About four years ago...
...some friends and I were on a school trip to Spain. Despite a late start, we were actually making good time. We had sat up top of the double decker bus to generally keep out the way, not only of the teachers but also of the gaggle of giggling girls who seemed determined to punish everyone who had showed up with a hangover with their incessant squawking. About halfway along the M4 we heard a scream from the lower level.

"What could it be?" we wondered, "A spider? Did someone sneeze? Did someone bring along their pet stoat?"

Our answer soon came drifting up the stairwell.

"A wheel's fallen off the bus!"

Shit.

Sure enough, the bus having pulled over and us having gotten off, it was plain to see that one of the rear wheels was indeed missing. I offered to get the spare from the boot, but the angry faces told me that this wasnt time for playing games. I believe there is a children's nursery rhyme based on this little foible:

"The wheels on the bus come off at speed,
Off at speed,
Off at speed,
The wheels on the bus come off at speed,
And roll down the chuffing M4"

Ah, good times...
( shovelboy This is bad - Two minutes to Belgium, Thu 21 Apr 2005, 14:51, Reply)