Today we recovered our car, which had been in the repair shop for
exactly three months, after the front headlights, bumpers etc. were
stolen towards the end of May. We had thought initially that it was an
attempt to steal the car itself, but the police said no, almost
certainly they were just interested in the parts. The repair bill came
to more than 10 000 €, but apart from 90 € that will be paid by the
insurance company.

--
Athel -- French and British, living mainly in England until 1987.

On Tue, 23 Aug 2022 19:13:05 +0200, Athel Cornish-Bowden
<acornish@imm.cnrs.fr> wrote:

>Today we recovered our car, which had been in the repair shop for
>exactly three months, after the front headlights, bumpers etc. were
>stolen towards the end of May. We had thought initially that it was an
>attempt to steal the car itself, but the police said no, almost
>certainly they were just interested in the parts. The repair bill came
>to more than 10 000 €, but apart from 90 € that will be paid by the
>insurance company.

That last sentence requires a couple of readings.

Just curious...did your insurance provide a rental car to use during
the three months?

Should I write, as PTD would, "did your insurance provide a rental
(BrE = hire) car to use during the three months?" or are you not an
idiot who doesn't understand commonly used terms that differ
pondially?

--

Tony Cooper - Orlando Florida

I read and post to this group as a form of entertainment.

On 23/08/2022 7:00 pm, Tony Cooper wrote:
> On Tue, 23 Aug 2022 19:13:05 +0200, Athel Cornish-Bowden
> <acornish@imm.cnrs.fr> wrote:
>
>> Today we recovered our car, which had been in the repair shop for
>> exactly three months, after the front headlights, bumpers etc. were
>> stolen towards the end of May. We had thought initially that it was an
>> attempt to steal the car itself, but the police said no, almost
>> certainly they were just interested in the parts. The repair bill came
>> to more than 10 000 €, but apart from 90 € that will be paid by the
>> insurance company.
>
> That last sentence requires a couple of readings.
>
> Just curious...did your insurance provide a rental car to use during
> the three months?
>
> Should I write, as PTD would, "did your insurance provide a rental
> (BrE = hire) car to use during the three months?" or are you not an
> idiot who doesn't understand commonly used terms that differ
> pondially?

No comment on the idiot thing, but over here in Rightpondia we'd
normally describe such a provision as a "courtesy car".

--
Richard Heathfield
Email: rjh at cpax dot org dot uk
"Usenet is a strange place" - dmr 29 July 1999
Sig line 4 vacant - apply within

On 23/08/2022 19:13, Athel Cornish-Bowden wrote:
> Today we recovered our car, which had been in the repair shop for
> exactly three months, after the front headlights, bumpers etc. were
> stolen towards the end of May. We had thought initially that it was an
> attempt to steal the car itself, but the police said no, almost
> certainly they were just interested in the parts. The repair bill came
> to more than 10 000 €, but apart from 90 € that will be paid by the
> insurance company.
>

Spare-parts theft? That is almost impossible on modern cards, where the
whole assembly is integrated into one pre-fab unit. You need to pop the
hood and haul the engine, just to change the headlamps.

Was yours a classic car, with chrome bumpers and other shiny accessories?

On Tue, 23 Aug 2022 19:25:41 +0100, Richard Heathfield
<rjh@cpax.org.uk> wrote:

>On 23/08/2022 7:00 pm, Tony Cooper wrote:
>> On Tue, 23 Aug 2022 19:13:05 +0200, Athel Cornish-Bowden
>> <acornish@imm.cnrs.fr> wrote:
>>
>>> Today we recovered our car, which had been in the repair shop for
>>> exactly three months, after the front headlights, bumpers etc. were
>>> stolen towards the end of May. We had thought initially that it was an
>>> attempt to steal the car itself, but the police said no, almost
>>> certainly they were just interested in the parts. The repair bill came
>>> to more than 10 000 €, but apart from 90 € that will be paid by the
>>> insurance company.
>>
>> That last sentence requires a couple of readings.
>>
>> Just curious...did your insurance provide a rental car to use during
>> the three months?
>>
>> Should I write, as PTD would, "did your insurance provide a rental
>> (BrE = hire) car to use during the three months?" or are you not an
>> idiot who doesn't understand commonly used terms that differ
>> pondially?
>
>
>No comment on the idiot thing, but over here in Rightpondia we'd
>normally describe such a provision as a "courtesy car".

A "courtesy car", in the US, is provided by a dealer when your car is
being serviced. You might have use of a courtesy car for a day or
two. The dealership owns the car.

In the US, an automobile insurance policy often has a provision that
allows you to rent a car while yours is being repaired, but there's
usually a restriction on the number of days they'll pay for. The
insured rents the car from a car rental firm and is reimbursed for the
cost.

My insurance will pay up to $30 a day for a rental car.

--

Tony Cooper - Orlando Florida

I read and post to this group as a form of entertainment.

On Tue, 23 Aug 2022 20:56:19 +0200, occam <occam@nowhere.nix> wrote:

>On 23/08/2022 19:13, Athel Cornish-Bowden wrote:
>> Today we recovered our car, which had been in the repair shop for
>> exactly three months, after the front headlights, bumpers etc. were
>> stolen towards the end of May. We had thought initially that it was an
>> attempt to steal the car itself, but the police said no, almost
>> certainly they were just interested in the parts. The repair bill came
>> to more than 10 000 €, but apart from 90 € that will be paid by the
>> insurance company.
>>
>
>Spare-parts theft? That is almost impossible on modern cards, where the
>whole assembly is integrated into one pre-fab unit. You need to pop the
>hood and haul the engine, just to change the headlamps.
>
>Was yours a classic car, with chrome bumpers and other shiny accessories?

Around 1977, I spent a few days in Zambia, on a business trip. I
remember being told that stealing car windshields was very common
then.

On 23-Aug-22 19:25, Richard Heathfield wrote:
> On 23/08/2022 7:00 pm, Tony Cooper wrote:
>> On Tue, 23 Aug 2022 19:13:05 +0200, Athel Cornish-Bowden
>> <acornish@imm.cnrs.fr> wrote:
>>
>>> Today we recovered our car, which had been in the repair shop for
>>> exactly three months, after the front headlights, bumpers etc. were
>>> stolen towards the end of May. We had thought initially that it was an
>>> attempt to steal the car itself, but the police said no, almost
>>> certainly they were just interested in the parts. The repair bill came
>>> to more than 10 000 €, but apart from 90 € that will be paid by the
>>> insurance company.
>>
>> That last sentence requires a couple of readings.
>>
>> Just curious...did your insurance provide a rental car to use during
>> the three months?
>>
>> Should I write, as PTD would, "did your insurance provide a rental
>> (BrE = hire) car to use during the three months?" or are you not an
>> idiot who doesn't understand commonly used terms that differ
>> pondially?
>
>
> No comment on the idiot thing, but over here in Rightpondia we'd
> normally describe such a provision as a "courtesy car".

Or, depending upon the particular vehicle, a "discourtesy car".

When a car is loaned to me by a garage doing either service or repair
work, I call that a "courtesy car".
I'm not too sure if I would use the same term for a car provided by an
insurance company - but I've never encountered that.

--
Sam Plusnet

In article <h09aghp0f3pti1396cp3tnt2dg4e4t3pij@4ax.com>,
Tony Cooper <tonycooper214@gmail.com> wrote:
> On Tue, 23 Aug 2022 19:25:41 +0100, Richard Heathfield
> <rjh@cpax.org.uk> wrote:

> >On 23/08/2022 7:00 pm, Tony Cooper wrote:
> >> On Tue, 23 Aug 2022 19:13:05 +0200, Athel Cornish-Bowden
> >> <acornish@imm.cnrs.fr> wrote:
> >>
> >>> Today we recovered our car, which had been in the repair shop for
> >>> exactly three months, after the front headlights, bumpers etc. were
> >>> stolen towards the end of May. We had thought initially that it was an
> >>> attempt to steal the car itself, but the police said no, almost
> >>> certainly they were just interested in the parts. The repair bill came
> >>> to more than 10 000 €, but apart from 90 € that will be paid by the
> >>> insurance company.
> >>
> >> That last sentence requires a couple of readings.
> >>
> >> Just curious...did your insurance provide a rental car to use during
> >> the three months?
> >>
> >> Should I write, as PTD would, "did your insurance provide a rental
> >> (BrE = hire) car to use during the three months?" or are you not an
> >> idiot who doesn't understand commonly used terms that differ
> >> pondially?
> >
> >
> >No comment on the idiot thing, but over here in Rightpondia we'd
> >normally describe such a provision as a "courtesy car".

> A "courtesy car", in the US, is provided by a dealer when your car is
> being serviced. You might have use of a courtesy car for a day or
> two. The dealership owns the car.

> In the US, an automobile insurance policy often has a provision that
> allows you to rent a car while yours is being repaired, but there's
> usually a restriction on the number of days they'll pay for. The
> insured rents the car from a car rental firm and is reimbursed for the
> cost.

> My insurance will pay up to $30 a day for a rental car.

The car I had when mine was being repaired was organised by the insurance
company. I've no idea how much they paid.

--
from KT24 in Surrey, England - sent from my RISC OS 4té
"I'd rather die of exhaustion than die of boredom" Thomas Carlyle

On Tue, 23 Aug 2022 20:58:54 +0100, charles <charles@candehope.me.uk>
wrote:

>In article <h09aghp0f3pti1396cp3tnt2dg4e4t3pij@4ax.com>,
> Tony Cooper <tonycooper214@gmail.com> wrote:
>> On Tue, 23 Aug 2022 19:25:41 +0100, Richard Heathfield
>> <rjh@cpax.org.uk> wrote:
>
>> >On 23/08/2022 7:00 pm, Tony Cooper wrote:
>> >> On Tue, 23 Aug 2022 19:13:05 +0200, Athel Cornish-Bowden
>> >> <acornish@imm.cnrs.fr> wrote:
>> >>
>> >>> Today we recovered our car, which had been in the repair shop for
>> >>> exactly three months, after the front headlights, bumpers etc. were
>> >>> stolen towards the end of May. We had thought initially that it was an
>> >>> attempt to steal the car itself, but the police said no, almost
>> >>> certainly they were just interested in the parts. The repair bill came
>> >>> to more than 10 000 €, but apart from 90 € that will be paid by the
>> >>> insurance company.
>> >>
>> >> That last sentence requires a couple of readings.
>> >>
>> >> Just curious...did your insurance provide a rental car to use during
>> >> the three months?
>> >>
>> >> Should I write, as PTD would, "did your insurance provide a rental
>> >> (BrE = hire) car to use during the three months?" or are you not an
>> >> idiot who doesn't understand commonly used terms that differ
>> >> pondially?
>> >
>> >
>> >No comment on the idiot thing, but over here in Rightpondia we'd
>> >normally describe such a provision as a "courtesy car".
>
>> A "courtesy car", in the US, is provided by a dealer when your car is
>> being serviced. You might have use of a courtesy car for a day or
>> two. The dealership owns the car.
>
>> In the US, an automobile insurance policy often has a provision that
>> allows you to rent a car while yours is being repaired, but there's
>> usually a restriction on the number of days they'll pay for. The
>> insured rents the car from a car rental firm and is reimbursed for the
>> cost.
>
>> My insurance will pay up to $30 a day for a rental car.
>
>
>The car I had when mine was being repaired was organised by the insurance
>company. I've no idea how much they paid.

When my wife banged up her car, the insurance company suggested a
repair shop (but I could have chosen any shop) and made the rental car
arrangements. The car was waiting for us at the shop. It was a more
expensive car than my wife's, but evidently met the $30 a day rate.

I could have requested a car that exceeded the $30 rate and paid the
difference. As it was, I paid only the deductible for the whole
thing.
--

Tony Cooper - Orlando Florida

I read and post to this group as a form of entertainment.

On Tue, 23 Aug 2022, at 20:56:19, occam posted:
>On 23/08/2022 19:13, Athel Cornish-Bowden wrote:
>> Today we recovered our car, which had been in the repair shop for
>> exactly three months, after the front headlights, bumpers etc. were
>> stolen towards the end of May. We had thought initially that it was an
>> attempt to steal the car itself, but the police said no, almost
>> certainly they were just interested in the parts. The repair bill came
>> to more than 10 000 €, but apart from 90 € that will be paid by the
>> insurance company.
>
>Spare-parts theft? That is almost impossible on modern cards, where the
>whole assembly is integrated into one pre-fab unit. You need to pop the
>hood and haul the engine, just to change the headlamps.
>
>Was yours a classic car, with chrome bumpers and other shiny accessories?

We seem to be having a wave of catalytic-converter thefts over here
(Britain). I'm told it takes only 30 seconds to jack up a car, dip
underneath with a suitable battery-operated power saw, and cut the
converter housing, with catalyst inside, from the exhaust train. Not
that I know anything about it, oh dear me no.
--
Paul

On 24/08/22 05:07, Tony Cooper wrote:
>>> On Tue, 23 Aug 2022 19:13:05 +0200, Athel Cornish-Bowden
>>> <acornish@imm.cnrs.fr> wrote:
>>>
>>>> Today we recovered our car, which had been in the repair shop
>>>> for exactly three months, after the front headlights, bumpers
>>>> etc. were stolen towards the end of May. We had thought
>>>> initially that it was an attempt to steal the car itself, but
>>>> the police said no, almost certainly they were just interested
>>>> in the parts. The repair bill came to more than 10 000 €, but
>>>> apart from 90 € that will be paid by the insurance company.

The one time I've had a car stolen, it was later discovered as a shell.
The thieves had stripped all the parts they could.

> In the US, an automobile insurance policy often has a provision that
> allows you to rent a car while yours is being repaired, but there's
> usually a restriction on the number of days they'll pay for. The
> insured rents the car from a car rental firm and is reimbursed for
> the cost.
>
> My insurance will pay up to $30 a day for a rental car.

I've taken advantage of that several times, and never had to book the
rental car. The insurance company arranged a taxi to pick me up from the
repair place where I delivered my own car, and take me to the rental
agency that they have a deal with.

In connection with another comment I've accidentally snipped: In AusE a
"hire car" is not the same as a rental car. Instead, it's a sort of
taxi, but it takes only pre-booked passengers, i.e. you won't find it at
a taxi stand or cruising the streets.

My first father-in-law had a hire car business, and most of his jobs
seemed to be taking elderly ladies for scenic drives through the
country. A cousin of mine also ran hire cars, but his main work was
taking people from a rural town to their (non-emergency) medical
appointments at big-city hospitals.

--
Peter Moylan Newcastle, NSW http://www.pmoylan.org

On Wed, 24 Aug 2022 12:06:47 +1000, Peter Moylan
<peter@pmoylan.org.invalid> wrote:

>On 24/08/22 05:07, Tony Cooper wrote:
>>>> On Tue, 23 Aug 2022 19:13:05 +0200, Athel Cornish-Bowden
>>>> <acornish@imm.cnrs.fr> wrote:
>>>>
>>>>> Today we recovered our car, which had been in the repair shop
>>>>> for exactly three months, after the front headlights, bumpers
>>>>> etc. were stolen towards the end of May. We had thought
>>>>> initially that it was an attempt to steal the car itself, but
>>>>> the police said no, almost certainly they were just interested
>>>>> in the parts. The repair bill came to more than 10 000 €, but
>>>>> apart from 90 € that will be paid by the insurance company.
>
>The one time I've had a car stolen, it was later discovered as a shell.
>The thieves had stripped all the parts they could.
>
>> In the US, an automobile insurance policy often has a provision that
>> allows you to rent a car while yours is being repaired, but there's
>> usually a restriction on the number of days they'll pay for. The
>> insured rents the car from a car rental firm and is reimbursed for
>> the cost.
>>
>> My insurance will pay up to $30 a day for a rental car.
>
>I've taken advantage of that several times, and never had to book the
>rental car.

Same here. The insurance company handles the car rental. I assume
they get a better rate, so it's better to let them do it.

The last time we we had collision work done, the rental company had an
office across the street from the shop. The other times, the rental
company picked us up in the car to be rented and we drove the guy who
brought it back to his office.

> The insurance company arranged a taxi to pick me up from the
>repair place where I delivered my own car, and take me to the rental
>agency that they have a deal with.
>
In my experience, the insurance company has suggested the shop to take
the car to for collision repair. It's not required to use their
suggestion, but I've never seen it to be advantageous not to.

I carry what we call "collision coverage" insurance. That means the
insurance company will pay for the damages minus my deductible even if
it's my fault. If I had older cars, I'd drop the collision coverage.
In that case, the insurance pays if it's the other driver's fault, but
not if it's my fault.

I am required by law to have "liability coverage". That pays for the
other party's medical costs and damage to their car.
--

Tony Cooper - Orlando Florida

I read and post to this group as a form of entertainment.

Den 23.08.2022 kl. 21.07 skrev Tony Cooper:

> My insurance will pay up to $30 a day for a rental car.

That would suffice for renting a bike in Denmark. The cheapest car would
cost about $80 a day.

When my car was repaired, I drove from the repair shop in a car like my
own. The insurrance paid for it.

--
Bertel

On 2022-08-23 18:00:16 +0000, Tony Cooper said:

> On Tue, 23 Aug 2022 19:13:05 +0200, Athel Cornish-Bowden
> <acornish@imm.cnrs.fr> wrote:
>
>> Today we recovered our car, which had been in the repair shop for
>> exactly three months, after the front headlights, bumpers etc. were
>> stolen towards the end of May. We had thought initially that it was an
>> attempt to steal the car itself, but the police said no, almost
>> certainly they were just interested in the parts. The repair bill came
>> to more than 10 000 €, but apart from 90 € that will be paid by the
>> insurance company.
>
> That last sentence requires a couple of readings.
>
> Just curious...did your insurance provide a rental car to use during
> the three months?

Yes, they offered one for the whole period, but we didn't bother
initially as we thought we could manage without a car for a few days.
Little did we know that the few days were going to last three months.
After a month we changed our mind, and we had the replacement car for
two months.
>
> Should I write, as PTD would, "did your insurance provide a rental
> (BrE = hire) car to use during the three months?" or are you not an
> idiot who doesn't understand commonly used terms that differ
> pondially?

--
Athel -- French and British, living mainly in England until 1987.

On 2022-08-23 18:56:19 +0000, occam said:

> On 23/08/2022 19:13, Athel Cornish-Bowden wrote:
>> Today we recovered our car, which had been in the repair shop for
>> exactly three months, after the front headlights, bumpers etc. were
>> stolen towards the end of May. We had thought initially that it was an
>> attempt to steal the car itself, but the police said no, almost
>> certainly they were just interested in the parts. The repair bill came
>> to more than 10 000 €, but apart from 90 € that will be paid by the
>> insurance company.
>>
>
> Spare-parts theft? That is almost impossible on modern cards, where the
> whole assembly is integrated into one pre-fab unit. You need to pop the
> hood and haul the engine, just to change the headlamps.
>
> Was yours a classic car, with chrome bumpers and other shiny accessories?

By no means. It was -- is-- a 2020 Peugeot 208. As I've never tried to
steal the headlights of one I've no idea what it would involve.

--
Athel -- French and British, living mainly in England until 1987.

Le 23/08/2022 à 19:00, Tony Cooper a écrit :
>
> Should I write, as PTD would, "did your insurance provide a rental
> (BrE = hire) car to use during the three months?" or are you not an
> idiot who doesn't understand commonly used terms that differ
> pondially?

Ah! I thought Hertz van Rental was Mr Car-Hire.

Athel has called it a 'replacement car', which I think is better in
these circumstances.

As to transpondian differences, my favourite is not understanding 'train
station' when people ask for directions.

What larks, Pip!

On 24/08/2022 08:59, Athel Cornish-Bowden wrote:
> On 2022-08-23 18:56:19 +0000, occam said:
>
>> On 23/08/2022 19:13, Athel Cornish-Bowden wrote:
>>> Today we recovered our car, which had been in the repair shop for
>>> exactly three months, after the front headlights, bumpers etc. were
>>> stolen towards the end of May. We had thought initially that it was an
>>> attempt to steal the car itself, but the police said no, almost
>>> certainly they were just interested in the parts. The repair bill came
>>> to more than 10 000 €, but apart from 90 € that will be paid by the
>>> insurance company.
>>>
>>
>> Spare-parts theft? That is almost impossible on modern cards, where the
>> whole assembly is integrated into one pre-fab unit. You need to pop the
>> hood and haul the engine, just to change the headlamps.
>>
>> Was yours a classic car, with chrome bumpers and other shiny accessories?
>
> By no means. It was -- is-- a 2020 Peugeot 208. As I've never tried to
> steal the headlights of one I've no idea what it would involve.
>
>

Have you tried to change the lightbulbs (in the headlamps) of the car?
(In a 2020 car, I suspect not.) It is near impossible to do so, without
a garage setup. A keen d-i-y friend, who showed me his bruised/cut hands
said it was impossible to reach the headlamp unit. It took him a garage
appointment and a €80 bill to replace the €2.99 light-bulb.

On 24/08/2022 00:01, Paul Wolff wrote:
> On Tue, 23 Aug 2022, at 20:56:19, occam posted:
>> On 23/08/2022 19:13, Athel Cornish-Bowden wrote:
>>> Today we recovered our car, which had been in the repair shop for
>>> exactly three months, after the front headlights, bumpers etc. were
>>> stolen towards the end of May. We had thought initially that it was an
>>> attempt to steal the car itself, but the police said no, almost
>>> certainly they were just interested in the parts. The repair bill came
>>> to more than 10 000 €, but apart from 90 € that will be paid by the
>>> insurance company.
>>
>> Spare-parts theft? That is almost impossible on modern cards, where the
>> whole assembly is integrated into one pre-fab unit. You need to pop the
>> hood and haul the engine, just to change the headlamps.
>>
>> Was yours a classic car, with chrome bumpers and other shiny accessories?
>
> We seem to be having a wave of catalytic-converter thefts over here
> (Britain). I'm told it takes only 30 seconds to jack up a car, dip
> underneath with a suitable battery-operated power saw, and cut the
> converter housing, with catalyst inside, from the exhaust train. Not
> that I know anything about it, oh dear me no.

In the mid 80's, I found my VW - parked on the road outside my apartment
- with only 3 wheels, with the fourth having been unceremoniously
removed during the night. (The only reason for mentioning this incident
is because it happened a stone's throw away from where you used to live
in London. Primrose Hill is a fairly affluent part of NW London, where
you'd expect less 'petty' crime, especially for a £10 crime.)

On Wed, 24 Aug 2022 08:20:04 +0100
Hibou <h.i@b.ou> wrote:

> Le 23/08/2022 à 19:00, Tony Cooper a écrit :
> >
> > Should I write, as PTD would, "did your insurance provide a rental
> > (BrE = hire) car to use during the three months?" or are you not an
> > idiot who doesn't understand commonly used terms that differ
> > pondially?
>
> Ah! I thought Hertz van Rental was Mr Car-Hire.
>
> Athel has called it a 'replacement car', which I think is better in
> these circumstances.
>
> As to transpondian differences, my favourite is not understanding 'train
> station' when people ask for directions.
>
I think that locomotive has left the platform; just about everyone under
my age fails to use "Railway Station".

> What larks, Pip!

Toodle-oo!
--
Bah, and indeed Humbug.

Paul Wolff <bounceme@thiswontwork.wolff.co.uk> wrote:

> On Tue, 23 Aug 2022, at 20:56:19, occam posted:
> >On 23/08/2022 19:13, Athel Cornish-Bowden wrote:
> >> Today we recovered our car, which had been in the repair shop for
> >> exactly three months, after the front headlights, bumpers etc. were
> >> stolen towards the end of May. We had thought initially that it was an
> >> attempt to steal the car itself, but the police said no, almost
> >> certainly they were just interested in the parts. The repair bill came
> >> to more than 10 000 €, but apart from 90 € that will be paid by the
> >> insurance company.
> >
> >Spare-parts theft? That is almost impossible on modern cards, where the
> >whole assembly is integrated into one pre-fab unit. You need to pop the
> >hood and haul the engine, just to change the headlamps.
> >
> >Was yours a classic car, with chrome bumpers and other shiny accessories?
>
> We seem to be having a wave of catalytic-converter thefts over here
> (Britain). I'm told it takes only 30 seconds to jack up a car, dip
> underneath with a suitable battery-operated power saw, and cut the
> converter housing, with catalyst inside, from the exhaust train. Not
> that I know anything about it, oh dear me no.

Good for you. I saw a newspaper item some time ago
about an incompetent catalyst thief who had succeeded
in geting crushed to death under a car when it fell off the jack.

Better leave it to those who know howto,

Jan

--
"Why are those legs sticking out from under our car, daddy?"

occam <occam@nowhere.nix> wrote:

> On 23/08/2022 19:13, Athel Cornish-Bowden wrote:
> > Today we recovered our car, which had been in the repair shop for
> > exactly three months, after the front headlights, bumpers etc. were
> > stolen towards the end of May. We had thought initially that it was an
> > attempt to steal the car itself, but the police said no, almost
> > certainly they were just interested in the parts. The repair bill came
> > to more than 10 000 €, but apart from 90 € that will be paid by the
> > insurance company.
> >
>
> Spare-parts theft? That is almost impossible on modern cards, where the
> whole assembly is integrated into one pre-fab unit. You need to pop the
> hood and haul the engine, just to change the headlamps.

Stealing VW Xenon head light assemblies was in fashion, for a while.
These things are expensive, and relatively easy to take out.
(and pretty useless, just a status symbol to annoy others with)

Trivia: I saw a newspaper item about a man
who had his Xenon headlights stolen three times,
as soon as he had installed new ones.

After that he bought another car,

Jan

Athel Cornish-Bowden <acornish@imm.cnrs.fr> wrote:

> Today we recovered our car, which had been in the repair shop for
> exactly three months, after the front headlights, bumpers etc. were
> stolen towards the end of May. We had thought initially that it was an
> attempt to steal the car itself, but the police said no, almost
> certainly they were just interested in the parts. The repair bill came
> to more than 10 000 €, but apart from 90 € that will be paid by the
> insurance company.

Of course. That's what 'just in time delivery' means,

Jan

Kerr-Mudd, John <admin@127.0.0.1> wrote:

> On Wed, 24 Aug 2022 08:20:04 +0100
> Hibou <h.i@b.ou> wrote:
>
> > Le 23/08/2022 à 19:00, Tony Cooper a écrit :
> > >
> > > Should I write, as PTD would, "did your insurance provide a rental
> > > (BrE = hire) car to use during the three months?" or are you not an
> > > idiot who doesn't understand commonly used terms that differ
> > > pondially?
> >
> > Ah! I thought Hertz van Rental was Mr Car-Hire.
> >
> > Athel has called it a 'replacement car', which I think is better in
> > these circumstances.
> >
> > As to transpondian differences, my favourite is not understanding 'train
> > station' when people ask for directions.
> >
> I think that locomotive has left the platform; just about everyone under
> my age fails to use "Railway Station".

But British kiddies may still know where platform 9 3/4 is.
For our American friends, it really is there.
<https://st2.depositphotos.com/1186248/7785/i/950/depositphotos_77857236-stock-photo-the-harry-potter-platform-9.jpg>
<https://www.kingscross.co.uk/harry-potters-platform-9-34>

While we are at it: Harry Potter's train is called 'The Jacobite'.
<https://westcoastrailways.co.uk/jacobite/steam-train-trip>
<https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/The_Jacobite_(steam_train)>

It is a real train that you really can book tickets for,
(in season)

Jan

Le 24/08/2022 à 09:37, Kerr-Mudd, John a écrit :
> On Wed, 24 Aug 2022 08:20:04 +0100 Hibou wrote:
>>
>> As to transpondian differences, my favourite is not understanding 'train
>> station' when people ask for directions.
>>
> I think that locomotive has left the platform; just about everyone under
> my age fails to use "Railway Station".

I fear you're right.

I have a vague recollection of a story a while back about an American
woman asking a British woman for help in finding oregano. I don't
remember the details, save that it ended with the British woman saying
something like, "Oh, you mean oregano!" The American, as I recall, was
miffed at not being understood.

Who can say whether the misunderstanding was deliberate or not? The
pronunciations are sufficiently different that it could have been genuine.

On Wed, 24 Aug 2022 12:35:08 +0200
nospam@de-ster.demon.nl (J. J. Lodder) wrote:

> Kerr-Mudd, John <admin@127.0.0.1> wrote:
>
> > On Wed, 24 Aug 2022 08:20:04 +0100
> > Hibou <h.i@b.ou> wrote:
> >
> > > Le 23/08/2022 à 19:00, Tony Cooper a écrit :
> > > >
> > > > Should I write, as PTD would, "did your insurance provide a rental
> > > > (BrE = hire) car to use during the three months?" or are you not an
> > > > idiot who doesn't understand commonly used terms that differ
> > > > pondially?
> > >
> > > Ah! I thought Hertz van Rental was Mr Car-Hire.
> > >
> > > Athel has called it a 'replacement car', which I think is better in
> > > these circumstances.
> > >
> > > As to transpondian differences, my favourite is not understanding 'train
> > > station' when people ask for directions.
> > >
> > I think that locomotive has left the platform; just about everyone under
> > my age fails to use "Railway Station".
>
> But British kiddies may still know where platform 9 3/4 is.
> For our American friends, it really is there.
> <https://st2.depositphotos.com/1186248/7785/i/950/depositphotos_77857236-stock-photo-the-harry-potter-platform-9.jpg>
> <https://www.kingscross.co.uk/harry-potters-platform-9-34>

I call Fake; as they themselves admit platform 9 & 10 are separated by
tracks.

>
> While we are at it: Harry Potter's train is called 'The Jacobite'.
> <https://westcoastrailways.co.uk/jacobite/steam-train-trip>
> <https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/The_Jacobite_(steam_train)>
>
> It is a real train that you really can book tickets for,
> (in season)
>
The Scottish viaduct is famous too!
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Glenfinnan_Viaduct
(bonus: picture is of 'The Jacobite' crossing it)

--
Bah, and indeed Humbug.