A spare need is friend indeed.

[Tripper]

Fast asleep, nudge in the ribs, then another. Wake up, groggy to wife moaning in serious pain. 4.15 a.m.
( Has to be bad as she refuses pain killer at the dentist.) Scramble into 480 and make seriously illegal haste to hospital.
Don’t ask as I don’t know, but somehow the heavy door swung back and banged my elbow so dropped keys. Heard the chink, then the plonk. Water. They’d fallen through a grill into a big sump. Left unlocked 480, no time, get wife into ER. Taken immediately as bleeding from lady bits. Great medic’s. Didn’t think at all of 480 till around 8 a.m. when she’d been stabilised. Was told to bugger off, they’d phone when to come back. Thinks, “no keys,” down the drain. No worries. Phoned best mate to whom I’d given a complete set of all, who turned up pronto. Relief as I could use the car and unlock the house. Motto is: always keep duplicates unmarked and elsewhere as you never know when you’ll need them. It costs a bloody fortune, not to mention the inconvenience to call out the locksmiths and trying to get a new key for a 480 on a Saturday is a nightmare. As of writing, car and me back home, dog and cat fed, wallet in tact waiting for the call to go back to my wife. Monday will get two sets of everything keys and give to my pal for safekeeping. Afterthought was how I’d have fared had my mate been away, so will give another set to wife’s sister.

[Tripper]

Have sponged the front passenger seat with cold water to remove blood stains. Have removed most, but there are two bits proving obstinate. Being Volvo, there are are bound to be problems using usual household cleaners. Any suggestions? The seats are still damp, so is it best to let the stains dry then spray with something? Bit muddled at the moment.

[coyote1980]

Hi Tripper, hope all goes well with your wife, and that you can get her home soon!

I am sometimes standing over a drain locking/unlocking my car and sometimes it crosses my mind: 'how bad it would be if I were to drop my keys in there'...

Luckily this has never happened. I am also very careful when I'm putting things like groceries in the back of my car (having unlocked only the tailgate, and not the doors...). It would be extremely bad if I were to drop my keys inside and shut the tailgate

I have an extra set of keys at home, might be a good idea to drop off an extra set at my brothers house (you never know what it's good for)...

O yeah, drains are filtered here in Holland, it might be worth checking the sewage company if they retrieve your keys, or they might be able to tell you how long it would take for the keys to arrive at a filter station. Just an idea...

[clubman_dan]

sorry to hear that your wife is in hospital, i hope she is ok.
its definatley a good idea leaving a key with a friend or family member, i had never thought of that before, might have to give a set to my girlfriends parents.
Dan

[Sophie]

sorry to hear that your wife is in hospital, i hope she is ok.
its definatley a good idea leaving a key with a friend or family member, i had never thought of that before, might have to give a set to my girlfriends parents.
Dan

Wouldn't dare give my boyfriends parents a key, they'd lose it or wouldn't answer the phone if I called...If I gave one to the boyfriend, I'd never see the 480...

Hope your wife gets better soon Tripper !

[martinholmesuk]

Hello,

Hope your mrs is well soon.

Martin

[Tripper]

Thanks for the replies. All is good again with the boss back at home.
Attacked the little bloodstains on the seat with diluted bleach and a toothbrush and tissue paper. Looks fine.
Cheers from NZ.