Latest Moan From You and Me 2024

Yes, the strike ended just before Christmas. I was surprised that one of the members there received my card, after Christmas but before the New Year. I would say that most of the domestic deliveries will be caught up totally in the next few days, latest.

 

Excellent, thank you! I know from past experience that those Canadian postal workers are a tenacious lot. Maybe they feel they have made their point by clogging up the system at Christmas.

 

My car is lime green. Easy to spot in a car park, amongst the sea of white, grey, black, blue and red.

 

Mine too, @JennyJB!

 

White cars are common here because they supposedly reflect heat better. I've seen many an older non-metallic red faded to pink here by the sun's rays -2nd sunniest department in France.

Many, many moons ago I had the back end or my metallic black Corsa re-arranged by a wild swing from the rear half of a bendy bus in the outside lane in Namur as it turned left in front of me in the inside lane. I had witnesses and the bus company was so used to this kind of incident they didn't quibble when I insisted my Corsa be repaired and not scrapped. The rental car whilst the work was done was a raspberry pink Clio. I have never been more embarrassed by a car nor felt less safe. Its road-holding was rubbish.

 

When I bought my used Dodge Grand Caravan I didn't specify the vehicle colour or anything. I just wanted a safe van that would seat 7 and my garage man found one for me.

Shortly after I bought it, I went over the border to do a bit of shopping. It's that long ago that our dollar would actually pay for something in the U.S.! I came out of the Sam's club to what felt to me like a sea of silver vans just like mine. You can imagine my panic before I realized, yes, Lori, stop being silly and just push the lock button and the van will beep. Followed my ears!

My other vehicles are not silver or white or black.

 

I had a metallic green Fiat some years ago. Brilliant for that car park spotting as mentioned, but also - the best car I've ever owned. So reliable. I don't trust the current car I have, despite all it's bells and whistles. That's the worst bit - all those stupid bells and whistles that I don't need.

 

Never had a choice of colour, it's always been has it got a wheel at each corner, an engine and 4 doors, is there a warranty and can I afford it.

 

Never having been in the market for a new car, I was extremely grateful for the use of OHs home-built Mini when I passed my test. The gearbox/clutch was a nightmare! Then came a slightly more practical Alfa Estate. The gearbox/clutch was another nightmare but at least both cars were instantly recognisable It wasn't until 2013 that I actually got to choose what I really wanted, a small, fast, silver convertible with a decent gearbox/clutch and a few luxuries like electric windows and heating/aircon. There are a lot of 206ccs about, still, but my baby has a natty luggage rack on the boot lid, allowing us to be reunited in a car park without too much wandering about and under-breath muttering She's also quite practical for transporting the odd outsize parcel or plant when topless, as long as it's not raining!

 

I presume that it is the car that is topless.

 

Definitely! Wouldn't want to frighten the natives

 

That's exactly what I did! The green ("crystal lime" I believe) was the signature colour of the old model that was being replaced by a slightly different one, and they were selling off the showroom car at about £5000 less than the new one would be - A virtually new car at a second-hand price. It had about 30 miles on the clock and a good bit of that was us test-driving it, plus they would have moved it around in and out of the showroom. I can't say I love the colour, but it's OK. No accidents in mine yet, and I've had it since early 2017 so almost 8 years. I'll sell or part-exchange it if/when it gets to be unreliable, at which point it won't be worth much anyway.

 

Until about 5 years ago I had never had a new vehicle always getting my husband’s company car when he was getting something new. I had a succession of great Volvo estates which were superb for transporting around “ stuff” for a young family. With the seats down in a 240 estate you could get a full sized single bed!
I had a 740GLT with a very loud boy racer exhaust which was extremely quick but do not look much different to an ordinary Volvo estate. It should have had go faster stripes.
Move on and then I car shared with my daughter. She was a Subaru fan so I then WAS driving a boy racer car! Had a WRX sports wagon which was all wheel drive and the easiest car I have ever had to drive at speed round corners and then an even quicker Impreza WRX STi 330s. This is seriously quick and it was very difficult to stick to speed limits however, in over 70 years of driving I have yet to get a speeding ticket…..that’s tempting fate!I used to get odd looks from young males who presumed someone their age was driving these Subarus only to discovered it was a grey haired old bat!
When the sports wagon started to cause issues ( well over 100,000 on the clock) Ford were doing a scrappage scheme so traded the sports wagon for a new wee van. I now drive a Ford Connect, got the top of the range which goes quick enough for me these days. It is 5 years old and touch wood apart from new tyres and brake pads it has not had one thing go wrong with it and it’s great for luging plants and firewood about, no need to worry about carpets!