Panel van people

Panel Van People.
For the past 4 years, in Scotland, I have been observed behind the steering wheel of a Silver-Pink Rover 1600 Sedan. A sedate chatelaine demurely negotiating the wet and windy highways and byways of the rural West Coast and the Highlands.
I now find myself in Cape Town, South Africa, basking in the sun, in a borrowed white diesel Peugeot Panel Van – What Joy!
Alarmed at first, not quite sure if I would be able to cope with the idiosyncrasies of driving a vehicle with no rear side windows. I was delighted when I soon mastered the techniques of wing mirrors and parking where it was not necessary to reverse – a large tip to an anxious parking attendant can always facilitate a smooth exit from an overcrowded parking area.
The real joy of, like Mr Toad, taking to the open road in a Panel van is the camaraderie. On my first diesel powered outing I was speeding – well not all that fast – along the freeway on route to the winelands of Stellenbosch when suddenly I heard a thumping. Alarmed I slowed down and prepared to pull over, certain that I was in the middle of some desperately awful mechanical moment. I looked to my right to find a gap in the traffic and into the grinning face of a young man in the passenger seat of another van. The thumping was him banging the door to attract my attention. I saw them - they saw me seeing them - they waved energetically before speeding off.
Several repetitions of this phenomenon had me returning the compliment, and there was I, a middle aged matron thumping, waving and bridging the generation gap on the highways of the Wastern Cape.
Driving out of the city three jolly fellows drew up level with me at a traffic light. “ Hey Ma got any beers in the back?” “ No sorry – I don't drive my drink.” We both sped through the next two sets of lights and were caught at the third. “ Hey it's us, we're still here!” and me “Still no Beer” Much laughter and we went out separate ways.
So you middle aged conservatives in your Mercedes Benzes 4X4's BMW's and Saabs you don't know what you're missing. Abandon convention, kick up your heels and become one of the Panel Van People.
P.S. My little van is in Hospital with an oil leak – I am desolate and wish her a really speedy recovery.