Bumblebee Pebbles – Chapter One

Autumn

“For God’s sake, James, just go and talk to her,” I shushed Luke quickly, all too aware of his loud voice attracting attention around our table in the cafeteria. 

“Could you please just shut up?” I asked, picking my phone up off the table and turning it on, clicking absentmindedly through the apps, just for something to do.

“If you don’t, then I will,” I looked up at Luke, pushing my dark hair out of my eyes. 

“You wouldn’t dare,” I narrowed my eyes at him and he sighed.

“Look around, James,” he gestured to the room, “we’re the popular kids. There are at least ten girls in this room with a crush on you,” he made a point of catching the eye of a girl across the room and winking at her. She blushed and turned to her friends to tell them, all of them simultaneously turning to look at Luke, but he had already moved on. “First off, what does she have that they don’t?” I looked over at her. “She wears jeans and t-shirts. Look at that girl,” I turned to look in the direction he was nodding. The girl was tall, skinny, blonde. Her skirt was so short it barely covered her and she was wearing a top that intentionally highlighted her breasts. She was, in everything she had done to look as such, exactly Luke’s type. 

“She must be freezing,” I stated, knowing that it would annoy Luke.

“Seriously?” he asked and I shrugged. “Fine, secondly, she spends all her time alone with a book. Doesn’t that just scream to you that she’s a nerd who’s never had a boyfriend?” I frowned, looking over as she tucked her long, curly and messy hair behind her ear before turning the page, the light making her dark brown hair look lighter. Why were those two things a problem? She was smart, I knew because she was in my maths class and she could actually answer a question when asked, unlike me who only pretended I knew what was going on half the time. As for the boyfriend thing, who cared if she’d had a boyfriend before? It didn’t affect me either way, as long as she didn’t have one now and would accept me as one. 

Luke could tell his persuasion wasn’t working. He had been trying to set me up with different girls for the past two weeks, inviting them to sit with us at lunch and then conveniently having to leave for one reason or another. It was starting to get annoying, having to make polite conversation while trying not to make it too obvious that I was curious how they weren’t covered in goose bumps. It wasn’t cold out, but it was cold enough that I wasn’t comfortable without a jumper or jacket on. 

I watched in confusion as Luke stood up, running his hand through his hair. 

“Wish me luck,” he said, walking across the room before I could stop him. I sat and watched in horror as he walked up to her, sliding into the seat opposite her, and rested his elbow on the table, his face on his hand. She looked up from her book, her eyebrow raising. The bustle of the cafeteria meant that I couldn’t hear what they were saying, or more specifically what Luke was saying as she listened, but it wasn’t just my eyes that were on the pair of them. Luke wasn’t joking when he said that we were the popular kids. Well, he was at least half right. He was popular and so, by association, so was I. In particular, a girl sitting near me was staring, a girl who was staring at them so intensely that I was surprised Luke didn’t spontaneously implode. I knew who she was, her name was Lucy, she was currently the most popular girl in school because Luke had been ‘going out’ with her for a week. Ignoring her and the death glare she was directing at the back of Luke’s head, I looked back towards Luke to see how his ‘conversation’ was going. The raised eyebrow had turned to a look that seemed slightly confused and amused at the same time. Luke gestured towards me and I ducked my head, wishing that I hadn’t cut my hair last week and that it was still long enough to cover my eyes. When I glanced up again, she was looking directly at me, leaning back in her chair, glancing back towards Luke as he kept talking. I returned her gaze, wondering why exactly she was looking at me. Had Luke said something good or bad about me? With him, you could never be exactly sure what he would say. 

I watched as Luke stood up, I’m sure he winked at her before doing so, and started walking back towards me. She picked up her book from the table, grinning slightly as she turned a page. Luke threw himself into the chair across from me, beaming as he did so. 

“What did you say?” I asked, still fully aware of Lucy’s gaze on Luke. 

“Nothing,” his smile widened, “why don’t you go and talk to her?” I narrowed my eyes at him, grabbing my backpack and standing up, slinging it over my shoulder as I sent him a glare, silently warning him against interfering with my love life ever again, before I made my way over to her table. She looked up as I approached, glancing back down at her page before turning the book face down on the table to save her place. 

“I just want to apologise for him,” I told her and she made a face as if she was trying not to laugh, “and find out exactly what he said so I know if I have to defend myself or agree with him.” She laughed a little at that, leaning forward on the table, resting her elbow on it like Luke had done, but her hand rested itself in her hand rather than on her chin.

“Are you going to sit down?” she asked and I nodded, immediately flustered. Why hadn’t I sat down before? I let my bag slip down my arm and fall to the floor, trying to be cool like Luke had been when he walked over and sat down, but failing miserably as my leg got caught on the side of the table and I accidentally kicked her when I got my leg free. Damn long, clumsy limbs. I immediately started to apologise, but she shrugged them off. “You don’t have to apologise unless you did it intentionally and then regretted your actions,” she narrowed her eyes and stared at me. “You didn’t do it intentionally, did you?” I shook my head, wondering if she was being serious or not. “Of course not, I don’t know why I said that,” she sat back, pulled her hair over one of her shoulders and started twirling her fingers around the end of it. Was she as nervous as I was? The whole conversation suddenly felt very awkward.

“So, um…” I tried desperately to find a train of thought to board, but unfortunately, due to a storm, all trains were delayed and the platforms were packed with late businessmen who could do nothing but complain.

“I’m Grace,” she said suddenly, still playing with her hair, “just… so you know.”

“Oh, yeah. James,” I replied and very nearly held out my hand for her to shake before I realised that I wasn’t an upper class gentleman in the 1900s, so I didn’t need to do that. 

“You don’t need to worry about what your friend said,” she piped up, looking across the room. I turned in my seat to look towards Luke as well. He wasn’t being very subtle about watching us, even going as far as winking at Grace. “She doesn’t look too happy,” Grace said, and I looked at her to see a frown on her face. Trying to follow her gaze, I turned in my seat again and found myself staring at Lucy, whose death glare was more prominent from this side of the cafeteria. 

“She’s mad that Luke was talking to you,” I explained, turning to face Grace again. 

“How come?” She asked, picking up her book. I thought for a moment that I was boring her and that she was going to start reading, but she folded over the corner of the page and closed the book, putting it in the bag on the seat next to her. 

“He’s going out with her. Personally, I don’t think it’s going to last much longer,” I said as she pulled out a bag of crisps from her bag.

“Why not?” She asked, opening the bag and holding it out to me, offering one to me. I shook my head and she shrugged, popping one in her mouth.

“Because as far as he’s aware, they’re not actually dating,” I told her, glancing down at the crisps and wishing that I had taken one. She seemed to pick up on this and offered the bag to me again.

“Would you just take one already?” she exclaimed when I hesitated and I reached out, taking one. 

Grace seemed fully invested in the drama of Luke and Lucy and kept looking over at Lucy and started commentating to me what her facial expressions were doing so I wouldn’t have to keep turning around in my chair. “She looked like she just ate a lemon, except it was covered in popping candy and she’s allergic to citrus fruit,” I laughed, which made Grace smile. She seemed to enjoy making people laugh, or rather she enjoyed it when people found her jokes funny, which was an endearing quality. 

“What about Luke?” I asked and her gaze shifted.

“He’s not paying her any attention at all,” she told me, “they’re not even sat at the same table.” A grin twitched at the sides of her mouth and she plastered an overly wide smile on her face and held up two thumbs up. She started laughing to herself, looking back towards me. “He send me a thumbs up,” she explained and I raised an eyebrow, letting her know that she hadn’t explained enough. “I wanted to let him know how it feels,” she started giggling to herself again. “He blushed and looked away,” she finished and I found myself grinning. She was pretty, sure, that was what had caught my attention initially. But she was also conniving, entertaining – she knew how to make someone laugh and seemed to get very offended when I didn’t realise she was making a joke or if I didn’t laugh at the joke. 

I glanced over at Luke, wondering exactly what he had said to her and why she hadn’t mentioned it.

And done!

I wrote this ages ago, but I just know I'm never going to get around to releasing it, so I might as well share it here!

Plus, it gives you a little taste of what my writing is like. If you like it, I do have some published short stories... check them out?!

Anyway, that's all for now...

Bye!

Life Update 3.0

It has been quite a while since my last 'life update'. Usually I only post one if something major has happened, or if I've been away from blogging for a bit and feel like it's necessary to give an update before getting back into the routine of posting.

In my last life update (which you can read HERE), I was running a pub and had next to no spare time to do anything I wanted to.

Things have changed quite drastically.

I am no longer running a pub. I'm not actually even working in one, or living there anymore. In September, I also put aside my status of being single, and started a relationship with a man who has been my best friend for over a year. A lot happened all at once around about the same time. I wasn't happy working at the pub anymore, as I had no free time whatsoever, and my days were becoming monotonous and trying. Every day was the same, and there wasn't a day 'off' - when you live where you work, you can never quite get a full day to yourself without getting involved in some kind of work-related activity. So I passed on the baton, and started looking for somewhere to live.

My boyfriend and I moved into a rented house in October. It was a quick change, but it has worked out well. From working and living in the pub, to suddenly having a boyfriend and moving out - I think it was quite a lot for the people in my life to get used to! The house itself is fine, but there are three flights of stairs outside before you get to the front door, and it's a nightmare when it's raining, or if we go shopping - trying to get groceries up those stairs is a feat in itself. Heaven forbid if we go shopping when it's raining...!

Which brings us to job changes. I applied for a couple of places locally, all very different positions to what I had done previously. Social media work, and running a pub - those skills don't necessarily lend themselves well to other jobs, nonetheless towards any of the jobs that were available in my local area! It was quite disheartening to begin with, waiting for companies to get back to me before eventually deciding they weren't interested. I got myself hyped up for an interview as a spa manager in a fancy hotel, but clearly I didn't fit the role - no makeup, nails not done, and I was wearing smart trousers rather than a skirt? It seems almost wrong to believe that it was nothing to do with my experience or capabilities that led to the message saying I would not be moving onto the next round of interviews, but having seen some of the other girls working there, it was clear I was never going to fit in, and the woman interviewing me could clearly see that.

An interview that did move forwards into an offer, though, was as an optical assistant in the opticians I went to as a child. The first few days were rocky, as getting used to a new job was something I hadn't had to deal with for years, and even then, I had always worked for myself, or with family. This was an entirely new venture, setting out on my own, and finding my own path in the world. Eventually, I settled in, and now I'm getting on really well. I enjoy my job, which is something not everyone can say, and I'm glad I can. I sort diaries, answer phones, organise the shop, talk to customers, and sell glasses. It is much more in-depth than it sounds, but it's not necessarily the most interesting to read about. Something that hasn't changed though - I now do the social media for the opticians, so my skills are certainly being put to use!

Which brings us up to current day. Almost...

In early January, my boyfriend and I began toying with the possibility of buying a house. Not that we don't like the one we are renting, but it isn't ours, the stairs are an absolute nightmare, and we might as well be putting the money we are spending on rent towards a mortgage instead. So, we put an offer on one, and it was accepted. Within the next couple of months, once all the complexities involved in buying a house are sorted, we will be moving into a house that will be officially 'ours'. I'll be able to walk to work instead of having to drive. We will be only a couple of minutes' walk from the town centre, but still out the way enough to see fields from our house, and not have to deal with town centre traffic. The house is situated perfectly, is gorgeous inside, and neither of us can wait to move (although neither of us are particularly looking forward to moving all of our stuff back down the steps outside our rental!)

And that brings us back up to date. In the last couple of months, things with my life have changed dramatically, but everything is changing for the better. Plus, I have more time now for reading and blogging! Hence, I'm back! So keep an eye out for more regular uploads!

Anyway, that's all for now...

Bye!

The Saga of The Wicker Man (AKA my car)

This is, in it's entirety, the story of my car. There is no hidden metaphors anywhere, it is not an actual story or anything. Last year, I bought a car. This year it died a terrible death.

This is the story of this car's life, while under my care.

And no, I was not the cause of it's death. It died of it's own accord.

I will start this off by pointing out that I don't actually know much about mechanics. I only know the names of all these things, and what they do, because it has gone wrong and I've had to fix it (get someone else to fix it, that is).

Getting The Car

I used to have a 2006 BMW X3. I loved that car, but it didn't really love me back. Or at least, if it did, it showed it's affection in mechanic's bills. I spent just over £500 getting it through it's MOT, and then it developed an issue that would have cost several thousand to fix. So it was forced to get me through until I could get another car, and then laid to rest in the scrap yard in the sky.

The car I replaced it with was a 2011 Mitsubishi ASX. It looked pretty much identical to my BMW, which is one of the reasons I went for it. Facebook Marketplace, listed for £950. I took my dad, drove to go and see it, and he managed to get the guy to knock £100 off the price because the exhaust wasn't really actually attached to the car. In fact, it was completely rusted through, and wasn't doing anything other than dangling there.

So I had a new car, at the end of June 2024, for £850 (plus the cost of getting a new exhaust). Fun story, before I fitted the new exhaust, and was driving round for a few weeks with only half of one, if I had the back seats down I would have to have the windows open, because it pumped the exhaust fumes into the car and it would give me a terrible headache. 

The Wicker Man

The first major issues of this car presented themselves in August 2024, when I drove my brother and best friend to Alton Towers, a full 3 hours away. The drive there was fine, other than the engine warning light coming on while on the motorway. I've always kind of run on the basis that an orange engine warning light is telling you to watch out, and a red engine warning light is telling you to stop. At this point, I was about half an hour away from Alton Towers, so there was no point in turning around.

It was on the way back that the problems occurred. Turns out the engine warning light was there for a reason. Check DPF showed up too. Which basically means, your car is broken. I pulled out of Alton Towers' car park in limp mode. Managed to get to a really dodgy pub car park in the middle of nowhere, and finally managed to get the AA out to me. The man who showed up plugged his mechanic's computer into my car, and found more faults. Eventually he managed to 'trick' my car into thinking the DPF had been fixed, told me to take the car to a mechanic when I got home, and to blast out the exhaust on the motorway (lower gear, so high revs).

It drove fine for a further two hours or so. It went back into limp mode as I was overtaking a lorry, which I promptly was no longer overtaking, and slowly fell in behind it. Luckily, I was pretty much at a service station exit, so drifted straight in, and parked up. I left Alton Towers at 6pm. It was already 10:30pm at this point. The AA showed up again at 1am. They were apparently really busy, and couldn't get to us any sooner. I complained profusely. However, because they were so busy, the person they sent was actually a lorry repair person. His lorry computer would not talk to my car. I was told I would need to arrange recovery, and get the car towed the rest of the way home.

Recovery arrived at 4:30/5am. We got home at 6am. A full 12 hours after setting out on the 3 hour journey home.

The car went to the garage, had a new EGR valve solenoid (I don't know what this is, but apparently it was stopping the car from doing a DPF regen) fitted, and then the DPF issue was pretty much sorted.

When we went to Alton Towers, The Wicker Man ride was shut, as it was broken. Hence, my brother nicknamed my car The Wicker Man, and it has been known as such ever since.

Oil

The title is pretty self explanatory.

In October 2024 I had a orange light come up. Check Engine Oil Level. It didn't specifically state that the oil level was low, just that I needed to check it. And I did, and it was fine. But every time I turned my car on, the same warning came up. I eventually grew used to the beeping every time I turned the car on.

Until it was accompanied with a red Low Oil Pressure. This came with the same logic as before – Check Engine Oil Level was orange, and seemed to show no actual issues. Low Oil Pressure was red. Red is bad. I was parked up not long after this light first showed up, and I noticed oil under my car. So I checked it again, and it was dangerously low. So, I bought some oil, put it in, and the Low Oil Pressure light went away.

Until it came back again.

I took the car to my mechanic. We checked the oil level there, and it was pretty much empty. So he put some oil in. And we watched it all immediately drip out of the bottom of the car.

Turned out to be a leaking oil filter. In the grand scheme of things, quite an easy and cheap fix.

The Check Engine Oil Level light turned out to be a faulty sensor. It continued to pop up every time I turned the car on, even though the oil level was fine.

The Calm Before the Storm

After the Alton Towers and the oil incidents, the car was absolutely fine for about 8 months. The brakes were starting to get really quite squeaky, and I was certain they could probably do with replacing.

Turns out, all four wheels needed new pads and discs. The rear wheels also needed handbrake shoes.

So I bought the parts. Me, my Dad, and two of our friends planned on sorting the brakes, as we had all the stuff to do it, and I didn't want to pay to get someone else to do it when we could do it ourselves.

Everything went absolutely fine, other than the handbrake shoes. They were incredibly fiddly, and after doing the rear brakes, the handbrake wasn't necessarily doing much anymore. So back to the mechanic, with the simple request that he tighten the handbrake (and check the front calliper, as it seemed like it was seized).

Everything is NOT Okay

When my mechanic took the car for a quick test drive, to check the calliper, he messaged fairly quickly.

The turbo has gone. How have you been driving this?

Turns out, the turbo went pretty much as he pulled away, so although I dropped the car off absolutely 'fine', when it was driven away it was no longer fine. It made an almighty noise, and had very little power behind it.

As it turns out, replacing the turbo is very expensive.

On top of that, the oil level that had been fairly consistent since the oil leak? The oil level had risen, suggesting that diesel was getting into the oil. In case you were wondering, that is not good.

So the solution was to get a new car. I found a 2008 Mitsubishi Outlander that looked very good, and I do now have that car. But first, I had to get my car back from the mechanic, so I could park it up to let it retire (until the scrap prices rise, and then it can go and join my beloved BMW in the scrap yard in the sky).

Driving it home with a broken turbo was great fun. The journey home had a lot of hills as well. Plus, the smell of burning oil accompanied me the whole way back. To top it all off, halfway home, the Check DPF System warning came back up again, harkening back to the dreaded trip to Alton Towers.

Nevertheless, it made it home, and is now parked up, never to face the road again (unless it is on the back of a lorry on the way to the scrap yard).

RIP Mitsubishi ASX

It lasted just under a year. I bought it on 23rd June 2024. I parked it up for the last time on 13th June 2025.

And cost me probably more than I originally paid for it in repairs in the meantime.

My fingers are crossed that my new car will last me longer!

Anyway, that's all for now...

Bye!