Bonjour from a super sunny November day on the Normandie Coast at Ouistreham. Here I am trying to get a pic of my new bag with the lighthouse in the handle drop but little did I know, my friend Nigel was taking in the whole scene! As I’m looking straight into the sun, I have a squint in my eyes but I’m not complaining, it was the end of November and we had just had lunch outdoors in a local cafe/restaurant. This is my new purple large X body hands free shopper!

Thank goodness for the sun and a lovely couple of hours waiting for Brittany Ferries at Ouistreham. This post marks the (nearly) end of 6 months of car trouble which has caused me stress and cost me a lot of money too!

The saga began in June when, on a routine trip to France, my Citroen C8 decided to die….on a country lane, 1 car wide, ditch either side, no passing places, several km from anywhere. No probs, I thought, we’re in France, it’s a french car and I know there’s a Citroen garage at the end of this lane! Wow, what luck, so I thought at the time!

We got a tow to the garage where the Portuguese owner, speaking French, told us all that could be wrong with it, what a big job it could be and that he couldn’t possibly look at it until next week.

If I knew then what I know now…….

So the car is safely back in UK, in bits and un-driveable. I think it needs a new engine….more expense! But, after the 6 months of stress – now all I remember is the fantastic rescue trip with Nigel and the lovely meal in the sunshine. Just need to deal with the carcass of car now!

Huge thanks to Nigel, the star for towing it back to Blighty with his Land Rover and an A frame.

Anyone know a mad keen Citroen mechanic? I need his number 🙂