Adieu Big Blue Van

Big Blue Van doing what it did best at a brocante in Cognac

It is the end of an era... we have sold our big blue ex-EDF van after nearly 10 years of service.  It has had its moments (like the time it broke down immediately after rolling off the ferry in Newhaven (England) at some ungodly hour of the night) but it has also been a steady workhorse throughout three house renovations and numerous trips back to England.

You may wonder why, after such long and loyal service we have decided to let it go?  Well, I'm afraid that's down to me.  You see I never quite mastered it's quirks (if I did actually manage to turn the ignition key to get the damned thing started I then spent the next ten minutes failing dismally to find a gear!)

  

It was for this reason, and after much discussion, that we made the momentous decision to trade it in for a younger and smaller model so that I don't always have to rely on Spike to drive me to brocantes or buying missions in the future.

So (rather cunningly I thought) I sneakily popped an 'à vendre' sign in the driver's side window of the van at the last brocante without any real expectation of anything coming of it.  However, it wasn't long before a fellow brocanteur began to show a keen interest. 

A week of so later we found ourselves sitting gloomily at the kitchen table having just watched Big Blue Van (our only vehicle that I never properly named... guilt, guilt!!) pootle down the drive for the very last time.  I was surprised how emotional I felt saying goodbye to the old lump so we reminisced for a while over a nice cup of tea (that always makes everything better doesn't it?... if only that were true!) about the many exploits we had shared with it over the years.

Not only did I have a desolate husband to contend with but the dogs were also staring at me accusingly - they loved nothing more than a ride in BBV to the rubbish dump or a leisurely nap in the cab (well that's not strictly true... Oscar, the beagle, loves nothing more than FOOD but poor Jakie was genuinely bereft).    

Oscar - not at all impressed but very bribable

Jake - (unbribable)  I had better come up with the goods

Spike and Oscar and BBV in happier days!

I am now a woman with a mission - I have been charged with flying back to England in the Spring and not to come back until I find a replacement (a bit mad I know crossing La Manche to buy a van for France but the prices of second had vehicles over here are truly astronomical!)

It will be a huge responsibility but I will do my best not to let the boys down and take the opportunity to fill New Van (I may even get around to naming this one) with fresh trucs for the Summer brocante season and lots of treats for Spike and the dogs in the hope of worming my way back into their good books!