Purification Car

Sandi Toksvig mentioned in a column that February come from the Latin, februum, meaning purification. She takes the opportunity in the second month of the year to add to her bucket list; whether writing things down or actually taking part in them. This year I shall be approaching the purification angle slightly differently and ridding myself of my wonderful family wagon.

Over the years a people carrier has been the only possible means of transporting a family of six and two hounds. Add to this, assorted mountains of sporting kit, friends, family and furniture and the local dealership for our particular brand has been only to happy to oblige in updating the model.  The current jalopy has travelled a mile or two, traversed Europe, knows exactly where any athletics stadium south of Hadrian's Wall lies, whether to turn left or right to reach the local town in record time and can pretty much drive itself to all football pitches and cricket grounds in the south-west. If your family is interested in sport, this could be the vehicle for you!

Our family is beginning to dwindle in number as the eldest children leave for pastures new and the need to drive a minibus at all times seems ridiculous. As a result, I have been test-driving assorted models of estate cars in recent weeks; all of which seem fabulously speedy, improbably smart and ... ridiculously expensive. One particular make provided quite the nicest car it has ever been my luck to drive; the price tag made me smile - the salesman thought I was impressed at his knockdown rate, but I was only trying not to laugh as I thought of all the one bed flats I could buy for the same price! Some can turn on a sixpence, others perform extraordinarily well in towns, (we live in the countryside), some fly - or near as dammit - but none can fit all six of us in and two hounds.

It is with some misgivings that our, (extremely reliable should you be interested!), people carrier will be left at a garage later this week in exchange for a 'fresh' estate which I shall have to re-programme for all sporting venues within a one hundred mile radius.

Our timing is exquisite - new puppy arrives one week after the car; fresh teeth and fresh boot to chew; and that's not a wellington boot either. Must be mad!