As the evenings draw in, please may I ask you.....

When I was at college in North Wales in the 60s I had a motorbike, a Yamaha 250. I was in digs several miles away and riding back one dark winter evening all the lights on the bike failed. It was in a small windy country road and at first I couldn't see a thing. It was terrifying. Total darkness.

I got off and pushed the bike, then as my eyes adjusted to the dark I saw a faint glow ahead and as I got to the top of the hill I could see the lights of Gresford Colliery in the distance. I got back on the bike and very cautiously made my way to the colliery.

Some very kind men there tried to fix my lights but couldn't. So one of them got into his car and rode behind me with his lights on all the way to my digs.

There's kind

When I first attempted to learn to drive my boyfriend at the time got me to drive to Manchester in the Morris 1000. It was nightime and, soon after we set off we were stopped by some police for a spot check. They asked me where everything was and told me to switch things on and off [of course I didn't know where anything was ]. As I drove away they all laughed their heads off and [jokingly, I think] jumped behind a hedge to get out of my way. I can still see them now, 44 years later.