Célestine's CT

Last Thursday was one of those stressful days that shouldn't really be.

Like her younger sister, Célestine was due for a contrôle technique this year. In May Claudette passed her CT with aplomb because she had just been serviced and we had done a pre-CT check.  Célestine's appointment was made last minute, immediately after we returned from Italy, and it was only a few minutes before we left home that I realised I hadn't checked her over.

It was raining, not very warm, and so I had been tardy about getting out of the house. Add to that a session of car shuffling (Celestine was in the garage, Claudette parked behind her in the driveway) and time was short. Needless to say, one of the stop lights had blown. No problem, as I have spares. Or rather, thought I had spares, but had obviously used them all up.

This photo was taken two days after the CT was done

What you can't see is the passenger side front flat tyre

So - a bulb was scavenged from Claudette, hastily fitted (yeah, I know - I cracked the plastic lamp cover in the process) and we trotted off to Chatellerault - not our usual CT man, but it's August and everyone else was either full or on holiday, and logistics meant it had to be done last week.

Anyway - we passed, and so are right for another two years. I even remembered to order some new bulbs from our regular supplier, which arrived yesterday.

I hate roadworthy time, and have always hated it. I suppose it comes from my first cars in Australia which I bought cheap and which could not be relied upon to pass any sort of test. More recently it stems from having old cars with personalities and foibles.