Cars

Its amazing how we take the modern car for granted. They regularly do over 200,000 miles or more. When I was a kid a car had to be constantly attended to and greased. To "grease one's nipples" and carry out daily inspections of oil, water and tyre pressue was as normal as cleaning ones teeth.  Everybody carried a tool kit and had to be able to get out and get dirty when "the old girl" had a paddy. Any trips were planned like military campagnes with map compass and itinery.

I recall one such trip when my father was stationed in Germany with the army. It was the christmas of 1961 and due to pressure of a home sick wife he decided to go home on leave. We had a Morris Minor at the time and its little 0.9 litre engine was basically the most amazing power house ever invented. Known as the A series by British Motor Corporation (BMC) it developed a lovely noise as it pottered us about the German countryside. The A series was in everything BMC made from the Morris Minor, Austin A30 -5 -40 MG Midget and the 1100/1300 and Mini. Easy to maintain and simple in operation it still today is one of my favorite engines of all time. We have had many cars with the A series and only recently sold a rather nice Riley pictures above.

Days out were something to savour. Mar would produce vast amounts of cheese sandwiches and in the winter tomatoe soup in tartan thermos flasks. The Moggy did about 30 miles to the gallon and we did a murry mint per mile. Naturally a trip of some 600 miles would be a challenge not only to Mars abillity to produce that many sandwiches, but the little car had to make the trip through really awful weather. My Parents, brother, plus baggage, sandwiches, soup and tool kit managed to cram into the car and with the snow falling thick and fast we set off for the Auto-bahn and UK. The weather just got colder, the snow thicker and the poor little window wipers could hardly keep up, while the skinny tyres fought for grip. On we chuffed into holland the heater pushing out a thin stream of warm air to stop us all freezing in our car rugs. Mar wore her fur hat and I her fur coat. My brother wore a balaclava and my dad his flat cap and driving gloves. Once we had to dig ourselves out of the snow and nearly ended up in a ditch more than once. Mar just sat there humming and passing out the cheese sandwiches while dag set his lips in a determined line and pressed on.

How we got to the Hook of Holland Ill never know