FACTS vehicles are not regularly on the road at night but occasionally our passengers want some nightlife, and we try to respond where we can.
I recently went to pick up a relative of one of our regular passengers. On arriving at the property there was a blaze of light but no-one watching for the vehicle or answering the door. As I waited, I could hear a faint voice so gingerly stepped inside only to find my passenger lying on the floor, clearly in some pain.
We introduced ourselves (so British!) and discussed our plan for dealing with the predicament. We called the relative, whom they were to have travelled on to meet, assured them all was OK and explained that they were indisposed - so there would be a spare ticket for tonight’s concert after all!
By now the lady was sitting up but we were still keeping the wooden flooring warm, not a long-term solution!
Time to call the cavalry. 6’ 5” husband needed. Thankfully I have one.
Awaiting his arrival we chatted, discovering we had both sung in the same choir earlier in the year. It’s a small town. I didn’t check if she was a soprano or we could have performed duets to pass the time.
6’ 5” person arrives (wearing luminous orange beanie hat. I’m in no position to ask why) and we help the passenger in to the bedroom and on to the bed, with much relief all round.
I am asked to take a Red Cross food parcel (still in charge of all faculties but I confess to a small gravy incident in my haste) as I head off to collect relative and try to get her there in time for the start of the concert.
My long-suffering husband stays with our passenger and is asked to call a nurse friend (who turns out to be a mutual friend. It’s a small town.).
As I head to the concert there is a separate excursion going to Ipswich A & E.
One fractured shoulder, a badly bruised knee and some seriously damaged pride later, our passenger is sent home. We wish her a very speedy recovery.
All in a night’s work.