Tuesday 26 August 2008

White Van Man

Having thought we’d have a quiet bank holiday weekend painting the outside of the flats, visiting our elderly friend James who is in hospital – that sort of thing – on Thursday night we got a phone call that changed everything.

Our motoring contact in Devon rang to say he’d been to a car auction and found us a van that he thought would suit us fine. It sounded like it would – right price, mileage, side loading door – etc.

In case you’re wondering, we’ve been looking for one for a while. Partly so that Himself can do the necessary maintenance jobs and take stuff to the dump, and also so that we can camp in it a bit. So it needed to be something long enough for a six foot plus fella to sleep in but small enough so as not to be expensive to run and small enough for me to drive.

It sounded like this van was what we wanted, so I advertised our car on Friday and on Friday afternoon, a couple came to see it, agreed to buy it and gave a deposit; said they’d come back on Saturday with the rest of the money.

So Friday evening was a flurry of organising insurance, trips to Devon, lift to the train etc. And how would Mollie get on in a train? She’s never been in one before. As you can imagine, my head was spinning on Friday night and not much sleep, but Saturday saw us clean the car out of all doggie things, replace the parcel shelf, do the shopping, go to the library and bank , walk the dog and so on before the couple arrived with the money.

By Saturday evening I was shattered, and Sunday morning found us on the train to Totnes with Moll sitting first on Himself’s lap looking out of the window, then on mine fast asleep for the entire journey. I was really worried how she’d get on and had gone armed with poo bags, kitchen roll, water, biscuits etc Just In Case. As it was, it was as if she’d been travelling by train all her life.

Sunday afternoon found us the proud owners of a Van. Himself was dying to get it back so he could start Tinkering. Sorry, working on it. It was an old water van so it had a large sign saying WATER on the top. I rather liked that but no, it had to come off. Since then, at every available opportunity, Himself has been rushing out to Do Things to it. And guess where he is now?

When I told a friend about the van she grinned and said, "What colour is it?"
"White," replied HImself. "Why?"
"You'd better start reading the Sun," she replied.

The van is currently named Doxie Three because we have had vans before. But Himself suggested painting a large Flowerpot on the side. In which case it will be the Flowerpotmobile. Bit of a mouthful that. Any suggestions for other names?

21 comments:

Lane Mathias said...

I think Flowerpotmobile is perfect!

I used to have a little white van just like a certain 'lady detective'. I loved it and still miss it.

Have fun with it:-)

Pat Posner said...

FP, glad Moll enjoyed the train. It's good to know you can travel that way with her if you need to.

As for the van name - well, I think Flowerpotmobile is perfect, too!

Cornish Dreamer said...

It's fantastic that you managed to sell your car so quickly. It's as if it were meant to be! And a very good buy, it seems, too.

And glad to hear Mollie coped so well with the train.

Flowerpot said...

Lane - glad to meet another van owner - I'm hoping we will have lots of adventures!

Pat - glad you like the name! He's threatening to paint a flowerpot on the side!

Flowerpot said...

RT - my grandmother would have said IT WAS FATE!!! You must cmoe and have a ride when it's a bit cleaner!

Amanda said...

My friend used to have a morris minor van and painted all flower pots in the windows so it looked like a greenhouse on wheels. It was gorgeous! I like the name
Flowerpotmobile - it's great. :-)

Totty Teabag said...

I am really disappointed that it isn't an ex icecream van...I would really liked to have flagged Himself down and asked him for a cornet...

Akelamalu said...

I can tell you're going to have so much fun in that van!

Flowerpotmobile sounds perfect to me.

Good to hear Moll liked the train in case you ever have to take her again.

Elaine Denning said...

You two are going to have so much fun in it! I love the name as well :)

Flowerpot said...

Annie - that sounds a fabulous idea. I will pass it on to Himself!

Flowerpot said...

Totty - yes it's a shame isnt it? Mind you, you could still flag him down and ask for a cornet - it just wouldnt be an edible kind!

Ak - yes I was delighted about Moll. She was beautifully behaved - not like herself at all!

MissU - who knows, we might even come uip to Exeter in it next time we're in Devon!

Grump said...

The van sounds great. I used to have a transit van with the number plate ONK185D Someone bought it off me just for the number plate. It went like the clappers. You will be able to camp on the cliffs around Treen snug as a bug in a rug.
Woof x

Flowerpot said...

Grump - I look forward to camping near Treen very much. It's filthy inside and full of shelves so Himself is busy cleaning and ripping the guts out at the moment but we hope to be able to go camping in the next few weeks. Hah - depending on the weather of course!

MarmiteToasty said...

Oh DO IT.. paint a flowerpot with flowers on the side :)

Sounds like you are going to be having lots of fun with the van...

I know if I had a little old van I would hand paint it LOL....

Enjoy..

x

Philipa said...

The flowerpottie?

no I think I'd stick with your suggestion.

Trubes said...

Or even 'FlowerpotPowermobile' Vrrrooom..........
What larks, Me Dear!
Will you erect a tent and/ or sleep in the van at night, when you're camping....suppose it depends upon the weather?
I'm envious, havn't been camping for years!

Di.xx

Flowerpot said...

Marmie - I have romantic visions of a kind of gypsy type van. Unfortunately Himself, although rmantic, is aiming for someting a little less obtrusive so we can park up anywhere. We will see...!

Phil - I rather like the Flowerpottie - though it does have other connotations of course!

trubes - glad tomeet you and please call this way again. We havent been camping for ages - He doesnt like itmuch but I think that was a) the tent and b) campsites. We'll see how camping in Doxie 3 goes...

Zinnia Cyclamen said...

I used to go camping in a white van with a rather tasty chap, back in my youth... ah those were the days... I had a fold-out sofabed which fitted in the back, we slept on that, then in the daytime when we stopped for a brew-up we would get it out of the van and sit on a comfy sofa in the middle of lovely countryside drinking tea and enjoying the astonishment on the faces of passing drivers.

Flowerpot said...

Zinnia - that sounds a great idea. We are going to have beds in ours but the sofa bed idea is wonderful. I will pass it onto Himself and thank you for inspiration!

MarmiteToasty said...

I white van man, almost collided with me down the back lanes yesterday, he came across my side of the road and smashed me wing mirror off and scrapped along the drivers side... BASTARD.... the mirror is electic and is gonna cost me a pretty packet cos the git did not stop..

x

Flowerpot said...

Marmie - I can promise you we will not drive like that. I am so sorry - bastards indeed.