Two vehicles, do we really need two vehicles? Well ultimately I guess the answer is we don’t need any vehicles when we finally embark on our journey, but until then we do need at least one – so who gets the chop? Well there is a complicated but easy answer to that; let me explain.

Our vehicle history is not particularly interesting, Peugeot 205, Vauxhall Astra, MG MGF, Toyota MR2, Toyota Yaris; have you fallen asleep yet? All that changed when we decided to get the dogs and trade in our Yaris for something a little more practical for transporting a couple of Labradors around. We had a dog guard in the back and air vent louvers for the back windows with a selection of nice fluffy dog blankets for added comfort. The only drawback was the constant wet snotty nose prints from the dogs on the back window, clearly a small price to pay. This was to become our trusted work-horse and dog transport for the next decade.

Both of our Labrador’s were picked up in him (yes, we’re calling it a “him”) with Tay crying all the way home (the big softie) and later bringing Treacle home with her sleeping all the way. There have been countless doggy day trips and vet visits, he’s helped dispose of 10 million tonnes of junk to the tip and is immortalised by many of our friends as “Nettie’s Taxi”. Many a drunken night out with the lads ended with the infamous words – “Nettie, have you got any tunes?”.

In over 10 years faithful service he only let us down once, a flat battery on a Nettie Taxi night on my Birthday. None of the lads were particularly happy about that as we had to divert some of the evening’s funds from beer money to actual taxi money. Still it was Nettie we felt more sorry for as she had to stress about a broken car and worry about how we were going to get home in the drunken stupor we would inevitably find ourselves in at 3am.

However as time went by, rising government taxation and potential mechanical problems around the corner meant we finally decided that the time had come to say goodbye and move on. It just so happened I had a friend who needed a car to run around in and also to help his brother transport stock for his shop. This needy friend also just happened to own a hand car wash company and therefore the result of this transaction was limitless free car washes for the new kid on the block – result!

As part of our downsizing activities we have taken delivery of “Smartie” (the new kid on the block). She’s a bright red 2009 fortwo 451 MHD Smart car that is in great shape (yes, we’re calling it a “her”) and is a huge amount of fun to drive. Nettie loves her and is happy to venture out around the shops and go visiting friends and family in her. Admittedly there isn’t a huge amount of boot space (enough for a few boxes of beer) but that’s what supermarket deliveries are for right?

Assuming all goes well, and there is no reason not to, Smartie will now be our daily driver. She’s cheap to tax, insure and maintain and is surprisingly nippy and manoeuvrable. Best of all however; she’s cute and makes people smile.