The 'wild child' model.

The crack of dawn. A turbaned Madame Bay arrives at the kitchen door exuding girlish happiness. " Come and see M' Ongoose ! Come and see. It's perfect ! ". Thus bidden, off we dutifully go. Madame Bay in the lead, yours truly next, the font and a somewhat bemused Wilf following behind. Left out of the front gate, across the lane to the village hall. There, in pride of place alongside the delivery vans, the cause of Madame Bays excitement.

Our saintly cleaner has become the proud owner of a micro car. Not just any micro car but a metallic gold 'wild child' model with a thrumming two cylinder engine , a top speed of 30 mph and a length of nearly eight feet. " It has two electric windows " we were told by the new owner. On the back window a sticker that proudly states " Small on size, big on charm ".

It seems that Sandrine, the daughter who runs the imaginatively named 'Sandrines' hair salon in the local market town, is expecting, again. With her own set of wheels Madame Bay can now turn up at the salon and help out whenever called upon. No need to rely on the long suffering Monsieur Bay and the ageing Renault Twingo. Sandrines views on the improved accessibility of her mother are not recorded.

Wilf entered into the celebrations by christening two of the tiny tyres. Safely home he settles down by the front door for a nap. He has a ' Blimey ! That's a turn up for the books ' look on his face .