I'm not obsessed with cars, I just happen to have posted a few car-related topics recently. When I recently mentioned my 'car knife', it made me wonder what else is in there. I went to look.
I knew about most things, but was surprised by others. These are just from my door compartment; I didn't look in the actual 'glove box' itself, although I do know there's a bog-roll in there, a tiny Teddy Bear, a pack of 'wet-wipes', and a first-aid kit.
There is, of course, the inevitable road map, complete with my own hand written directions, two packs of Polo mints (one sugar free), a pack of Tic Tac mints, hand sanitiser, a horrible pink comb, a pack of dog food in case of finding strays, a cheap imitation Swiss army knife, deodorant, and a handy note pad but no pen (this will be rectified).
I've owned this car (Debi) for less than a year, so she hasn't yet had time to build-up that collection of totally unnecessary junk that all cars amass in time; small coins, half-eaten sandwiches, petrol receipts, etc.
In the back, there are a few basic tools, string, umbrella, dog water bowl, 2 large plastic boxes for shopping, and a cool box.
A car should be a home away from home. One needs to be ready for all occasions, and all needs. Imagine finding some young animal tangled in string, and you didn't have a car-knife with you; you'd kick yourself.
I think one of those single-use foil BBQ's would also be useful, but I think Lady M might have something to say about that! Oh, and another thing, a LIGHTER...... and a TORCH.
I don't remember having much in any of our cars over the years. Always a street directory if we were going someplace we hadn't been before, money for parking meters, a box of tissues.
ReplyDeleteWe took things we needed for each long distance trip with the kids, water, snacks, nappies, but cleaned out the detritus when we arrived home again. We never had a cluttered car. I know some people whose car looks like the town dumping ground.
You sound meticulously efficient. I've never cleaned out a car; things just accumulate. When I was a student I lived mostly on takeaway Chicken and Chips, the remains of which would usually be tossed towards the back of the car (VW Beetle). Eventually I had Mice which was annoying. Then I did actually have a good clear out.
DeleteOur car is mainly filled (er, rather totally I should say!) with my husband’s birdwatching gear, so 2 tripods, a small telescope, various lenses/converters, a roll of scrim, blackout material (in case he needs to use the car as a hide) wellies, a folding ladder, (to get above the height of a crowd, or to look over a wall) packets of birdseed, a pair of secateurs and so on. All of this stuff takes up the boot area and the back seat, so there’s no giving anyone a lift anywhere! The trouble is if I want to do a large supermarket shop any time all this stuff has to come out temporarily. The glove box just contains normal stuff like the manual and window wiping cloths etc. No food, except a small container of those little sachets of ketchup, salt and vinegar in case we stop off at a fish & chip shop while when we’re out for the day, which lives in the side door pocket.
ReplyDeleteI do like the idea of the ketchup sachets, not sure about the birdwatching gear.
DeleteWell, here in the winter, they recommend that you have an emergency kit in the car, a blanket, boots, water, chocolate in the glove compartment, etc. If I kept chocolate in the glove box, I'd be having emergencies all the time.
ReplyDeleteMy people had a cottage like that on top of a Welsh hill. They were advised to keep two weeks worth of food and water in the house in case they were seriously snowed-in.
DeleteWhatever I have in the car- and it's all really useful - has to be positioned so it does not rattle or squeek.
ReplyDeleteOh, I know what you mean. I can't stand the noise of things rolling around, clinking, or falling-over.
DeleteI looked at your photo but I couldn't see the kitchen sink ...
ReplyDeleteYou win a prize for the wittiest comment.
DeleteAdd a biscuit tin with small plates and cutlery, bigger plates and mugs. Loo roll. Walking boots. A tarp in case of anything mucky put in the back. Spare coats. Maps. Sunnies
ReplyDeleteWe have two cool boxes, one for shopping, and a smaller one for travelling. The smaller one contains plates, cutlery, glasses, etc; and is usually filled with sandwiches for the journey (always ham and coleslaw).
DeleteIn a flat (ish) box in the boot, two collapsible coffee mugs, two small Melamine plates, two sets of camping cutlery, and a roll of kitchen paper towel; a folding plastic box containing umbrellas, rainproof jackets, a microfibre towel, wellies and five bags for shopping, two of which are freezer bags.
ReplyDeleteMy door pocket has a small pack of paper hankies, hand sanitiser, a tin of lip balm, a comb, and a spray of Factor 50 sunscreen for use by grandson.
The back seat has a very substantial car seat for grandson and a bag containing small binoculars, an old digital camera, sunglasses and a drawing pad with a few pencils, all for grandson's use.
Glove box contains a small notepad, pen, small purse with parking cash, and a bag of fruit pastilles!
There are also several pairs of shoes in the footwell behind my seat! X
I have many of those but you're obviously more organised than me; you probably have a much bigger car too! I like the idea of the binoculars.
DeleteYou forgot a bottle of water!
ReplyDeleteThere's always an unopened bottle of spring water in a special round hole by the gearstick. I hope it's still drinkable.
DeleteI usually empty my car after each outing, At the moment it has a bed, a camping stove, and some washing gear in there. I might be using it soon.
ReplyDeleteAre you sure this isn't a Winnebago?
Delete"...totally unnecessary junk that all cars amass in time". Did James Bond have such stuff in his Aston Martin? What about Chitty Chitty Bang Bang and the black Rolls Royce that King Charles and Queen Camilla ride in on state occasions?
ReplyDeleteI happen to know that they all had Harrods picnic blankets to cover all their trash. It was all hidden!
DeleteYou've got the basics there. Our globe box is full of papers. Side compartments have cloths, handcream, and maps. There are the essential icons and crosses hanging from the mirror. Back seat always has a towel, reusable shopping bags and various bits of machines and small appliances that K is given to fix. Somewhere there's a first aid kit and a bottle of water, for the car, not us.
ReplyDeleteAnything else, wet wipes, disinfectant, note pad and pens are always in my bag.
That pink comb is the same as one we have in the bathroom cabinet. No one uses it and I hate the colour but there it stays. Maybe I should transfer it to the car
May I suggest that the comb goes to the same place as mine will soon go, when I find a replacement.
DeleteMy car recently went for it's annual MOT, so as usual I cleared all the rubbish out and left an empty car. Just all the relevant papers accrued over the year in the glove box. I even took the dog cover off the back seat. So if I check now there's not too much rubbish - apart from a fair number of those disposable plastic gloves we have to use in the fruit and veg. department at the supermarket.
ReplyDeleteWhen we first came here I always drove round with a big tin of dog food, those polystyrene dishes you used to get with fruit or meat, and a big bottle of fresh water in the boot. This was in the days when dogs were regularly abandoned, and I made sure I had food for them.
I haven't actually found an abandoned dog for quite a while, but I still keep some food in the car in case. It's the least one can do.
DeleteWhen I stopped driving at 90 and sold my car (I firmly believe that 90should be the age when however a person feels it should be compulsory to stop driving. One's vision/reflex action/thinking time etc. all begin to wear out by then.) I did a thorough inside clean of my vehicle before Vauxhall (who bought it back from me) came t0 collect it. I found things I had forgotten I ever had (and I did buy the car new so they can't have belonged to anyone else.)
ReplyDeleteWhen our car died last year in Rouen, I emptied it of everything before signing it over to a Garage in Dieppe. I could hardly believe some of the stuff we found.
DeleteHusband kept his car immaculate. We were not allowed to eat or drink in it. My car was filled with everything the kids and dog might need - with the muck that went with it. He now drives my car and I've noticed he's no longer fussy.
ReplyDeleteI did once have a small Triumph sports car of which I was quite 'house-proud', but I don't think it pays to be too fussy. A bit of mess usually equates to comfort.
DeleteA peak into your life.
ReplyDeleteOnly into my door cupboard.
DeleteYou seem well prepared for any eventuality. My car features a cooler for keeping cold grocery items chilled for the trip home. During the Winter, there is a scraper/brush for clearing snow/ice.
ReplyDeleteI do have a tiny cubby-hole which contains about 20 plastic coins for the supermarket trolly. I only ever use ONE.
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