New van, well nearly anyway.

New van, well nearly anyway.

No driver or passenger seat. No cushions on the seats, bits missing from various places around Sadie and my 'stuff' all piled on the bed. Sadie is looking a mess and not as she usually does, a smart, tidy all mod cons home for Steve and Tanya!

We are parked up alongside the wall of the industrial unit where Messrs 'Care A Van' now all gone home for tbe night, are re-upholstery-ing Sadie. Today was strip out day. Tomorrow, fingers crossed, re-assembly with smart new interior day.

There was not much point in me or Tanya hanging around so we took advantage of the blue sky autumm day and set off walking. On our way we stopped at 'Lickey Hill Country Park' to give Tanya a sniffy walk. This large area of woodland park between Bromsgrove and Birmingham is most attractive and was within easy walking range. Topping 'Beacon Hill' Birmingham was laid out before us under the sunny blue sky. Probably one of the more pleasant ways to see this vast metropolis.  Also Topping Beacon hill were groups of children on school walks who once they saw Tanya screamed and shouted "OMG is that your dog mister and can we stroke her?"  Cue fifteen minute delay as I gently hold Tanya while saying to her, "I know, I know," as hands of all shape, size and colour reach to touch her from all sides. She didn't seem to mind and was soon back to normal Tanya/doggy behaviour as we headed downhill on quieter and child free paths.

Few days later now.

I am slowly getting over the trauma of the new look Sadie. This I have decided is a 'male' thing. I have never quite understood the indecision, anxiety and the interminable time it takes for the female of our species to decide on colour, pattern and decor in general. I mean it did not take me very long at all to choose the fabrics for Sadie.

Oh! How the mighty do fall! 

I do understand now!

The re-assembly day was a long one. I was very much involved in re-assembly of the seats. Good they may be to sit on. Good they are not to re-assemble after being fitted with smart new upholstery. In fact they were a nightmare with one still minus an armrest which needs further engineering work to be done on it.

The driver and passenger seats looked good so I could not understand my lurching and fear ridden stomach triggered by the word 'pink' which was the colour I saw as I stared at the big two seater forward facing rear seat cushion.

"Pink", I muttered. "It looks pink, bloody pink." With head in hands I recollected and apologized profusely for any past impatience I may have displayed while accompanying my better halves on the many paint, wallpaper, carpet, clothing, or furnishing trips to the B & Q's, and likewise of this world.  I was experiencing for myself the dread of getting it wrong!

All is not lost however; Tonight Mark my son and his wife Mandi came to view the Pink offering. Mandi has an artistic taste and talent I have always admired. She was honest.

"Yes it is Pinky."

As we looked closely and compared driver and passenger seats with rear seat the problem became clear. The material used on the rear seat is faded! Rectify that and slightly alter the mix of patterned and plain material and I will then have the mix of Terracotta and cream I was aiming for in the first place.

Paul, the boss at 'Care A Van' knew I was unsure as I left. He offered me a generous and honest get out of trouble clause.

"If you want something changed I'll do it for you and you just pay for any fabric used."

I've got the time. I'm still only an hour and a half away so I guess I'll be on the phone tomorrow to get this change organized.

Ho Hum!