Thursday took a weird turn when Julien—occasional garden helper–knocked on the door during our lunchtime and announced to Meredith that the Audi had flat tyre.
Our other car–the dependable 18-year-old Clio–was at that moment in the garage for minor repairs.
We had afternoon plans that required a working car: The Thursday marché bio [organic market] in Castres after a haircut at 4pm; collect the Clio (if ready) from the garagist, then stop by Leclerc supermarché for two more of the nice, light garden chairs they were featuring.
A tightish schedule, but do-able–with a car that works.
“Pneu crevé–oui…” confirmed Julien apologetically, as though it was his fault.
Julien is a one-off.
“Gentil comme tout” [incredibly nice] with long brown hair to the small of his back–a sixties hippie look-alike who smokes Chesterfields and has green fingers.
It gradually came back to me–a moment of concern the day before at the supermarket carpark after we’d bought the nice, light garden chairs.. The back left tyre of the Audi had caught my eye–it looked on the low side.
I meant to check the next morning but forgot–hoping perhaps that I’d been mistaken.
Nope. I was right, it was a flat–une crevaison.
“Arrière pneu gauche crevé,” I explained to the friendly voice at the Audi support centre.
She estimated 45 minutes for the garage mechanic in Castres to arrive.
It was 2.30 pm.
“Shoot!” So inconvenient—just when the other car is in for repairs– and a haircut at 4pm.
Grace under pressure! Yes, yes! I KNOW!
Julien opened the boot and found the small spare wheel ingeniously hidden under the carpet.
Audi provides a little box-pump to inflate it that works by plugging into the cigarette lighter–of course!
“The breakdown truck’ll be here soon–it’s not worth the trouble….”
I went inside trying to reorganize the schedule–with my head about to explode.
Grace, grace, grace–yes, yes, yes.
Soon a low electronic buzzing coming from the driveway attracted me back outside again.
Julien—Gardener Help and now Guardian Angel–was successfully re-inflating the flat tyre with the electric pump.
His can-do spirit (very American)–pas de problème [No problem!].
It was now 2.45 pm.
I was trying to slot this new turn of events into mon planning.
Meredith, in the Julien mode of graceful practicality, rang the tyre-repair place in Castres.
They could take the car in immediately.
Thus I drove the wounded Audi into Castres.
It was a simple puncture.
The repair man, another nice person and graceful with it (of course), handed me the culprit–a little black clou (nail), hand-hammered long ago.
Cost of repair: 30 euros. Completed in 30 minutes.
I arrived for my haircut with punctilious Jerome at 3.58pm.
Meredith gave Julien a bottle of bubbly as a big MERCI!
Robin Ellis 
Most definitely one of those days! Pleased it all worked out right in the end! How we take our cars for granted and the panic that ensues when something goes wrong to rock our independence 🙄😊
Regards Beryl
Funny, I had two flats to deal with, Thursday and Friday…
My sister in law had driven the Avalon, and I had forgotten she had had a flat and had driven on it flat. I guess they then put it in the boot and mounted the spare.
So, I then Thursday had a nonrepairable flat, and the repair man installed the boot tire!
Voila, Friday morning I now had two flats to deal with…
So I ended up at the tire ‘market’ twice on Friday, having to shuttle a good used tire back to the disabled car, and then again, take the other one to the tire shop, so as to now have a good spare.
Two good used tires later, we are back in business.
All the best
All a well, that end well….(hummm who said that?) 🙂
I love your glimpses into everyday life in France as much as your recipes! And at least the culprit wasn’t just any old common clou but a hand-hammered one! That made me smile. More please.
Having a bit of trouble … 🙂 You do keep Doug & I entertained. What would we do without ‘these things that are sent to try us’. Doug says if you have got two cars, one of them will always be in for a service when you have a puncture! It is ‘Murphy’s law’ to be publicly polite 🙂 Julien definitely deserved the bubbly.
Shawdian
>
Sounds like life all around, doesn’t it? Whew!!!!
You didn’t say if you purchased the additional chairs.
We did.
Isn’t it always the little things that most complicate your life.
In October 2016 my son woefully informed me that his car had died. The mechanic had declared that it should be given to the scrap yard for mechanical science. And so the plug was pulled and the last rites given. He asked if he would be able to borrow my car for a week or so just until he decided what he should do about a replacement. In March 2017 he made his decision and a replacement was purchased. He’s not a man to be rushed and I got to do grace under everything not only pressure. In truth my husband and I managed fairly well with only one car , we just had to plan our individual spontanaeity !!
Anyway he got his new car and I got mother of the year !! Bonus
Glad you’re all fixed.
Ros
Congratulations–you deserve it. Glad at least your car survived.
What a totally delighful post,Robin.We so enjoy sharing in both your recipes and also everyday life with you and Meredith–perhaps because you give us a boost us in the way we handle our own trials and tribulations (hopefully minor and solvable for all)
Thank you!
And! I seem to be constantly reminded of the fact that,unfortunately, mechanical things do not fix themselves!
Thanks, Natalia.
Comme ma grand-mère disait: “O, les petites misères!” Haha! Love to see your French conversations! (I hear it so rarely these days.)
We had our own miseries today…more SNOW! Actually, wet, SLEETY snow for the past 24 hours! Bogged down the snow-blower and was heavy as heck to shovel!
You sure you don’t want to trade life in France for beautiful New Hampshire? 😉
Sorry–no chance!
Life in France is great. I always enjoy the French markets and Leclerc…oh Leclerc…
My daughter Suzanne once pitied me, she must have been 8 or 9, that I had to make do with our mini supermarket for the rest of the year.
Your cauliflower recipe is a succes, even without the garlic.
Good to hear.
Je suis completement d’accord avec les “comments” de Natalia!
Nous aussi avons eu de la niege ici a Santa Fe, NM. Et ce matin de la brume. Tres douillet.
Nancy
Wonderfully written.
Was shocked yesterday when a lady told me she has been diagnosed with diabetes type 2 and the nurse did not explain anything about it to her! She had been buying lots of chocolate and biscuits in a shop.
When I explained to her a little about the condition and that she might have to have insulin, she said I should be a doctor and that I helped her. Of course, I have learnt a lot about diabetes from you, Mr. Ellis. She is going to check out your blog.
Well done, Heidi–good work. The level of ignorance even among pros.is disturbing.