Oh great, just when I need to get somewhere and we've had a fresh fall of snow, I leapt in the trusty 4trak, bunged in the key, but it wouldn't turn.

Now, I'm very careful not to put wet keys in the ignition lock, because I have enough fun with gate padlocks freezing up in this weather.

I used to pee on the gate padlocks, but despite there seeming to be nobody about for miles here in the sticks, halfway through, a bunch of ramblers would appear, or a couple of young girls on horses. OOPS, what I've started I will have to finish applies! Being politially correct nowadays, I now carry a vacuum flask of warm water.

.... back to the plot. The key in question has done 160,000 miles, so I wondered if it had worn too much. After about half a very frustrating hour searching at the back of drawers, I found the spare (and brand new) key which fitted perfectly.

Comparing the old and new keys, I would have hardly believed they belonged in the same lock. I think I will have to get a new key made to take me through the next 160k !