Scotland: National Rural Network
Connecting Rural Scotland - Promoting Rural Growth

Over the last twelve months my trusty Citroen Berlingo has experienced some untrustworthy traits (as happens with most high mileage vehicles) so reluctantly we decided to sell it. We received an initial valuation on the internet from a company called 'We Buy Any Old Banger Off You Dot Com', or something along those lines anyway, I'm sure you've heard of them, who quoted a good price.

The next step in the process was a trip to Inverness - a parking lot near the football stadium - for a physical inspection by a most pleasant Polish character from Aberdeen to check that the car was actually ours, not somebody else's, and closely resembled the description given for the initial valuation. And that was that. Berlingo sold. Payment received. Everybody happy.

I suspect that bits of my old car are now being sold on the internet by a company called 'We Sell You Any Old Bits of Motor Car Dot Com' to garages and car mechanics across the land eager to get their hands on genuine recycled Berlingo parts. The world of recycling is a fascinating one.

As a result of this sale I am experiencing a period of anonymity at the moment in a very respectable Ford Mondeo whilst I guzzle coffee, munch sandwiches and snooze between gardening jobs in quiet lay-bys throughout Ross-shire.

This is a strange state of affairs. Over the years I have become accustomed to the occasional gesticulation (all pleasant), nod of the head or toot of the horn from passing folk who recognise the car first and then, by association, the guzzling occupant within. Currently, however, I am invisible. It's understandable of course, although it does feel a bit odd.

One of the last trips we made in the old car was to the Fryish Monument near Alness for a walk with the dogs. We did the circular route - the one that brings you up behind the monument. More of a gentle climb really. Not so brutal on the legs. And on a clear day the view from the top is magnificent.

Following our descent along the well worn and better known route to the car park (harsh on the knees) we decided to head off in search of coffee and cake. But where to go? North to Tomich or south to Storehouse?  Skiach has a handy cafe as well, you know, and quite close to the Fryish turn off. However we ate there recently so it didn't feature in our plans. It's good to vary your eateries. 

After a suitable period of dithering and swithering we opted for Tomich (it was en route home) although both are equally excellent establishments. We shall visit Storehouse in the next week or so - Sunday lunch perhaps - when my mother-in-law (a lovely lady) comes to stay. Coincidentally one of the dogs shares the same name as my mother-in-law. This can cause temporary confusion at times, particularly if the dog is misbehaving and requires a stern telling off.

As I settled into the sofa at Tomich with an enormous slice of delicious cake and a mug of mocha I glanced at the table. It was strewn with newspapers. A picture of me caught my eye. It was a Rural Rambling column from one of the newspaper. Good Lord, I thought, it's about time I furnished the editorial team with another photo - one with a worldly-wise grin and a woolly hat perhaps?

Anyway, I turned the newspaper over - there's something disconcerting about looking at a photo of yourself for too long - and concluded that maybe I wasn't quite as invisible or anonymous as I had previously thought.

But of course I turned it face up again when we left. That's vanity for you.

Copyright Patrick Vickery 2011

For more from Patrick visit the Rural Ramblings Archive.