I can’t drive to work straight away today, can I?

[OrangeDuvet]

Work is 30 miles away via a motorway.

My car model is known for the front bonnet getting stuck so that it can’t be opened. When I need to top up my washer fluid I go somewhere like Halfords where one of the lads does some wizardry to open it. It takes two people to do so.

(I’ve tried three garages including the official one for the car - all they do is add some grease even though I ask them to replace the faulty mechanism e.g. during services. I guess I will really have to put my foot down with one of them now!)

Anyway to my point. I’m exceptionally low on washer fluid but it has snowed overnight so the roads will be very salty. DH and I were outside for an hour late last night trying to open the bonnet but to no avail.

DH says I shouldn’t drive to work and I need to go to a garage to get the bonnet opened and the fluid topped up. But this would mean cancelling a meeting. I know he’s right but it seems a bit excessive!

You can purchase temporary business cover for his car. Plenty of places offer it. It only takes 15 minutes to set up through the RAC, for example.

Is it possible to get there via train/bus just so you don't miss the meeting?

If you can't drive it you can't drive it but as your boss I would probably note that there's been significant weather warnings for about a fortnight and being able to get into work should have factored into your thinking sooner. As a PP said you could get yourself on your husband's insurance in moments or consider public transport/taxis.

I agree that the obvious solution is to get yourself insured to drive your DH's car. A small price to pay for not being flaky.

Thinking about it, swapping to DH’s car wouldn’t help - he’d then be left with the same problem of it needing to get fixed and yet also needing to get to work!

But she might not get business cover. I was covered to drive my husband's car but wasn't allowed to use it to do my house calls as a GP.

And I suppose he works 40 miles away.

You have no excuse for being in this position. This cold weather didn't just spring on us this morning. Your "car trouble" didn't just suddenly occur. Halfords opens at 8am. Why weren't you there first thing?

Can you take public transport to work until you get the bonnet sorted?

Or get your husband to drop you off when he goes to work/pick you up, if there is not bus/train/taxi you can take?

Unless you're in an area where there is zero public transport, a colleague can't give you a lift etc, I don't think not being able to add washer fluid is any actual reason to take a day off work. Take a bottle of water or something. I think bosses would sack you if you used that as an excuse not to come in.

It’s also not a two minute phone call to get insurance changed. There’s still the hanging on the phone for ages, whilst listening to ‘music’. I had to change something last week and it was a long time before the phone was answered.

You're a delight aren't you!
Why the snark?

Not ideal but I had a car where the screen wash leaked out. I had a squirty bottle of water which I blasted out the window when required. That was a fiat.