Minding kids drains your battery
By Primal Sneeze ~ June 17th, 2009. Filed under: Kids.
One of these was acquired recently. It’s the best purchase ever for this lad. No more lifting, hauling or dragging – just wheel him in, clip on the belts and off you go.
Not only that but it’s a dream to drive. It has huge mirrors and the windows are extra large so the visibility is amazing. Surround sound for the eyes.
A bit wobbly in the wind because of the raised roof but you get used to that very quickly.
So, yeah, I concoct excuses to borrow it whenever I can. Wouldn’t you?
The last time I took it out the excuse was a bit ropey – I have to mind Seán and Oisín for a couple of hours and they are insisting on seeing it. Really? That’s funny – one can’t talk and the other can’t tell a car from a van. Well, see, I have this sense they’re insisting. ESP or something. Right, go on so ya big child.
And I went on so.
Two small children and one big child had a whale of a time. I dropped the ramp and let them loose in a wonderland of belts and pulleys. Being able to walk into a car rather than climb was a big thrill.
Even Oisín, who can betimes have legs like a rubber monkey, could dash in and out.
What does this button do?
To demonstrate I attached straps to a tricycle and with a flick of the switch it was pulled gently up the ramp and in.
Again!
This time with Seán on board. Again! Then Oisín.
Two hours passed without a single plea to watch TV. That was a first.
I dropped the van back.
Days later a phone call. Fekin van’s dead. Flat as a pancake. Even the alarm’s dead.
Jump leads did the trick.
Two days later. That fekin van’s dead again!
Jump leads again. And again some days later.
I had left the pulley switch on. The motor had been running constantly for over a week.
Minding kids can drain your battery.
You may take the boy out of the van, but you never manage to take the boy out of the man!
Keep playing.
I know
But we men can’t help it.
i LOVE the way grannymar put it! and she’s sooooo right, sugar! xoxox
Grannymar is the biz! Agreed.
Those vehicles are incredibly expensive. The lads raised the bones of €250K for a friend’s one a couple of years back. Well wear. Was it your own trike you used for that demonstration ?
The €250k must have been for a bus thing with loads of bits and bobs. This was €14k – imported from the UK with just 350 (yes that’s all) miles on the clock. Demo model from a garage in Sutherland. No VAT or VRT as it is in their name.
Mail me if you want more info. Or take a look at http://www.donalmurtaghcars.com/. A gentleman if there ever was one.
And, yes, of course it was my trike.
Boys and their toys,huh? Sounds like it’s money well spent (apart from the not starting hiccup) if it can make life easier for all the other big and little boys.
The best buy ever, Mrs Kitchen. Don’t know how we managed before.
Huge difference.I know they converted an MPV of some sort. Now I’m curious.
Conversions can be very expensive. This one was factory-built originally.
In the case of your mate, maybe it was a disabled-driver one which is dearer for sure. Or maybe they had hoists and stuff put in. Still sounds very expensive though unless the spare funds were diverted into making their house accessible.
Eep! The pulley switch!
I know a little fella who would amuse himself with that van all day. Whenever he learns how to operate something new, first it’s a slew of questions to find out how it works, followed shortly by authoritative re-dispensing of that information and lots of officious instructions and warnings. Can’t figure out if he’ll be an engineer or a consultant (i.e., someone who borrows your watch, tells you the time and then charges you for the privilege).
There are times when I’d like a winch for the driver’s seat.
… followed shortly by authoritative re-dispensing of that information and lots of officious instructions and warnings …
No question – Consultant.
But hey, it could be worse – He could be an Auditor – One who comes in after the battle’s fought to shoot the wounded.
@Primal Sneeze – Good post. Yeah, keep playing I guess