A frustrating week has gone by, with more frustration to come, I fear!
The Renault is performing like a true Frenchman - unreliable, temperamental, and unpredicatable. We are now on first name terms with all the mechanics at the local garage, having had the air-conditioning serviced, a wheel bearing replaced, rear shock absorbers replaced, and no less than THREE of the four electronic windows fail, one with burnt out electrics, and the other two had simple plastic bits break. We've also had a faint vibration in the car, which has existed since we bought it but has become more noticeable over the last month. According to Laurent the mechanic, it was the left engine mount, so we decided to get that fixed, just to put our minds at rest.
Picture, if you will, the following scene. (All in French, of course!)
Lew and I return to pick up the car after the engine mount is replaced, to the tune of 175 euros:
Moi: All finished?
Laurent: well, not exactly...
Moi: what's the problem...
Laurent: a large one.
Moi: what, exactly?
Laurent: well, we replaced the engine mount, and the vibration was still there, so we checked the other engine mounts and they are all fine. You've recently had new rear tyres fitted and balanced, so it can't be that, therefore it has to be the clutch flywheel, which is between the engine and the clutch mechanism.
Moi: pardon?
Laurent: (repeats himself at exactly the same speed, with the same big, incomprehensible words, but at slightly higher volume)
Moi: no, still haven't got that
Laurent, Christophe, Nico and Yvan all repeat the same information to me, at top speed, with unhelpful arm waving, raising of voices, puffing of cheeks. Initially, of course, they direct this to Lew, who is a MAN, and therefore will surely understand. Lew backs away, pointing to me as the international ambassador for all mechanical issues.
Moi: can we try google translate please?
Lew: what are you all talking about?
Moi: is it expensive?
Laurent: 1600 euros
Silence, while Lew picks me up off the floor and hands me a tissue.
To cut a long and painful story short, we spent the next hour gradually getting the quote down to 1200 by not using Renault parts, and me doing my best at being an angry French woman who has just had an engine mount replaced when that was not the problem!
We have now discarded all efforts of integrating into French country life, and we're driving an hour across country tomorrow to see an English car mechanic who is very familiar with Renault Scenic issues! I'm looking forward to handing over to Lew to direct proceedings for a change!
But life in France is never unhappy for long. How can we feel down, when everywhere we look, there's another fine example of the French Net Curtain to entertain us? Here are some of our favourites so far:
A few geese going on a family outing...
Can't remember what the pattern was, but liked the photo...
Net curtains patterned with...curtains!
Not content with one pattern, you can always go for two in the same window..
Country scene, feeding the chooks...
Another one taken just for the photo opportunity...
And coming in at first place, complete with real life models...
I'm seriously thinking of importing the full range to sell in New Zealand, I think they could be a winner...
So, until there's more cheery news, that's it for this week!
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