Ghost Cars

We happened to be in one of the car dealers at the weekend (a new car is firmly back in J's "circle" - see http://chat1960vintage.blogspot.com/2010/08/circle.html) and I was intrigued to see the cars shrouded with sheets (right). New cars: we could see the "60" on their numberplates. Someone's pride and joy, waiting to be driven proudly out of the showroom today.

I will be driving home my own new pride and joy today. I only get a new car once every four years so it's an exciting day, twinged with sadness. I never name my cars or personalise them, but I do get quite attached to them in that we drive many miles in four years and spend many hours twiddling our respective thumbs and gear stick on the M25. As Gary Numan rightly said, "here in my car I feel safest of all".

The Circle

J was crestfallen. Two key items had fallen off his "circle," as I call it: a Saturn-style ring around his head that at any one time could contain the following items: new car; new TV; new heart rate monitor; latest marathon; better broadband.

And in one week alone he had lost three items!!

1) New car, after grudgingly agreeing we should become a one car family; 2) new TV, after we finally bought one (although we have yet to put the glasses on....), and (3), better broadband after BT Infinity got installed.

So I was worried on J's behalf. A man without projects is not a man worth knowing.

Fortunately, a change of heart about the car meant I came home to find J with his nose in an Audi brochure. We haven't even become a one car family yet but the thought of sharing my "ute" (utility) is filling him with dread. So his weekends will revert to test drives and visits to dealers.

I'm expecting  "new heart rate monitor" to join the circle as he's been grumbling about his strap.

As for me, my circle currently includes bulbs - I am about to order the spring selection; autumn fashions - I have decided to heed the advice of Grazia and buy a few key pieces including an aviator jacket and a camel coat and wild swimming, after I saw a TV programme about it and then bought the book by Roger Deakin.

Molly's circle never changes. It's two things: blue tits and Felix As Good As It Looks.