There are loads of things I would have been unable to do if it wasn't for their help, and loads of things THEY would have been unable to do if it wasn't for MY help. After what we have been through together in the past we have that sort of bond and I would never betray their faith or trust in me. Have to say that sometimes they push me to the limit, but then again I am sure I push THEM to the limit when I want driving nearly 300 miles with the dogs to camp over the weekend, there is a fair bit of moaning and groaning, but I get taken, the tent is put up and taken down again and I am taken back home. I have to remember all this when I am going through situations such as this and need all the patience I can muster, and all the patience everyone and anyone can send me!!!

Here's another plate of that patience coming your way then June Awww, having read through this personally I think you are a very lucky lady indeed to have these fantastic teenage lads who don't mind doing "mum stuff" for you!!! You know how lucky you are too by the sounds of it, so don't give him too hard a time, he's doing his best to fix it for you and he's resigned to the fact that he's got to pay up out of his wages to do it. Fantastic to hear in this day and age that there are boys like this around. You're not alone though, Lynn and some of the others have the same!!! At least they're not ungrateful s*ds are they, maybe a bit careless, unthoughtful at times, but definitely good lads in my book!

They are NOT teenagers anymore Helena, although they still are in their heads I am sure. One is 38 and the other, The Perpetrator of The Moment (Leon) is 30 in a few weeks
I have always brought my 2 up to pay their own way (and sometimes mine if I am lucky ) they always had a couple of paper rounds on the go, then later on glass collecting and bar work, there just wasn't the money for them to have all the stuff that their friends had, so we all mucked in together, which is why I suppose they have 'rights' to my car when in other, more traditional households, they would never have got a look in!!! There was never a father figure as such, it was me being both and not managing to be either I suppose. Like you say he is well aware of his duties towards me and will carry them out, although it will hurt his pocket tremendously, but that is how one learns sometimes I think. He has said to me himself that he was dreading telling me what had happened, so he has had that as well, when if it had been his own car then it would have been his problem, and to be honest he would probably not have told me, it would have been 'mentioned' a few months down the line. I only tend to get involved in these things when it happens on my doorstep (as in putting the jump leads on the wrong way round outside my house) so I couldn't fail to notice, or it happens to something that has been borrowed from me. Not heard anything else today, so no idea what is happening. They both know that whatever happens I am always here for them and there is always a bed for the night and a meal and I will listen to them, but probably not agree, but hey that is a Mum's perogative!!!

They may be pushing or in their 30's, but they're still teenagers at heart by the sounds of things!!! You brought them up like my Mum brought us up, no dad around, not much money, she had to work, I had a paper round as soon as I could walk both morning and afternoon I hasten to add, plus a greengrocers job on a Saturday, whilst all my mates were still lying in bed or sunning themselves on the beach in the afternoon during the holidays, or enjoying a Saturday in Town whilst I was working!!! I blamed her at the time,but I don't regret it now, it taught me how to appreciate money, how hard it is to earn it so I'm very careful in trying to keep it now!

I remember when I was 30 and bought my first ever "posh" car, and within only a few days I managed to blow the whole engine up trying to be a smartass racing this bloke I fancied who had the same car - he didn't blow his up though!!! I had to hold down 5 jobs for 6 months in order to pay off a hefty mortgage my mum and dad managed to get for me to replace the engine, I think that taught me something too! All these lessons we have to learn in life, sometimes they're painful, very painful!

Leon just seems to be having a tough time of it at the moment, everything he touches seems to be turning to dust in his hands!!! I am trying to be supportive but at the same time making sure he is standing on his own 2 feet, hence me letting him have my car. Poor lad has just moved into a house with his girlfriend and is finding the bills extremely scary, I bet he doesn't walk around HIS house now leaving lights, TV's radios etc on in his wake!!!
Like you say he has come up hard, and it doesn't do any harm really, but he is really trying at the moment, and there isn't much going right for him But thats life for you, when one door shuts, another one slams in your face Still not heard anything, don't know whether that is good or bad, he may have fainted clean away at the size of the potential bill

Here Is An Update

Leon brought my car over this morning, very slowly on the temporary tyre using the A roads, so it took him about 2 hours, but I didn't want any more disasters to happen and thought it best if my car was here. The Alloy wheel is cracked and therefore not repairable, so have spent most of the weekend trying to track down a reasonably priced set. I have contacted my local tyre people who suggested I contact a large family owned tyre company in Bolton, who have taken my details and are getting in touch with Mazda for me to see if they can get me one.
However after looking at e bay I am totally confused as to what will fit and what won't I know the rim diameter on my car wheels is 15" but apparently there are Other Things which come into play that I cannot for the life of me fathom out.
There are some affordable second hand sets on e bay, and one guy not too far from me has a set, and has published a link to a site explaining (???) how to work out whether the wheels will fit your car, well I came off that link twice as confused as when I went on it.
So can anyone help please??? Pretty Please??? I just want to know what will fit and what won't, that is all.


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Hiya,

ok, look at the wheels that are on your car, on the tyre, there are some numbers, ie, 185/55 ( R) 15, that will tell you all you need to know, , the ( R) is for remolds,
hope this helps

My Dave (who is a Mazda specialist at his garage ) says you need to go to this website "24/7spares", you fill in all the details with your registration number etc. and then they will e-mail you with a list of people in your area who have got them! Job done!!! He says if it's a genuine MazdaMx3 then you MUST have genuine MX3 wheels on it, apparently! Hope that helps. If you have trouble finding that website he will find it for you and I'll put it up on here ok, but you should be able to google it. Good luck in your quest!

thanks for the text!!! I knew the 15 was the size of the tyre rim as in 15 inch, but thought the rest was the speed rating to be honest. Am just nipping out to have a look

Dave also says if you can put up a piccy of the wheels he will tell you if they are the OE wheels or not, whatever that means, i.e. the genuine ones!