The letter was sent to my house!) because "when the pensions were transferred over to us they didn't give us anyone's details." 
I pointed out that the only communication I had EVER had from the civil service concerning pensions was in 1987, when the wrote to me (using a first class stamp) to tell me that I was entitled to 12p per year from the age of 60.
I also pointed out that he wasn't inspiring a tremendous amount of confidence by telling me that they had taken on the administration of people's pensions without first making sure they knew where the people lived and who they were. I assumed it must have been a recent transfer...until he said "we took the pension over in 2002 so thought we'd better try to locate the people whose pensions we are looking after."Oh well, I suppose, knowing how the civil service works,11 years isn't that long...
Still, the good news is that that projected 12 p a year has somehow gone up to over £1000 a year. That should pay for my puzzle habit, I suppose. 
The last mile took 45 minutes as it was total chaos, but very well organised chaos.
I can replace my brake pads and I can put my chain back on the easy way instead of the hard way that I was shown by guess who. I also know how to sort out brakes, tyre pressures and what I need to carry with me. Again as opposed to what I have been carrying with me (all would have been useless and if they had a cycle AA I'd have been better off ringing them.)