Overloaded

Today

Having at last bought a much-needed headboard for the Chinoiserie room at the flat, we then had a lengthy discussion as how we could transport it to Brighton.

"Well", I said "the E-class has roof bars so, provided we tie it down properly, there shouldn't be a problem."

In My Day

When we were first married we had, as readers of this blog will know, a succession of tired old cars. We were also pretty broke and obtaining furniture was a hit-and-miss, hand-me-down affair.

Paul's parents once passed down to us a mattress that could be used on Becky's bed. On a certain foggy night we went up to collect this object. Paul strapped it to the roof of the Zephyr. No roof bars so he tied it to a makeshift roofrack with odd bits of string. We set off. Driving along Lottbridge Drove in Eastbourne Paul became very irritated by the driver of a Mini behind us. First the driver flashed his lights at us repeatedly. Paul cursed, "I can't go any faster!" Then the Mini drew alongside us. "Well, if you're going to overtake, get on with it!" growled Paul. The Mini stayed alongside.

Paul lowered the window, preparatory to issuing expletives. The Mini driver lowered his window "Hey, mate!" he yelled "You've lost your bed!" In the foggy darkness we hadn't noticed the mattress slide off the car into the ditch. Sheepishly, Paul thanked the Mini driver and turned round to collect the item which was fortunately wrapped in plastic and wasn't too damp.

As if this taught us nothing, we later bought a wardrobe from MFI in Southampton. This bargain item was in the "casualty" section, having already been constructed, and missing door knobs. We heaved this onto the top of the Marina, attached it with ropes threaded through the windows and set off.

It was a Saturday morning in busy Shirley High Street. As we approached the traffic lights they turned red. The car stopped. Unfortunately, the wardrobe didn't and slid forward, to hang precariously over the windscreen. Gingerly, Paul edged forward over the crossing, pulled the car up and tied the wardrobe more securely. We think the policeman standing on the pavement "looked the other way".

Let's hope we get it right this time; I should hate to think of our headboard languishing at the side of the A303.