Addiction and the dangers of relapse…

Yes, I fear I am on the verge of heading down the dark shadowy path of addiction once again.

I can feel it. I’ve started looking at the paraphernalia, and talking to people who are ‘connected’ to help me get my ‘fix’ (see, I am down ‘wiz da kidz, innit’).

But don’t worry, I’m not going to go all Phil Mitchell on you (pop culture reference #1) and become some deranged crack head-I’m far too nice a chap for that.

I am, of course, referring to my love of Minis. Mrs S caught me reading Mini Magazine the other day and asked if I was suffering withdrawal, before tutting and saying ‘Ah, its Summer-Mini madness…’ and walked out of the room.

Some of the evidence of my weakness to addiction!

Thing is I know we can’t really afford another Mini, and I know we haven’t really got anywhere to keep it. But does that stop me wanting one?

Does it heck.

I watched a couple of eBay of late that were in need of serious help and considered a bid, but thought better of it, I couldn’t contemplate paying over £300 for a lot of rotten steel.

Thing is it’s not just any Mini I am after, its worse than that.

I’m after a very specific Mini. My Rosebud (pop culture reference #2) My Eleanor (#3).

I’m after my old, 1979 Mini Clubman Estate.

I had a fair few adventures in the Clubby, I bought it bit by bit from a mate and then took it on the London to Brighton run, dressed it up like Ecto 1 (and got its photo in Mini Mag) and thought I’d never sell it, but sadly I did.

My ex-girlfriend demanded a holiday. Stupidly I relented, and sold the car. A little over a week later the relationship ended and I was left with no girlfriend, no holiday and worst of all, no Mini.

So after some brief eBaying and a nose on some of my old Mini online haunts, I decided to get in touch with the guy I sold it to.

I’m hoping to go and see it soon and talk about getting her back. It’ll have to be cheap and of course there’s the same old problem of storage, but hope springs eternal, eh?

Fingers crossed…