I have read recently of someone whose mobile telephone went
on the blink for a period of time. The owner discovered the great pleasure of
no longer being in constant contact with acquaintances and business colleagues.
Never having owned such an object, I can understand the pleasure they took in
their temporary isolation from this world of over-communication.
Again, two
men that I have known, who both made their fortunes, ran their empires from the
office or over convivial lunchtime meetings – both abhorring the use of a
mobile telephone.
I, or we,
have owned a car for many years. Living in the country with poor public
transport, it was an essential adjunct to everyday, family life.
On moving
to London
again, some 24 years ago, I gave away my car to a son, and was happy to do
without it.
Now, after
much the same period of sharing my wife’s splendid Toyota , Rav 4, four wheel drive car, we have
decided to do without it, and she has given it away to a niece, who needs it
for broadcasting work around the country.
Our main
use for a car in London was for shopping when
heavy items were involved, or when driving to Newhaven for the Channel ferry to
Dieppe . There
we indulged ourselves with good living for a few days, and returned to London
with the back of the car filled with low cost, but very drinkable wine (144
bottles being our record).
For much of
recent times the car has been parked nearby, lying idle, and used mainly for
bulk shopping and to re-charge the battery.
A car is an
expense and a worry. If we hear of a crash of metal outside, we no longer fear
for the car’s bodywork. And as for the expense, what money we have saved – with
licence fee, AA, insurance, MOT, service, repairs, tyres, parking fees, petrol,
and the obligatory accoutrements for safety and foreign travel – we could take
a cab almost every day of the year.
It is true
we have lost our lovely breaks in Dieppe , but
what Dieppe has to offer, so has London . And we have been
shocked on each recent visit to France
by the inflation of prices all round. So we may pay a bit more when eating out
grandly in London ,
but most things are cheaper here.
Now, all
the paperwork and cost of a car have vanished – and with it the worry involved.
To simplify
life is much to be desired.
