So I was on my way home last night, after a lovely day and doing the grocery shopping. A closed road and a detour on the way, but I manage to find my way around that.

I decide since it’s quiet at the local petrol station, I’ll fill up.

Is Sunday night the cheapest time to buy petrol? I don’t know. I’m a little sensitive to the prices, but mostly it’s a time/convenience thing. I don’t really know how it measures up against other people, but I don’t do a huge amount of driving, and I only have to fill up every 2-3 weeks. (Likewise the 10,000km/6 monthly service invariably happens only about once a year.) A 5 cent per litre difference on a 50 litre tank is only $2.50, not really worth worrying about for me. I’d rather spend a bit more than have to queue 10 minutes for petrol on a slightly cheaper day.

Anyway I fill up with petrol and pay, then since the air thingy isn’t being used, decide I’ll check the tyres. Sunday night and I’m getting tired, but it should only take a minute.

Set the electronic air gizmo to 31. Check tyre 1. Have to fiddle with nozzle to get it to stick, but it works. Psssssh. Beep beep beep 31.

Check tyre 2. Fiddle with nozzle. Not working. C’mon you bloody thing. Fiddle some more. Not working. Fiddle with nozzle, put it back on tyre valve. Pull it off. Very loud hssssssssss — sound of much air escaping. Arghh! Put nozzle back on valve. Gizmo not responding. Take off… more loud hissing.

Oh terrific. So I’m standing at a petrol station on a freezing cold Sunday night with a full tank, loads of groceries in the boot, and my right front tyre is rapidly deflating. What the hell do I do? Just let it deflate, then try and fit the spare? I’ve been shown how to fit a tyre (thanks Steve), but I’m really not looking forward to the time I have to do it for myself. Maybe I’ll just ring the RACV. I really wish I’d waited for another day to try and do this. I’d really like to be at home right now.

Thankfully a little more fiddling got the tyre pumping up okay. I was then brave enough to do the other two tyres (yes, after all that I forgot to check the spare) and left, eager to get home before anything else bad happened.