Unveiled

 

At the main Nissan dealership, I picked up our new car today. Bizarrely, it had been covered with a big red cloth sheet and  I had no idea it was ours until the car salesman, Andrew, unveiled it when all the paperwork had been done. "It's not every day you buy a new car!" he explained.

Minus the red cloth, our vehicle looked very handsome in his metallic gun metal grey livery. He was spotless and manufactured in England too - up in the north east near Sunderland. 

Like Old Andrew in Melbourne, Young Andrew was a nice guy and I was happy to deal with him. He talked me through most of the car's main features without boggling my mind. The new motor is a different kettle of fish from Clint entirely. 

To begin with, there isn't a key and there's no traditional handbrake either. There's a touchscreen with satnav and  camera functions. There are switches for heating the seats and the steering wheel though today in northern England such facilities were most unnecessary as it has been sweltering with temperatures into the thirties.

Driving the new car home through rush hour traffic was a little stressful but I only stalled him once and managed to park him on the paved area at the front of our house without incident or damage.

He is sitting there now, looking elegant and well-designed - just like his new owner! I may not drive him again for a few weeks now while I familiarise myself with the manual which seems to require the kind of technical knowledge and natural car fascination which poets and former English teachers just do not possess.

When I drove away from the showroom, I noticed that there were just eight miles on the mileometer. Being in a position to buy this fine car, I appreciate that we are very lucky compared with most other humans on this planet. Below, you can see our new car's identical twin - David. Ours will also have a name soon - I am mulling over a few ideas.