Sunday, March 3, 2013

French efficiency





Sunday morning. It's getting warmer now. A spring like 8 degrees by the time I venture out for the breakfast croissants. The two cows in the field across the lane turn expectantly as the car drives out of the gate. They're happily grazing on some of the old farmers ' first light ' straw delivery.  

A parking spot right in front of the cafe under the arcades. Oranges from the greengrocer and daffodils from the flower stall. Daffodils €5 for 50. Today two bunches for the price of one. '' They'll last all week  " says the flower seller.

The man with the motability scooter waves and  shouts out " M'Ongoose. I think you've got a puncture in your front tyre " . He's right. Thankfully, it's a slow puncture. Just enough time to get it to the tractor workshop by the roundabout before it deflates. '' Don't see many of these " says a man in green overalls who emerges from underneath an enormous John Deere. Half an hour later the tyre has been taken off, repaired and put back on. €24. French efficiency. Try getting a tyre repaired in Scotland before nine on a Sunday morning.

7 comments:

  1. Try doing anything before nine in a Sunday morning (other than walk the dog, obviously). Let's hope the daffs do better than the post-Valentine's Day roses. Cheers, Gail.

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  2. Don't think I've ever tried, but I think you'd have to wait until Monday here.

    XXXOOO Daisy, Bella & roxy

    Those flowers are beautiful....Spring is on it's way, even if it's had a detour.

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  3. In my town, you can't even get a nice bouquet of flowers before 9 AM.

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  4. Roses are about 8 Euro a dozen here, unless it's Valentine's Day. Then they are about 50000 Euro each :)

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  5. Thank goodness that you found a farm equipment repair shop. They're always wonderful. They know a farmer with a field in need of tending would never stand for the rubbish automobile mechanics put us through.
    Contented cows. Good show.

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  6. Just look at those roses! I bet the smell was heavenly! Good thing someone noticed the puncture otherwise it would have cost more if you would have driven home! I wish it was 8 degrees here. We are almost under a snow watch, by midnight we shall be. *sigh*

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  7. It's a good thing that Mr. Mobility saw the tyre going flat, and you were able to have it fixed quickly.
    We have tyre repair shops that are open quite early and close quite late into the night. Some are even 24 hours. What I am shocked about is the price of 24 Euros to fix your tyre...that's pretty steep. I pay $7.00 (US$3.50) here to fix a tyre, and I usually tip the guy as well (about US$5.00 in all).
    First light breakfast sounds lovely to me.

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