I asked her if anyone was hurt or if the post was damaged. The only damage was a ding and some whilte paint on the fender, over the wheel arch. I looked at the car and shrugged. “Things like this happen,” I calmly said to her, then went back inside. She was relieved. (I hasten to add that I don’t normally fly off the handle at such things.)

I then had to back my van out of our driveway. The windows were somewhat frosted up but I thought it was safe to back out (not onto a main road, though). I pulled around my wife’s car and then… Crunch! I had backed into my daughter’s car and locked my rear bumper under the wheel arch that she had slightly damaged. There was no way to remove my van without doing more damage, so I had to go indoors and ask her for the key so I could get her car away from my van.

She came out and watched me move her car and then said, “I’ll bet you’re glad you never shouted at me.” I had to laugh but I did feel so foolish. And she was right. No further damage was done to her car but my new van suffered quite a dent in the rear corner.