| I believe the popular saying goes something like | | | | few minutes later all is forgotten and she is off to |
| "two things that are guaranteed in life are death | | | | pursue some other activity which usually involves |
| and taxes". I suppose you can't really argue with | | | | hiding my car keys. |
| that statement and I must admit that when I am | | | | I wish I was as easy to please as her. I've just |
| feeling a little despondent about the world such a | | | | successfully managed to book my car into the |
| phrase inevitably comes to mind. Then I think to | | | | garage after several attempts so it can have its |
| myself hang on, there are a lot of positive things | | | | annual MOT test which was a weight off my mind |
| happening as well so like the title of one of my | | | | but then I thought that's going to cost me |
| favourite Elvis Costello albums we should all "Get | | | | £50 and the car won't be any different |
| Happy" once in a while. | | | | when I collect it. |
| Let's face it there is nothing better than a little of | | | | I enjoy having some kind of project to work at |
| bit of harmless escapism to distract us from the | | | | and my latest one has been to research buying a |
| seemingly constant barrage of depressing news | | | | new car. It's amazing how your priorities change |
| from around the world, the recent situation in | | | | as you get older. There was a time when all I |
| Georgia for instance to name but one. It's as if | | | | was interested in was how fast it would go and |
| there is a happy/sad balance in operation and | | | | how big are the alloy wheels and most |
| nowhere reinforces this more than when you | | | | importantly did it have a stereo capable of making |
| switch on the TV news. | | | | your ears bleed. |
| Despite talks of a recession in the UK which now | | | | When you pass your driving test there is the |
| seems inevitable and the strong likelihood of a | | | | inevitable question of affordability with your first |
| change in government at the next election for | | | | car and to that end my first car was a VW Polo |
| better or worse, there is a tangible wave of | | | | 1.0. I remember every detail about that car and |
| euphoria sweeping the nation in response to team | | | | especially the fact that it was red and due to the |
| GB's incredible success in the Beijing Olympic | | | | previous owner's laziness they had never polished |
| Games. This seems to have temporarily | | | | it so every panel was a different shade of red |
| distracted us all in the UK from yet another dismal | | | | and the roof was practically pink. |
| summer and the fact that we didn't make it into | | | | Then when I reached the insurance milestone of |
| the European Football Championships. I doubt this | | | | 25 I was able to afford a very nice Golf GTi. I |
| 'feel good' factor will last very long as everyone is | | | | would spend every waking hour polishing it and |
| worried about the cost of living and falling house | | | | would park in the remotest part of a car park to |
| prices but we can all enjoy the moment while it | | | | avoid parking dents only to return to find |
| lasts. | | | | someone trying to steal parts of it (you can't |
| I am always amazed at my young daughter's | | | | win). |
| ability to change her moods in an instant. One | | | | Now look at me in my later years researching a |
| minute she will be screaming her head off over a | | | | VW Touran and trying to work out if we can fit |
| seemingly minor problem mainly not being able to | | | | numerous pushchairs and baby seats and god |
| open the food cupboard and grab a handful of | | | | knows what into it. Maybe if we get one I'll |
| rice cakes. When she occasionally manages to do | | | | attempt to recreate my youth and put 18" |
| this she triumphantly waves them like a trophy | | | | wheels on it as a final gesture of defiance! |
| and shares her spoils with Ozzy our nutty | | | | Perhaps when I retire VW will have created |
| sheepdog. If she doesn't manage it she likes to | | | | something to spend my final years zooming |
| throw herself on the floor dramatically but then a | | | | around the supermarket car park in. |