Lockdown has been tough for everyone. So when the rare opportunity arose for me to visit my family, I grabbed it eagerly. It had been months since I last saw my mother and sister, who were both shielding from the coronavirus.
It was all set. I would drive down to the southwest of England and surprise them. Well, actually, I would surprise my mother. My sister is too smart for surprises, so I told her I was coming. One small problem: during lockdown, my car decided it would have lots of things go wrong with it and make the trip as complicated as possible.
Step forward Honda. Almost as soon as I put my car in the garage and decided my surprise adventure may not happen, I was asked if I would be interested in borrowing a new Honda Jazz Crosstar. Perfect.
Now, I usually drive a 4x4, which I love despite its ability to disappoint me at the most important of times, so you can imagine the how different it felt for me to sit in the Crosstar. I almost felt like Fred Flintstone, I was so low down. I'm not sure how I felt about this situation, but I did realise straightaway how comfortable and cosy the car felt, which is key when you are about to embark on a four-hour drive.
First, I took the car out for a little test drive and was still very suspicious of its size and demeanour and aware I was no longer looking down on other cars.
After ten minutes I decided this car and I were friends. Not only was it smooth and zippy, but it held its own on the motorway. The Crosstar is the Jack Russell of cars: smart and cute, but tenacious, with an attitude that can take anyone on.
Car ready, I packed the boot. Another huge plus was the size and space, allowing me to arrive with a full-on picnic situation. The drive was smooth and enjoyable. The intelligence of the car – it corrects your steering should you move too close to another lane – was particularly interesting and reassuring. This car is safety first, but it still likes to party. (The music was blasting out and my singing along was atrocious.)
My first port of call was to surprise my mother, which I did on camera to preserve the moment for posterity when these strange days are finally over. After weeks and months of her shielding, the chance to put a smile on her face was priceless. I desperately wanted to hug her, but for the time being that had to wait.
The picnic took place in my sister’s garden and the weather was perfect. I got to see my nephew, Stanley, who found me entertaining for five minutes when making a fool of myself on a trampoline before Fortnite took over. My niece, Betty, was also delighted to see me and gave me a card with the number one on it, alluding to the fact I am her No1 uncle. She only has two, but I'll take it.
The day finished with a barbecue before me and my trusty companion, Racheal, left for the long journey back, although not before my mother decided to empty a whole cupboard of items for me to take back. Again, I felt very appreciative of the generous size of the Jazz's boot.
This car was a great drive and I became pretty attached towards to it by the end of our time together, even giving her a name: Jane Honda. Mostly I'm grateful that the Crosstar gave me the opportunity to spend the day with the people I love and care about the most.
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