The Fabia has spent most of the past week at the nearest Skoda garage for a replacement clutch and flywheel to be fitted (to stop it juddering when pulling away from cold), as well as a couple of other jobs that weren't crucial but needed doing sooner rather than later. Normally I wouldn't go near a main dealer because of the cost, but you assume that they work on that model more often than just any old garage so it should be back in action sooner. It didn't work out that way of course as they had other bookings to sort first, and indeed it turned out to be very expensive in a month when I could've really done without a garage bill (I had a 'Supr'Ice at the quote' moment on Tuesday afternoon!). The Citigo courtesy car they lent me was seemingly propelled by a sewing machine too, and although it wasn't bad for a car whose engine had a similar capacity to a pot of greek-style yoghurt, I'd had enough of it by lunchtime when I called and was told they'd finished.
That probably sounds like nothing at all to be happy about. Why then am I posting in here? Well, I'm glad it's sorted for starters. Around here public transport is woeful, so you're as good as stuffed without a reliable, fully operational car and I'm perhaps more reliant upon mine than most. It seems better to drive now too, so at least I haven't spent loads for no discernible benefit. I'm mostly happy though because I really like that car, have missed it and am delighted to have it back. Funny how we humans can become quite attached to machines, eh?