Too close encounter of the feathered kind

There are certain things you have to be aware of when you drive a convertible. Some are pretty obvious such as it's sensible to slap on sun cream every day unless you want a bright red nose and a crepey cleavage in later life.

I've also discovered that I can get an extra 10 minutes in bed and still wash my hair if I dry it on the way to work with the roof down. Admittedly, I arrive looking more Crystal Tips than soignee but hey, sleep is sleep.

There are, however, things to look out for - driving under electricity cables is a bit unnerving as they crackle ominously and I definitely don't like to linger in case one of them decides to snap just at the moment I drive under it. Not getting too close behind anyone as they give their windscreen a quick squirt is another, not unless you want a mouthful of screen wash. Then there's the wildlife, there's always the chance of being pooped on by a passing bird.

What I hadn't expected though was to have a bird decide to join me inside my car until one flew in. Now, I like birds as much as the next person but preferably when they're in the sky or perched in a tree chirruping away melodically, but not flapping around next to me in the passenger seat while I'm doing 60mph.

Honestly, I know they have tiny brains but this one had definitely been at the back of the queue when the old grey matter was handed out as it kept flying towards the windows. Me shouting 'stupid bird, fly up, there's the sky' didn't seem to be having much effect. Shrieking 'shoo' and waving my arms around didn't help either, while trying to keep the car on the road and not mow down pedestrians or cause a pile up. All I kept thinking was 'please don't fly into my hair or poo on my new leather seats, I've only had this car two weeks'. Ever calm and rational, that's me....

Eventually, after much flapping (the bird) and whimpering (me), I finally engaged my own grey matter and had an eureka moment - open the windows woman! Now why hadn't I thought of that before? Thankfully, my unexpected little feathered hitchhiker finally got the message and we parted company which was a huge relief to us both.