I thought when lockdown eased
I'd be off again to roam.
Travelling to places loved
Some far away from home.
With feline friend by my side
Enjoying it just like me.
With Scarecrow Sally in the back
And sister Dolly three.
But I'll be 90 this year
Though my head feels twenty-three
Black cat knows those times are gone
She has more sense than me.
So Puss and me are house mates
We won't go very far
In fact if Puss here gets her way
We'll just stay where we are.
Aw! Never say never Don! Although I do know now how you feel! The better weather even if only promised for a couple of days don't help with these feelings either! However have a nice day with your feline company!
That's true Annie, but I have a heck of a job getting in and out of the motorhome, it's quiet a climb up into the cab. Tomorrow I get my new 'comfort' car, a 2 door, VW Up! automatic, with gadgets including air conditioning which my Aygo doesn't have. So it's no big deal, just a change of life-style which we've all had to contend with in one way or another. Lots and lots of happy memories though. 😉x
Just googled that VW Don. Looks a lovely little car. Good to know that your driving days can continue xx
It's blue, small 999cc, automatic, and I now own a cat. My street cred is damaged beyond repair. 😂 I'm taking the Institute of Advanced Motorist assessment which I did five years ago to try and recoup some of it.iamroadsmart.com/docs/defau...
😂
As is often the case, your topics get me looking back. Our current and last 2 cars have been automatics. My dad taught me to drive. He was a part time driving instructor (couldn't make enough to give up his full time job) and a member of the Institute of Advanced Motorists. For months after I started driving the first automatic, I could hear him sat next to me saying ''this isn't proper driving''.Good luck with taking the Advanced test again. I always intended to do it but never did and I don't drive any more now.
We had a Kia Sorrento 4x4 for towing, transporting kids and their offspring, dump runs, you name it, it did it! Every inch the workhorse😃 and I loved it. Getting in and out was easy because the seat height was my bum height so just slid in and out. Easypeasy! He who shall remain nameless decided we no longer needed it as caravan is now kept in Devon and has bought a Mini Cooper convertible with all the bells and whistles as he likes to put it. I call it reliving lost youth! However this will be a lot lower for me to get in and out of if I ever do get to that point again, but the dog loves sitting in the back (harnessed in of course) apparently. My son videoed her enjoying her ride, ears blowing in the wind, snout in the air!😄😄
Now that is a coincidence. I looked closely at a Mini Cooper convertible, I suppose all us old farts have at one time or another. I later sat on the seawall in my Aygo in the pouring rain, blowing a gale, eating fish and chips (a favourite pastime) and every other car that passed seem to be a convertible. That cured me for a while, but I still feel a pang when I see one top down on a sunny day.
Go with the 'pangs' Don! I like to feel safe in a car, the Kia was built like a tank and that's the way I liked it!
I hope you enjoy your Up! I had a Citigo, the Skoda version. I’ve only just got rid of it as I am not well enough to drive these days. I loved driving it.
That's good to hear, the fact that you liked it so much. Sorry you couldn't continue to drive. Did you miss driving very much? I suppose that's the next hurdle I'll have to face, but I have my mobility scooter.
I miss the convenience of driving, but my husband is such a willing chauffeur at present. I have a travel scooter, which goes in the car, but I’ve just had to have it repaired. Possibly on its last legs so I may have to replace it, but when we moved here, where there is a very steep hill into town I bought a road going scooter with a small inheritance. It is suitable for pavements too. It has a range of 30 miles. It means I can go out by myself and have some independence. Great fun! Safe too, and I find that drivers here are mostly very courteous. It has been much admired by some men because it has alloy wheels!
That sounds great, independence is a valuable thing to have. Just sitting somewhere watching the world go by safe in the knowledge that you can go home when to feel like it. Any chance of a photo? Those alloy wheels sound sexy. 😂
So sad to hear your campervan sojourns are at an end. 😂Though Im sure you could still enjoy the summer sun in your garden or a short trip to the pier in Southport.
I'll still go short runs for a picnic when I'm feeling good. I've never understood the attraction of Southport pier, especially when the sea rarely ventures under it. I shouldn't say that as a born and bred Sandgrounder, but it's true.
I enjoyed hearing about your adventures in the camper van what a shame you have to stop them. But I'm sure you and pus will have some good stories to share. Have a lovely day and take care 😊 Bernadette and Jack 🐕 xxxxxx
I think that my roaming days are over too Don. Never thought for a moment that the last holiday I had in 2019 would be the very last one. I hope that you are able to have the odd run out to somewhere you can park up and watch the world go by, whether Puss joins you or not. I do recall though how busy and difficult your last trip was. Perhaps it will be a little easier another time. xx
Well it's better to accept it with good grace rather than court disaster, isn't it? I'm lucky that I've been able to keep going for so long, and like you say, it's not entirely over yet. I have a niece who lives on her own and is retiring next month. She has promised to chauffer me around in the van if I want and I would be happy if she became it's next owner in time. I think Puss is mightily relieved. 😅
Perhaps you can put Puss on a lead when you go with your niece!
Baby has gone on a lead since she was a kitten!
Once Baby came with me and my sister in law on a visit to the Brecon beacons on her lead!
I think that's possible when you start from scratch (Ouch!), but Puss is twelve now and is so happy with her new life. She must have had a very different life as an outside cat but has settled down to retirement as I must now do. 😉
That's a great offer from your neice and I'm sure that you will be pleased if she becomes the new owner of your camper van, keeping it in the family.
My daughter already has her eye on my VW. Up and I haven't even got it yet! 😂
Cheeky of her. Hope you have years of use from it. Got to admire you for constantly adapting to the changes in your life. Happy motoring in your new run around wherever you choose to go but well worth it if only to sit in comfort eating fish and chips. Carole xx
The first car I ever drove was a VW beetle, in pale blue, with full steel plate underneath (driving mostly on unmade roads). Dad taught me to drive, (him in passenger seat, pipe clenched between his teeth, and right hand on handbrake), had a 1500 cc engine, nice and easy in the back. Wonderful memories, my mother then decided, that as I could drive at 17, she had to learn. Second lesson out (I was in the back) 2 door car, she argued with him about how you slowed and sped up again, when encountering a right angle bend, going up a rise, on a compressed coral and shingle road. We ended up in the large ditch, having rolled onto the car's rounded top, me unable to get out, as no door, with them screaming at each other, no more driving lessons thank god.
So sorry that you can't travel about like you used to but what wonderful memories for your holidays you must have, like you I cannot do what I used to and probably lots more on this site feel the same so you are not alone Don-1931. Enjoy your garden and the company of your cats. Hope you are enjoying the sunshine we have at the moment. Best wishes. xx
How's Puss getting on?
Baby is well and has enjoyed her gammon for her treat this afternoon!
The last time I went away was in February 2020 on a weekend away to Exeter and I'm glad we did as well!
I can see the new marketing material Volkswagon will employ
Cruise like Don in our new UP it really is a joy
A little car with a big heart and endless motoring pleasue
And ideal for transporting cats as they go about their liesure
Don you will not lose any street cred being the owner of a cat
Cos cats just don't have owners and i am sure by now you are aware of that
😹🙃👍 x
Sorry to hear you've had a change of plans but so happy to hear you will still be on the road with your new wheels! We have a trip planned in June to see our son and will be away for 10 days. I have a friend who will be taking care of Missy the Cat at our home. For Missy, travel is a four letter word! 😊
A 10 day trip will be great for you. I hadn't really thought about a cat carer for if I went away without the van.
Do whatever you want to do dear Don. Puss will keep you company and enjoy being by your side. Have fun. I love the sound of your new car. Take care xxxx💕😘💖
All sounds good to me Don. A chauffer to drive you round in your van and a new vw up at your disposal, what more could you want, so being 90 wont be all that bad. You go with change so readily , I hope I am so well adapted when I get to your age and can move with the times as you do x
I am quite relieved that one of you has some sense x
Brilliant Don. 😁👍
Thank you for the rhyme 🐱Always much appreciated.
You know I enjoy doing them 😉🤡
There's no place like home Don x x🏡🏡🏡
Well Don I’m sure you’ll enjoy jaunts in the camper van with your niece with Sally and Dolly in tow The VWUpis a great little car Enjoy My dad became very depressed when he had to stop driving at 70 because of poor eyesight It was as if a limb had been cut off. Take care xx
Glad you're still on the road. It takes some getting used to again after months of being confined to barracks. So far I've managed about 10 miles there and back again.🙃🙃🥴
It takes some getting used to, I went to get my new (to me) car filled at the petrol station this evening , I filled up, put the hose back on the pump, then realised I needed a mask when going in to pay. So I got back into my car to get one out of the glove compartment when there was suddenly a very loud blast on the tannoy system something about leaving without paying. I expected an armed response team to come storming out. The cashier was very apologetic when went to pay, with an audience of car owners expecting to see some interesting action. It’s going to take time getting used to being part of the world again.
I don't know about you but it has taken me a long time to get used paying by waving a card at a machine instead of using proper money. Then embarrassment- I needed to put my card in the machine and I couldn't remember my pin number.🙃🤯🤪. Love to Puss xxx
I like the card waving, I have arthritis in my fingers and was always getting my card locked for poking the wrong numbers. However I now tend to forget to check the amount they are charging me. If it wasn’t for the limit I could be waving goodbye to my life’s savings!
Lost in translation 
Thought The Sky Had Fallen In!
Blue sky white fluffy clouds and its dry.
Tesco in trouble ???
