11 - Drive

Sometimes, the voices ask -- you can drive, can't you? Sure can. Thinking about it, this very month sees the silver anniversary of my driving licence. When I passed, Two Tribes was top of the charts. A point is all that you can score, indeed.

Got a logistical minestrone for Tuesday: need to start working from home, pick up daughter from sleepover, take her to in-laws out in the sticks and finally head to Martlesham. Can't do all of that on two wheels. Four wheels good today.

Plus, of course, it's free ... in that I'm not handing over any money for fares, etc. Granted, the car was around £10,000 a couple of years ago, road tax is £145, last service was £200, same again for insurance, breakdown cover is £80 and there's £50 worth of diesel in the tank. Apart from that, not a bean.

Even back in 2006, it was reckoned that the average cost of running a car was over £5,000 a year, i.e. £15 a day, in other words my taxi fare to Adastral. Go do the sums yourself, if you dare. At that rate, it's daft not to use it, isn't it?

We know that LONE DRIVER is an anagram of EVIL OR NERD. Are solo motorists necessarily bad people? Yes, if they're driving in from Grange Farm. Less so if they're starting out from further afield, though we've already seen the joys of liftshare, various bus services and even the train to Woodbridge.

I'm fortunate enough to be able to cycle most days, so taking the car becomes a bit of a treat. I can leave home a little bit later, catch up on a podcast (Mark Kermode, Adam & Joe, The Bugle) on the way, no need to change clothes when I arrive, maybe nip into Woodbridge at lunchtime, et cetera.

On the flipside I feel a bit sluggish having not biked and I can't stand sitting in a jam (e.g. to leave the site), especially when cyclists are undertaking with ease.

You pays your money, you takes your choice.

Cost - free-ish, though see above
Duration - 20mins (return journey 17:45-18:05)

Pros - convenience; listen to radio; no timetables; carry other items
Cons - sorry, planet Earth; doesn't burn those calories

Back To Bike

Ten previous days, ten different ways. A rhyme every time. Today, though, I reverted to the default setting. Think once, think twice, think bike.

I've missed the old thing over the last fortnight. Of course, it did play an essential part in getting me to selected local stations and central locations (there I go again), but that's not the same as doing the complete Ipswich to Martlesham run.

I say "old thing" -- actually it's quite a new thing. My employer (not Busby Telecom) signed up to the rather good Cycle To Work Scheme, enabling me to trade in the old jalopy and acquire a sleek new model hand built by Chris Boardman. Or so said the man at Halford's. Money comes straight out of my salary, thus isn't too obvious a hit, and I get it tax-free. What's not to like/bike?

Plus I had money left over to put towards new panniers, a rack, a lid (as my colleague insists on calling it) and, importantly, a heavy duty lock. As my daughter would say, It's All Good.