I think I can safely say that I've had better days. Believe it or not, Tommy could have come off even worse if I had not left a largish gap in front of me (I always do - exactly for this reason) and that my instinct was to steer into the middle of the road where there was a lane for people to turn right. Fortunately the lane was clear and nothing was coming up behind me when I steered into it. It all happened so quickly that I didn't know what had happened or that I had steered away from the car in front. I stopped level with about three cars up!
It was about 4.20pm yesterday in Oxford (so rush hour!) and we were doing the usual crawling along between 5 and 10 miles an hour stopping every so often. I had stopped, been stopped two or three seconds and then there was the most almighty bang. The man said that this foot had slipped off the brake, well it must have hit the accelerator with the same force that he had used on the brake - i.e. full force 
He was extremely apologetic, immediately told me what had happened and that he knew Tommy was special. He said that he had seen him in the morning and thought what a lovely Mini Other than doing what he did to Tommy, he couldn't have been more lovely. He called his insurance company there and then and by this time Jason, my husband had arrived and he also spoke to them. I think the man has been duly punished - he had to deal with me sobbing for about 15 minutes!
I did give Jason bit of a fright as some of you might know that I helped to get Janspeed to remake the correct RSP 'S' exhaust, and Tommy was the first Mini to have one fitted. I am very proud of his exhaust so after I got over the initial shock, I panicked about his exhaust to lay down in the road to look underneath him. Jason thought that I had collapsed! 
He was not best pleased when I told him I was checking the exhaust - but it's important to me.
So where from here then! Well, although I have an agreed value of £6,000 for him, I don't think that will be enough. However, fortunately it was Ace Cafe last night so I found Kev Palmer from Palmer Brothers and he says that he can save Tommy without him being a Cat C - I do hope so. He will come and collect him from me and the assessor can then go to him and Kev will deal with him/her directly. So, I do have some hope.
I'm fine, a little bit stiff and if that gets any worse, I will go to the doctor. Just a word of warning - please no 'it's only metal' comments! My husband made the mistake of saying that and still hasn't been forgiven! None of my cars are just metal, call me mad, but they are more like little people to me!
I still feel very sad
Not the best photos, but I'm not up to looking at him at the moment to take anymore
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