ITV day

Today was the day that every car owner in Spain dreads, the ITV (MOT in the UK - a strict compulsory road-worthiness test). It was also a very hot day, we're having an indian summer.

The ITV comes around every year on the birthday of your car, you get a reminder in the mail that you must take your car to a government testing centre for inspection. For me it's a miserable procedure that I don't look forward to even though my car is relatively young and healthy, but for my neighbours who drive things like 1960's Renaults and the odd ex-army Jeep, it's a time of deep reflection, even depression.

One of my neighbours who drives an ancient Citroen van, swaps his bald tyres for his brothers new-ish tyres before he takes his van for the test, then swaps them back the following day.

My issue is not the car, but the actual test. You arrive at the test centre and present your documents. Then you return to your car and wait until you hear your registration being called over a (not too clear) loud speaker. They also play a local radio station over the loud speaker, but they don't fade the music enough when they announce which car is next. Everyone who waits is trying to desipher if the announcements are for their car or just an advert for a new car. We're all looking at each other and shrugging.

I was sitting in the car for 20 minutes when I heard something that ended with 3 numbers that could possibly fit in my registration. It was a lucky guess and I drove to the entrance for the test to begin. The inspection area is big, large enough to examine 5 vehicles, each vehicle having its own lane. There's the sound of engine noise, horns, random banging, shouting and local radio. The inspectors doing the test are humourless and serious.

I'm called forward and the inspector examines the usual things: lights, seat belts etc. But then he goes down some steps and is directly under my car, he starts shouting instructions - "brakes, hand brake, turn left, turn right". I can't hear everything and get confused, turning the wheel in the opposite direction to what he wants. I'm sweating, which is something I manage to almost avoid throughout the summer.

Anyway I got throught it and so did the car. It passed! I have my new sticker for the windscreen and to put the memory behind me, I drove to the beach for lunch and a siesta.
Till next year.......................