1st and 10
- paulypop
- 14 hours ago
- 4 min read
Spring is coming and we are already at the end of the first quarter of 2026. How do.
We are entering Q2 of 2026, (ffs how corporate do I sound using Q2, what have I become) and I, for one am really happy to see it and spring.
Clocks change this weekend, bring on those lovely balmy long light evenings.
Next weekend it is Easter so that means short working weeks, I love this time of year.
It is just after 1800hrs and still light, this time next week it will be closer to 2000hrs before it gets dark You may remember that whilst 2025 was sublime it did end a little salty for me in that I lost my license for too many points. https://www.my11yearplan.com/post/2025-a-year-in-review
The magistrate thought that after over thirty years of driving I was a clear danger to the public as I amassed 12 points and should be punished to the full extent of the law.
Six of my points were not for speeding. I was a 'victim' of the new smart cameras that monitor many elements and whilst stationary at a set of lights, in neutral, handbrake on, I 'checked' my phone, by tilting it towards me where it lay on the passenger seat, as it rang, because the car I had at the time did not display the names or numbers.
Arguably no worse than setting the sat nav.
Yes I know I shouldn't have, but equally I was not on a call and not using my phone whilst driving. I don't do that.
Bang.
Six points
£200 fine.
Well, as of this post, I have less than 10 days left until me and the JAAAAG are properly reunited.
Jeremy Clarkson Explains Jaguar Owners My new shiny license has arrived with the photo that makes me look like Raoul Moat. Boom.
Lets chat about the process to get your license back after a disqualification.
It's fun! (It was not actually fun). You cannot simply apply for your license back on the DVLA website.
They have to send you a form, no sooner than 56 days before the end of the disqualification.
You have to use this paper form, complete it in black ink and post it back, it cannot be done online. The form is almost like getting your first license, new photograph required (even though it is the same as the old one), confirmation of address and identity by cross referencing your passport, inside leg measurement, and asking 'what side do you dress sir'?
The charge is £65.
It cannot be paid online, and this is the 'fun' part, you cannot send cash it can only be paid by a cheque or a postal order.
Who the fuck has chequebooks these days?
OK, off to the Post Office I go after learning that they surcharge POs by over 12% so my £65 is actually going to cost over £72.
I queue, approach the counter and make my request. 'Have you got the cash'? is the reply. Youfuckingwhatwhen went through my head at that response.
Yep, PO's can only be purchased by cash. I wish I was making this up.
Leave the Post Office, go to the cashpoint and start again.
Form filled in, photo attached, cash paid for Postal Order (which still has The Queen on them), pay £1.65 for First Class recorded postage and three weeks later the license arrives in the post. When it arrived I took it into the office and was like the 17 year old who has just passed their test, I was showing everyone it with the most stupid grin on my face, ha ha. After the ban I get a clean license which means I have three strikes...
JAAAAG 3.0 V6... 'side eyes emoji'. I am joking!
I am very ready to be driving again! Although I am not ready for the Insurance quote and, FFS, (am I cursed?) the Dumb Orange One went into the Middle East and I am coming back to record fuel prices.
In other good news, Sam and Annie are engaged! I am ecstatic for them both, I actually teared up a little at the news, soppy old sod that I am.
Wedding is booked for October and Annie's parents live in California, whoohoo autumn in California is pretty special, time to start start looking at flights. But. Wait.
They are not getting married in California, but they have found a rather lovely venue that specialises in wedding packages and it is stunning.
It is also in Scotland. On the North Sea coast. In October.
I swear Annie watched an episode of Hamish Macbeth in 1996 and decided it was magical and has clung on to the dream ever since.
It is magical, it is also in part mine and Sam's home country on our fathers side, but in October it can be pretty bleak.
I wish she had watched Trainspotting instead because then I would be sipping wine made from a grape grown locally in the valleys of California...
(Annie, all said in jest, xx I love the idea and venue and plans)
Joking aside, it is a day and weekend that I am really looking forward to and I wish them all the happiness in the world.
I do need to have the chat that when they buy their home it needs a 'Joey Room' for me, ha ha.
Remember at the end of this post,
I asked 2026 to not be a c*nt, well it clearly wasn't listening at the start as my dear Aunt Den passed away on the 13th January, she was 82. I feel a separate post about her life is needed.
There we go, April and spring are nearly here, I am almost allowed to drive again and Sam is getting married.
Life is pretty cool. I hope they don't give me a +1 invite...
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