Sometimes stupidity wins out.

[loki_the_glt]

Brain cells were definitely AWOL for this morning's comedy act.

Last Sunday I decided to clean the windscreen washer reservoir as the container looked black rather than light blue. So I extracted the air-filter box, unplug the pumps and low fluid warning light. Pour various chemicals into the reservoir - soda crystals, bleach, non-bio washing powder - and managed to remove most of the last 15 years' crud. As the airfilter element was pretty grotty I ordered a replacement. So far, so good.

Then came this morning's entertainment(fiasco?). Refitting the reservoir, plugs and pipework was straightforward, though the airfilter box was a bit recalcitrant. Still no problems.

Except that the bonnet wouldn't close. Remove the airbox top and try again. Nada. Check that the wing rails were bereft of tools - they were; check the landing panel for obstructions - nothing. Scratch head and remove resulting splinters. Repeat. (Yes, I know Einstein's definition of madness - doing the same thing repeatedly and hoping for a different result.)

Then I glanced at the nearside bonnet latch spring and realised that it did NOT have a plastic boss, unlike the offside one. I had tried to close the bonnet without removing the plastic cap for the 5litre screenwash fluid container and the latch had speared it, preventing the bonnet from closing. Hacksaw it off but still no joy; check the two latch-holes and the cardboard inner from the cap had blocked it. Fish out the cardboard and the bonnet finally closed.

[Pidgeonpost]

That made me smile, and gave me comfort to know it's not just me that gets caught out by the Law of Sod!

[Forrest]

The number of times I’ve tried to close the bonnet with stuff still resting in that area … it’s far too convenient a place to put things.