Esoterica

I was dashing home via Romsey yesterday and didn't notice in the dark that the road was being prepared to be resurfaced. Jolt, jolt, jolt and a collision with a rocky patch finally persuaded me to slow down and then the car still didn't sound right, even though I'd left the resurfacing. It occurred to me that I might have a flat tyre. I pulled over on a dark country lane but couldn't see much so I proceeded at a slow pace until I reached the White Horse at Ampfield where I saw that indeed one of my front tyres had gone. Call me pathetic but I didn't really feel like changing the tyre in the pouring rain so I phoned the AA (who said they'd be there in an hour) and waited in the pub which had had a power cut so the coq au vin temptingly advertised on its board was not available. At rather a loose end, I was reduced to doing the FT crossword and looking periodically out of the window for the AA. I noticed a man smoking outside and he caught my eye. This man then came in and asked me if he could have a go at the crossword. Precisely at that moment, the AA man arrived so I gave the crossword to the smoker and said he could certainly finish it whilst I was sorting out my car. When I came back, he invited me for a drink which I declined. He'd done 4 clues and was stuck on "Revolting coarse tie and mysterious objects", which rather summed up the evening so far. "Esoterica" I replied. He shook my hand and I departed.