[chrisfr]

Just on the note of skinny spares, a different poster on another thread made a point that if you got a puncture on a front wheel you should swap one of the rear tyres for the punctured front and put the skinny spare on the rear. Maybe you all know that and I apologise if you do, but i thought it a good point.
It is also more commen that if you use a gooey puncture kit to effect a temporary repair, garages on the continent will replace the tyre but not repair it. This is due to the regulations around the goo having to be disposed of. So,you may get to a garage but they will not repair your puncture ( only fit a new one ) unless they have the facilities to dispose of the goo.