Friday 12 July 2013

When Times are Hard, Find a Distraction.

    Its been a torrid year, at least from a health point of view. What with my wife being diagnosed with glaucoma and having a stent fitted, my replacement knee making only slow, painful progress and my 'dodgy heart' syndrome; as Victoria might say, 'We are not amused.'
    I don't know about you all, but we find we need a distraction when times are rough. Our old car is fifteen years old, money is sitting doing nothing under the bed, large white fivers  and there are no pockets in shrouds so an attractive distraction was mooted. Lets buy a new car!
    Now I'm seventy three, have never bought a new car in my entire life and am not renowned for spending so everyone and his dog were most surprised. Particularly my daughter Alison, who views her fast diminishing inheritance with less than childlike approval. But who nevertheless likes her ageing parents to be happy; when I'm less than grumpy, the family is happy! Thus began a fascinating few weeks.
When I was young and single, I was into Cooper S's, bucket seats, spoilers and the like. I was also into traffic police disapproval, cautions, tickets and youthful rebellion. Then I got married and was into bringing up children, Mosvich cars and poverty and hand me down clothing. (I did think of registering my family as a charity.)

    'In the country of the blind the one eyed man is king.' H G Wells. The last few weeks remind me of this saying so much. I first posted concerning buying a new car on the 26th June. Next Tuesday we fetch our new vehicle. Hallelujah!!! Not bad going for two somewhat clueless geriatrics! We visited showrooms. We viewed cars at the bottom end of the market, Skodas, fine, nearly purchased, to Lexus, expensive, ok, but somehow not really 'us'. We were blinded by science, bombarded with figures (the going rate for discounts would appear to be around 8%.) Everyman and his dog (Yes the same dog that was surprised at our rash spending) gave us advice. Which of course we in the main ignored as is our style! Anyway, the die is cast, the deed is done. We fetch our new motor on Tuesday, God and the manufacturers willing. So what have we purchased. Watch this space!
 

8 comments:

Unknown said...

My guess is a Mazda 3..

CWMartin said...

No guesses, hope it serves you well!

Valerie said...

Peugeot? Even at my vast age I still think buying a new car is exciting. I only buy Peugeots. Good luck and happy driving.

www.retiredandcrazy.com said...

Audi? That's what I currently drive (and have driven for years) and I love them.

Nida Fatima said...

Now I'm really curious. Please update soon sir!

Julia Bentley said...

"my daughter Alison, who views her fast diminishing inheritance with less than childlike approval"... how very sad. You should be able to buy whatever you want with the money you have earned in your life.

On a side note... I hope it is something very classy like you sir!

Nota Bene said...

I'd love it to be a Rolls Royce (there goes the inheritance, and some!)...but I have suspicion of something more practical, so I will plump for a Volvo

Grumpy Old Ken said...

Thanks to you all. Interesting how we vary. There's no right and wrong. Are there any bad cars I wonder? By the way, only joking about the daughter!