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Best laid plans and all that

Christmas didn't quite turn out as planned.  My son slipped two discs and couldn't drive from Bulgaria and sadly we had to carry on without him, my daughter in law and granddaughter.  Skype is good but doesn't replace having your family in the house.  I went to pick up another son from Nantes and on the way back 2 of my tyres blew out.  I mean what are the chances?  It was dark, raining and when I phoned the insurance company she wanted to know my exact location.  In a village on the D957 doesn't hack it apparently.  'Can you locate yourself on your phone or a GPS?' she asked, oblivious to the fact that my GPS needed replacing years ago and can barely tell me that I live in France let alone direct a breakdown truck.  As for my phone well there my incompetence comes into play.  She said she would hold on while I locate myself on the phone.  I don't know how you do that.  I can 'locate myself' if I ring off first.  I gave up and got out of the car.  In the pouring rain I knocked on a few doors trying to locate myself but no-one answered.  Finally I waved down a car coming out of a side street (must be a resident of the village) and asked him what village I was in.  He leapt out of his car, took my phone, spoke  to the insurance lady and I heard him say that he would phone the breakdown garage as well as he knee the proprietor. 

Who was this angel getting as wet as me in the dark?  He was the local pompier (fireman).  Of course.  I took the phone back and the insurance lady said the truck would be there in an hour.  The pompier said he would be there in 10 minutes and so it was.   Merry Christmas everyone.

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