Our 6 hours of electricity ran out at 23:00 last night so at 07:30 Ali sticks another jeton in the pillar and we keep everything on mains voltage.

11:00 we decide to try the starter pack. The volts rise gradually to 11.2 but then drop to 11. Nick turns the key. Click-click-click nothing. The couple from the French moho beside us come over, see the problem and next minute he's positioning his van to give us a jump start. Leads on, his motor running, volts rise but not enough. Click-click-click nothing. A passer-by joins in, checking fuses, and other things. Nick explains about the bougie prechauffage relais [glowplug relay], 'ne pas logic' he dismisses. Eventually they've done all they can. Everyone looks at each other sadly. 'I think we should stop' says the guy on Holby City. Resuscitation of Mary*Lou is abandoned. We put the starter pack on to recharge. Ali goes across to the Tourist Office, they ring a garage who want €150 call out. Not likely.

Nothing for it but ring the insurers and benefit from the excellent service of yesterday, hoping they don't insist on putting the sick van on a transporter home. Except today is like a different company. Scott and Virgil have left the building. No answering, stupid music, delay after delay. Nick rings the main line instead of breakdown number. Instant reply, we'll put you through… wait wait wait, main line, wait etc. until someone says 'I'll pop round and tell them'. Eventually 90 minutes after the first call someone rings to say they'll arrange a call out and ring back. It's French lunchtime, we expect to wait.

Then Nick has an idea. Ali needs some PMT. The relay is mounted under the battery tray on the wheelarch, inaccessible without removing battery or grille and headlight. Ali reconnects the starter pack and delivers a couple of whacks under the wheelarch with a rubber mallet and Nick sees the volts start rising again. Relay unstuck. Percussion Maintenance Technique. PMT. Works more often than people like to acknowledge.

Now with the draining current removed we can start to recharge the battery properly. Another jeton in the pillar. By 16:00 still no call back but the volts have reached 12.4.

While Ali stands ready with the mallet, gingerly, Nick turns the key.

Ruh-Ruh-Ruh….duggaduggaduggadugga and Mary*Lou lives again! And the glowplug light stays off.

It's 136 miles to Roscoff, but we need fuel. Ploermel Super-U, outer pump, engine left running. Naughty but essential.

The drive is smooth and easy and we arrive at Roscoff's familiar aire just before 19:00

Three hours fast driving has brought the battery right up. Any more problems and we can walk to the ferry from here. But when we turn off the engine, the volts hold.

Beer, dinner, wine, sunset, bed.

Never underestimate an Ali with a mallet!