am great at catastrophising.
I was lucky: the other driver turns out to be a delightful gentleman, who phoned me for insurance details and was not in the least angry or unkind, and on whom I wish lifelong blessings. The insurance people were nice about it, too. This is my first real claim in 20 years, and I've never hit anyone before, so maybe they could afford to be nice. (And I have a protected no claims bonus, so I won't be facing a huge hike in insurance costs, hopefully.) And the car is fine, just a bit chewed about the bumper (the other car is likewise only slightly dented: this was a 5 mph or less collision).
I still feel like an idiot, though. Years of practice tell me to turn this into yet another example of the universe rounding on me for getting above myself. I'm resisting. The universe has much better things to do, for a start. And things do happen. All the same... stupid girl.
Anyway, the upshot seems to be that having gone out to buy new luggage (my old bag fell apart), I also came home with yet another skirt. It's short and green. It has a pattern of butterflies and herons and deer on it. Way cute. It will be going with me to World Fantasy Con next week, oh yes.
Skirt of the day: blue panelled.

Birthday

Many Happy Returns to the very splendid petermorwood