Life had been challenging. Nothing new there then. In spring 2012, the van I had used for several years during my time as a book lady, needed repairs. £500 worth of repairs. In Autumn, 2012, the said van ground to a halt. The prognosis was BAD - £1,000 of repairs this time. Money I simply didn't have! Never mind, as a senior citizen I was the lucky owner of a BUS PASS!
Aha thought I, as I run an #ecofriendly business Lyn's Green Biz , what better idea than using the bus pass and writing the diary of an ecogranny! Sounds like a plan! Hmmmmmmmmmm it sounded fine and would have been, had I not lost the will to live while travelling on the buses! I experienced some very rude drivers - drivers who shouted at me, drove past me at the bus stop, shut the doors in my face or simply let me board then took off at a fast rate of knots, flinging me around the bus assuming I would come to rest eventually!
It was during my summer of tweeting and facebooking re my adventures on the bus that Chris, who was then working at Staddlestones , messaged me. He had seen my plight and picked up that I was going to be attending Cowes week and felt that the journey from Ryde to Cowes daily, might be much more comfortable in a Nissan Leaf. Wowie, it was like my birthday when he offered me the free use of a car for a week.
What a lucky girl I was and an amazing experience. The car was so lovely to drive. Not only that but I didnt have to pay for petrol - minimal electric that was all.
I did have a funny experience though. As I was getting home late and leaving earlier - I did't have time to do a full charge -( obviously I can plan better for the future. ) What a good job I have a lovely friend who lives in Wootton. I was on the way home and realised I didn't have enough charge to get to Ryde. Wottoon is on the way so I phoned my friend - and asked if I could pop in for a cuppa and "please can I charge my car too!!! like you do! She was very accommodating and let me park on her front grass and plug in through the kitchen window. We chatted for a while while the car charged and I was then able to continue my journey and get home safely.
It was also lovely to deliver my #ecofriendly goods in an #ecofriendly car
I really enjoyed driving an electric car - the perfect car for the Island.
However, it was back to the buses for me after that week until my son , who was leaving for Australia for a year, donated his little black golf to me. I collected it from Bournemouth and all was well until I thought it ought to go in for a service. The garage serviced the car and put right a couple of dangerous items but failed at that point to tell me the car had a whole string of problems way beyond its value! I would have abandoned it before paying out good money! That garage is not now on my list of recommended people (silly to do that to a networking guru!!) The MOT was due and the insurance was about to run out. I knew I couldn't afford all the repairs. A friend helped me post it on ebay and a very nice couple are taking it away to give it the love it needs.
Meanwhile it meant I was once again stuck for transport. I could go back on the buses (if only I could find the bus pass!!!!) However, for three years I have had issues with my feet which makes that ten minute walk to the bus stop tricky. Because the foot problem hasn't improved vastly, I haven't been able to exercise as much and therefore am not as mobile as I was. Oh dear - this was seriously going to have a big impact on life. My mother thought about converting the basement of her house so I could have a flat in town but that didn't work out. She then thought of selling the flat I live in and buying me a new one but again that didn't go according to plan. The only option was to stay where I am (My flat is beautiful) and to sort out transport. Being of very limited means this was going to be tricky. I spend most of my time helping others. My friend Julie and I (known as the Giggly Grannies) have been doing a lot of fundraising and collecting items for the Open Arms Charity and there is only so much we can do with our dolley trollies!
We needed to hatch a plan! As I have been dubbed a networking guru (by the county press) and my skill lies in marketing, I felt that an approach to Staddlestones could be an option. In the summer, during Cowes week, I had highlighted the Nissan Leaf across social media and had created a lot of awareness. What if I approached them and offered to do the same again for say a three/sixth period. What had I got to lose? What could they say - it was either yes or no. Another friend whisked me up there in her mini. The boss was busy so we were offered a coffee and I sat looking at the reading material. Was this an omen? There on the table was a dot to dot book. I am known as one who joins the dots and connects people. I opened the book and on the first page was a bee (I am affectionately know as Mummy Buzz in my networking group Wightbuzz!) alongside a leaf (a nissan leaf?)
Clearly it was a good omen. I spoke to Chris and explained my plight and how I was having to rely on lots of others to collect up the food and the duvets etc for the charity. I must have convinced him about my marketing skills and the following week I was given the keys to the Nissan Leaf
I have now been driving it for about a fortnight. Watch this space for more adventures:) We are having lots of fun while going about doing some good works too. We have also spoken to lots of people who have asked about this lovely electric vehicle even while we were parked on Culver Down.
More adventures coming shortly.
