Family plc

Spent much of the day WhatsApp'ing with daughter Kate in Ireland and son J in England over the possibility of fitting in another Family plc Board Meeting this year.

Matters get a bit complicated as Ryanair Winter Schedule only has a once a week service from Dublin to Memmingen Munich West International. Surprises me a bit as when I talk to locals about my British Isles connections, 75% will talk about Ireland rather than the UK. Perhaps the Germans foolishly think the Irish being in the Eurozone also drive on the right.

At some stage, we had a plan that would involve all six of them returning to Stanstead from Memmingen and the four Irish taking a connecting flight back to Dublin. It would be a first and J was thrilled at the possibility of showing off, by being allowed to sit right up front when he presented Ryanair with his Private Pilot's Licence - or for those from America (and Worthing West): License.

Still a few problems and technical hitches to sort but looking as though I can get the boardroom table prepared - Four full beer crates as feet with a wooden plank on top to serve the cold meats, liver sausage, salamis, bread, rolls and pretzels.

Had been to the local garage who specialise in "accident" cars, doing them up a bit and selling on to Rumania, Bulgaria, Poland etc. The owner, a friend, took one look at my front bumper held on with hay bale twine and all the other holes and rust collected over the last 15+ years and said "Couldn't even sell it to Afghanistan - no self-respecting suicide bomber would be seen dead driving this",

He did agree to put it up on the lift and take a look. Today I got the news that he reckons he can get it through its TÜV/MOT (roadworthiness test every 2 years) but this will be the last time!

Back home a friend stopped by to pick up eggs. She drives a Mini, also in a poor state, and we talked about new cars, diesel scandals, diesel bans, electric cars etc. She said a relation who works for BMW and recently visited her in a Mini Countryman Hybrid.

So after she was gone and knowing from the 1970s when I last regularly drove a Mini (ex-brother in laws passed down Mini van with no rear windows), that Minis were relatively cheap cars, I went to the Mini online offerings.

"HOW MUCH?" "Is that in Rupees?" "And the windscreen wipers cost extra?"

Stunned by this, I then took a look at Toyota and a proper SUV as I need at last 2 Tonnes towing and the Mini can barely manage a 2-bicycle rack holder. I remember from my days in the 1990s when working for Inchcape plc that Toyota was light years ahead of any manufacturer for reliability and the RAV4 model is also available as a petrol hybrid.

Frankly, in comparison to the Mini, the Toyota was not all that pricey but still out of my class. Shame I thought and then I came across a plan:

Many people I know have criticised my driving and my family are forced a few times a year to be transported by me to and from airports, POIs in Bavaria etc. Now if I start a crowdfunding appeal for a new car, I am sure that they will voluntarily and very willingly buy all those bits and pieces that make a modern car so expensive:
Park Distance Control, Rear Camera, Tiredness/snooze alarm function, stay-in-lane warning, getting-too-close-to-car-ahead warning, pedestrian-crossing-the-road-emergency-stop function, speed limit regulator, traffic sign recognition and warning system, side & rearview mirror blind spot warning, coffee cup airbags ......

The list goes on and on. But guys you don't need to order the metallic paint option. I'm told Snow White is very IN and in the basic price.

PS - J will hate me for this. J at the age of 18 passed his PPL exam within 12 weeks and thereby was awarded the "President's Rolex Trophy" at a ceremony at the BBAC; (British Balloon and Airship Club) in  London by one of the Royals but no Trophy and no Rolex - simply a paper certificate and a handshake!! How mean is that to a young person and especially when you see why it is awarded: