Le quatorze juillet sans Peugeot

With Bastille Day tomorrow, all the Francophiles of Australia will be out en force nibbling their croissants and madly waving the tricolore.

image from here

Jason would naturally be hooning it up in his sporty little Peugeot too...were it not for the fact it was at the mechanics encore for its fourth warranty repair. Oh la la... la la!

That Peugeot RCZ seems to have no sense of timing when it comes to breaking down. Last year, it rudely interrupted our Valentine's Day celebrations which you can read here. This year it is ruining La Fête Nationale for us!

image from here

The car went in for repairs last week after the computerised dashboard screen of death flashed before Jason's eyes...some trouble with the gear box and apparently they are waiting for a part to fly in from France.

Thank Dieu, it is still under warranty as I suspect these parts will be flying in first class when we actually have to pay for the blasted things. And note that I wrote when and not if.

To say that the money he spent on his mid life crisis vehicle would've been better off spent on a real bathroom renovation for the Sow's Ear would be a cruel reminder. And never let it be said that I am not good at jogging someone's memory...poor Jason.

Instead of having a jaunt in the Peugeot wearing our berets at a rakish angle and singing La Marseillaise, we'll be at the Sow's Ear eating our Vegemite sandwiches contemplating how to get rid of the damned car without too many dramas...

Bonne fête mes amis!

New wheels

While the kids have been on school holidays we made a billy cart with left over timber from our renos and a few bits and pieces purchased at our local (hardware, not pub).

The boys just love it.

We've yet to give it a proper test-run because our street is too hilly and I can't face the prospect of broken bones at the moment. The billy cart doesn't have brakes. We plan to take it out this weekend though...on a nice gentle slope to start off with...

Check out our new wheels:

Billy Cart DIY
The kids have  dubbed it the Nazgul from Lord of the Rings...
Ha! We suspect our boys won't be making the rugby team anytime soon. 

Look at those beautiful lines
The seat folds down for easier transport
The boys are planning on making a few slight modifications and  add number plates 

The Nazgul is parked in Jason's carport because his mid-life crisis sports car (read the back story here) is at the shop getting repaired. It had an unfortunate incident with a car park post (and it was not my doing for a change). Yes, he's still held on to that French car despite all the hiccups with it.

I wanted to get a shot of Jason in his suit and new brogue shoes riding the billy cart as a fun shot for the blog, but he wouldn't be in it.

For someone who parades around shirtless rather shamelessly on this blog, he's become rather shy!

Car trouble... encore!

Yep. The Peugeot is giving poor old Jason grief again.

The familiar screen of death flashed up on Jason's dashboard this afternoon.

"Engine fault. Repair needed."

And then the Peugeot shuddered and conked out on the corner of Adelaide and Wharf Street in the City. This is the third warranty repair and it doesn't include a factory recall when he first purchased the car.

I feel a double cab ute could be on the cards for our next vehicle. The Peugeot's days are numbered.

So I dedicate this Peugeot song to Jason. Seriously hilarious. I suspect it will be Jason's theme song. Click here.

(many thanks to Nick at Stop the 70s! for tipping me off about this audio clip)

The one sports car family

Ever since I mocked Jason and his beloved Peugeot sports car on the blog, I've been cursed by narrow escapes and car accidents. Karma, with a French accent, is out to get me.

Seriously, I think I've been jinxed given the amount of bad luck I've had.

Two weeks ago, I  narrowly escaped a head-on collision with another car. The other had car veered onto the wrong side of the road as it was hurtling down a hill. The car swerved to miss me, flattened a traffic sign and and crashed onto a nearby roundabout.  The driver was unharmed but very dazed. He'd just finished work (it was 6.30am) and didn't know what had happened until I told him my version. I think he may have fallen asleep at the wheel and woke up at the last minute. It was a lucky escape.

Unfortunately last week I wasn't so lucky...I gave way to a bus which was moving back into traffic when I was hit from behind. 


Bam, crash, and boo hoo!

Image from here

Such a sickening feeling. The car that hit me crumpled and was another write-off.  My car was mangled from behind but was still operable. Everyone was okay and everything was amicable, it really was a minor ding (although it didn't feel like it at the time) which has left a lot of damage to both cars...Both cars had to be taken to the mechanics to be repaired.

But how freaking inconvenient. Particularly as our second car is the family un-friendly Peugeot sports car. The last week or so has been interesting in terms of trying to get around. Let's just say there has been a lot of walking involved and a lot of filthy looks in Jason's direction (and not the sexy-time looks he normally receives, if you know what I'm saying...) as he's cruised past me in his car. 

They say bad luck comes in threes. So, what's next? Should I be worried? I feel a bit spooked. Who wants to go on an Easter road trip with me?

When a good renovation loses its way

Since Jason's Peugeot has been at the mechanics for repairs, our renovation has been in complete shut down mode. I know. Anyone would think we were the Australian Labor Party deciding on who will be leading this great nation of ours.

image from here

It's clear to me now that Jason and I need to regroup and unite. The weeks of paralysis and dysfunction that our renovation has suffered under Jason's erratic and often chaotic leadership needs to come to an end. This renovation is bigger than anyone of us.

So I've given Jason an undertaking that I will not be seeking to undermine him when it comes to his beloved mid-life crisis sports car. My not-so stealth campaign to mock his choice of car is over.

He suspects I've been leaving random anonymous comments on the blog saying his Peugeot is a 'chick's' car. Let me just clarify to you all, I have never called Jason's car a 'chick's' car. I do not leave anonymous comments to myself. You can search this blog and interview other bloggers, but you will find no evidence that I said those things. A hairdresser's car perhaps...but never a 'chick's' car.

I have also given Jason my unequivocal support for his renovating efforts. I need Jason to finish the job that he  was meant to do - renovate this Sow's Ear. I've realised he is a populist renovator and that he is adored by the masses.

So I pledged to him my support. No more, "Are you sure you know what you're doing?" comments will exit my lips.

Apparently things came to a head when some video footage of Jason using foul language while installing a handle on the garage door, was doing the rounds on the Internet... Anyone without a trace of suspicion would think it was unusual that it was released at that precise moment. Shirtless Jason threw down his tool belt and said, "I'm not lifting one more finger on this renovation!"

Fortunately, providence came into play and the mechanic called Jason late last week to say his car was fixed. It is as good as new. Those tense few weeks are finished and we can all return to normal...however it may be some time before we bounce right back into the renovating swing of things.

Whatever the outcome of tomorrow's important leadership challenge, be confident that we at the Sow's Ear will eventually be on track, fighting the good fight against heritage green and rotting timber fences...We get things done...which is probably more productive than what our elected representatives in Canberra have been doing the last few days.

Pretty art glass and Peugeot update

There are a few more dust collectors in the Sow's Ear.

I picked up my bud vases last week and just love them. They are nice and heavy; very substantial for bud vases. They also have a slight lean to them which you notice when the two vases sit side by side.

And earlier this week I bought another vase...like I needed more. This one is Swedish (I think) and is wafer thin. Again I love this style and shape of vase. It will pretty up the Sow's Ear quite nicely.

Swedish vase and Murano style bullicante bud vases

Thanks everyone for the hilarious and sympathetic comments re the Peugeot 'citron'. The car is now in quarantine at the service centre. They are waiting for parts from France so it will be at le mechanique until further notice. Apparently there is more wrong with the car than just the air con. The air con fail is just a symptom of a bigger problem. Fortunately it is still in warranty.

Jason wrangled a courtesy car until it is fixed after a curtly worded email was sent to Peugeot Australia. They've been  quite accommodating and organised everything for poor old Jason...which is far more than the service centre was prepared to do.

We are not complainers by nature but have slowly realised that it is the squeaky wheel that gets the grease. The most amusing part about this is Peugeot did not organise a Peugeot hire car for Jason. It's a Toyota. (I told him he should've asked for a ute so we could transport building materials and go to the tip!)

Open letter to Peugeot l'Australie

The background to our car problems

In my best Inspector Clouseau hand:

Peugeot l'Australie


Monsieur, Madame


On zis day of loverz, I write to you to tell you der iz no lurve being felt in zis 'ome.


Monsieur Jazon waz told by le mechanique zat 'iz Peugeot cannot be fix-ed. La air con iz dead. Oh la la...la la. 


Jazon is 'ot and 'e needs la air con in 'iz car.


Der iz a probleme. You do not know what it cud be... 'E must bring car back again. And zhen you tell Jazon you have no courtesy car until 27 February? Mais, ce n'est pas possible!


Jazon iz sad and mad.


Alors, now iz poor wife is left unlurved on le jour de la Saint-Valentin. No kisses, no fleurs, no champagne... She cry tearz of sadness. La journee est rooined.


'Ow cud a companie Francaise do zis to lurverz? First, le renovating mojo 'az gone, now l'amour. C'est tragique!

Comptant sur une prompte reponse.


Je vous prie d'accepter l'assurance de ma considerations distinguee.


Madame Brismod


Translation: Fix the f*&#ing car toot sweet, you slack b@$*@#ds!

I told you so...

I'm not particularly gracious. It is a character flaw to be acknowledged and ashamed of...

On Friday evening straight after work, Jason met us at the children's school for a function. He seemed hot and bothered, a little agitated.

"What's up?" I asked, noticing the tense body language.

"It's the car. There's something wrong with the car. It's stuffed," he said with utter desolation.

Jason bought a mid-life crisis sports car about 15 months ago when he turned 40. Sleek, sexy and completely impractical for the family of five which he conveniently forgot about when he signed the car contract. The new Peugeot may well be the fourth child in the family. You can read about Jason's car here if you want to know more.

Image from here

"Oh no! What's happened?" I gulped expecting to hear the worst.

"The screen on the dash says there's an electrical fault. And now the air con isn't working. It's like a f%$#ing furnace in there. I've just been pouring sweat on the drive here."

"The air con? Oh! That's no good...Didn't you wind down the windows?"

"That's not the point. There's something wrong with the car!"

"It's still running isn't it? If it's only the air con, then it's not the end of the world..."

Apparently it is. Jason is miserable, like there's been a death in the family. He's so devastated that there was no work done on the Sow's Ear this weekend. Nada. He's even off his food!

I know. It's serious stuff we are dealing with in the First World. The weekend was quite warm, but according to poor Jason it's been the hottest one on record. I think he's overreacting slightly. Psychosomatic, perhaps?

The car is booked for a service next week. I'm hoping the car will be back to normal. We need Jason happy and cool again and, more importantly, I need to wipe the not-too-discreet "I told you French cars were sh*t!" smirk off my face.

Wish us luck. Progress on the Sow's Ear is depending on it.

Driving around in our bathroom renovation

Did I ever tell you that Jason is driving around in our bathroom renovation? He has been for the past few months.

Let me go into the background for those who are new to this blog.

Jason and I are completely incompatible when it comes to the topic of money.

I'm frugal and he's not. It was the way we were raised. I have depression-era mentality parents, while Jason has baby-boomer parents. Our two worlds could not be more entirely different when we compare our financial backgrounds.

I need to save for that rainy day which may never come. However, Jason is okay with living from pay cheque to pay cheque (not that he's paid by cheque, but you get my drift).

Renovating the Sow's Ear has been a great challenge in terms of working out our priorities. It must be a dilemma that many renovating couples experience.

Let me illustrate our story with some pivotal images:

Our  Jason's new car

The above image is the "Oh my God, I am 40 years old and I need a European sports car" purchase. Jason did end up buying the car after much discussion and consultation with his lovely wife. Aren't I nice?

Anyway, I call it the Bathroom Renovation. BR for short. The new car taunts me and I swear it gurgles flushing toilet noises every time I near it.

This is the second new car that Jason has purchased in as many years. Our very first car was stolen at Bunnings (the hardware shop for overseas readers) when we first moved to the Sow's Ear. It is poetic cruelty - a renovator's car stolen at the hardware store.

Jason used the renovation money set aside for the bathroom and other projects to buy a brand new runabout for work. He had it for 15 months before trading it in to buy the new sports car. We literally have been donating money to the car yards these past few years!

Full Retail business suit

This image is "I need to look like James Bond now, because I've bought the sports car" suit. Jason paid Full Retail, after telling me that he'd watch his pennies after buying the new car. How naive I was!

I look at this particular suit and think about the fly screens for all the bedrooms.

And then there was yesterday. Jason came home from work holding a suit bag. I thought it was his dry cleaning. No, my mistake. He just bought another suit!

This may or may not be the suit that Jason bought. I couldn't bear to look at it properly, I was so annoyed!

Let's get this straight, I'm not against Jason buying clothes for work. (Ironic that he loves clothes so much when he can't stand wearing clothes at home). It's just that this particular purchase is poorly timed. Buying a good work suit is very expensive. This spur-of-the-moment purchase is the equivalent to Carlo the Electrician's electrical bill for rewiring the entire house.

A few major bills have made things look a bit lean around here. Stupidly, I have been trying to watch my spending, delaying major purchases in order to save.

I know that the way I feel is my own silly fault because I am being pointlessly frugal. Please make me feel better. Am I the only one who plays the financial martyr?

P.S
Jason's new suit was on sale, thankfully. And this blog is a great form of therapy too.