Car maintenance skills

When I first met my DH, he was a non-driver and not interested in cars at all. I was a driver, and my father had always done a lot of his own maintenance. I took an evening class in the basics and it has been a Godsend. Although DH is now a driver, he is still not by any stretch of the imagination a mechanic!
Even if you have AA/RAC type cover, you could save yourself time and hassle by learning two essential skills - tyre changing, and battery charging. They are simple, if grubby, tasks - both of which I have employed this week. I came out of a supermarket and noticed I had a flat. Just got on with it. I was shocked at the three women who came up to me, two to express disbelief that I could do it, and one to ask me if I wanted to use her mobile to phone my husband!!! Made me ashamed to be a woman, but proud to be the woman I am!!
Weirdly, both I and DH left our keys in the ignition this week (we live very very rurally, and neither of us have done this before in 20 years!!) Whatever was in the stars that made us both do this, I am soooooooo glad we have a battery charger as we were both on our way within 90 mins, no problem! (apart from a low lying anxiety about the alternators)

Well done Witchconsumer - I am very impressed. I remember my father boring pistons in my old MkII Cortina, and I was impressed then too! I used to do a lot more, but no longer have an indoor space in which to potter, and as it never seems to stop raining in Wales, I will stick to my crisis management skills! Did find Dad's old torque wrench t'other day though and have hung on to it, so who knows..........