Bus wouldn't start a couple of weeks ago so we put the batteries on charge. Still nothing. Took the batteries off and took them down to Les at Manbat in Guildford - diagnosis flat batteries. Went to collect them a few days later fully charged and took the charger for inspection - diagnosis knackered charger which had therefore been draining the batteries instead of charging them. Batteries back on bus, started first time. Thought I would take it for a run down to Guildford to show the boys at Manbat what the batteries were for. Nearly made it....

Lost all power on the A3, tried to make it to the Burpham slip road but ended up 50yds short, no hard shoulder - whoops. As always on these occasions mobile nearly dead so first call to Rossetts Mercedes in Guildford (they look after our trucks). I tried to rig up a warning marker with a Hi-Vis orange T-shirt and various bits of roadside debris. In the end I had to resort to attaching the T-shirt to a stick and waving it like a flag to encourage drivers to slow down. After all it was only a small red double decker bus that they were driving towards at 70mph and some of them managed not to see it until it was very nearly too late.

After about 1/2 hour of flag waving the boys in blue turned up with some cones which was a relief as arms were starting to ache - still it was a nice day for it, shoulders a bit sunburnt though. Rossetts turned up a short while after but to be fair they don't officially do breakdowns from that depot (I didn't find that out until afterwards). Diagnosis - air in the fuel. Luckily the batteries were in prime condition as there was much turning over of the engine to be done to bleed the system. And again three more times in the mile and a half or so back to Rossetts Depot.

So yet another company has been called upon to work on the old girl - fuel injectors and pump are being examined to trace fault at the moment. At the side of the A3 I could have called Autohome or even tried The Doc but given the precarious position I thought it best to go for the nearest option. So far seems to have been the right decision.

Coincidentally, RMC1469 broke down on the A3 on Saturday but just south of Guildford.

I have nothing but praise for Autohome who sent out McAlisters to me. They arrived with a van and tow truck within 45 minutes. Again I have nothing but praise. Having helped me limp to a safe place, they managed to make a new gasket and fit it to cure the water leak. The tow truck than followed me to Dorking to make sure I got there safely.

Excellent service and the best bit of insurance a bus owner can buy.