Scope Change

Scope

My readers, all five, may have noticed a change in the title and attached information. Although we remain fascinated by the bird life, it can be repetitive, so our blog will be extended to cover aspects of our life here.

Service

There are many jokes circulating here regarding the slowness of life in Provence. along the lines of the Spaniard who asks a Provençale the equivalent provençale word for "manana" to which he replies that he cannot think of a word with the same degree of urgency!
However in the important aspects of daily life they are often very responsive. Last Friday afternoon our washing machine decided not to fill with water, so the local hardware shop in Vaison was called who confirmed we would be called on Tuesday or Wednesday of next week by the repair man, to confirm the directions to our house.
In fact, he called this afternoon, Saturday and duly arrived, established that the control board was defunct, that he would have to order a new one but would lend us his own test board while we awaited arrival of the new one; service indeed, and very prompt.

Life expectation

No, not ours, but mechanical items. The French, in this part of the world anyway, are much less of a "Throw away" society than the UK. I was reminded of this when talking
 to the repair man as in the washing machine event above.
As he was changing the control board, I enquired whether it would be a good idea to change the water pump while he had the machine open, as "The washing machine was 5 years old!"
I got a condescending look and the comment, as might be delivered to an idiotic infant, that "Five years is not old!"
I had a similar experience with our local garage in the village. I mentioned to the owner that I was thinking of saving money by reducing the insurance to fire & theft only, as it was not worth insuring fully comprehensive. Our C5 is 9 years old with evidence on the bodywork to an active life amongst French drivers. I had mentally valued it at £500 if lucky.
"Don't do that" said our garage man, it's worth at least €4,000!"
I suspect when I come to trade it in it might be less!"