I was fast asleep in bed when I heard the doorbell going. I could hear voices so, still half asleep, I went to the front door. A scruffy looking individual asked me if the red car parked outside was mine, because he'd just seen someone set fire to it. I looked to the side of the house and, sure enough, flames were licking up from the centre of the rear bumper. Fella who knocked was off down the road, very strange.
Runs downstairs for a closer look, by now the car is well alight and my next door neighbour is out with a bowl of water, which isn't having much effect. I grabs my garden hose and run out with that and, after a while (that plastic really is a bastard to put out) it's out. It starts again, inside and underneath. Again I put it out. Phew.
Ring police...999....busy....have to wait. Eventually get through and tell the story, and am transferred to another number for an incident number. That just rings out, so I leave the missus holding on while I go back down to speak to the neighbour. We work it out that the guy who knocked at the door had obviously started the fire and we notice a fire engine further down the road. I ring the fire brigade only to be told that there are another two incidents involving three vehicles ongoing and one of the appliances will call to check mine is properly out.
When they arrive they open all the doors to let the smoke out and declare it safe. Turns out that they have this guy on cctv somewhere and he is still wandering around 'off his head' on something. I ask if they've let the police know and they tell me yes, but they're too busy to attend at that time.
So here I am, tired, pissed off and, probably, quite a bit poorer with a £400 excess to pay once I ring the insurance. I tried to report it to their 24 hour claim line last night, but the 'system was down'.
So........a nutter wandering around torching cars and police too bust to attend, and a 24 hour claims line that only works during office hours.
Guess I'd better get up and take the dog out soon because it's Bens backgammon tournament in Bradford today, and he won't even know anything has happened till I get him up and tell him. Oh to be a tired teenager