AA To The Rescue

You may well ask why Andy, the AA man, is attending to our puncture when Mr Flum is perfectly capable of changing a wheel. Look closely and you may see that Andy is reaching for a large hammer, not the usual tool for the job. But this was not the usual job.

Mr Flum had got as far as removing the wheel bolts but the special key for the security bolt could not shift it, even with his considerable weight jumping on it. The key began to shred, so we had to call for help. Andy arrived within 25 minutes and diagnosed the problem: the garage that nine months ago installed the tyres had overtightened that wheel bolt, way beyond its normal torque setting. Andy had to make several attempts at removing the nut using a specialist technique and sheer force, and so removed the damaged wheel. The spare wheel will run on the four remaining bolts until the tyre can be replaced.

The irony is that we were on our way to buy a portable frig, and ended up standing in full sun on the hottest day of the year, awaiting rescue.