Goodbye Smartie! We are now a car Free Household

Back in 2019, I blogged about becoming a one car household.......well, guess what?! We are now a No-Car Household!!

We sold it today at lunchtime and as we drove up the road to the new owner to leave it with him, Ciaran remarked that he was missing the car already.  Smart Cars get under your skin and you become very attached to them (this was our second Smart and they really are awesome!!). But we have bikes and access to good public transport links. If we need a car for long journeys we will get a rental and if we need a car for other small trips or if we have to deliver Pigsy paintings we will use Go Car of which Ciaran is a member. 

Ciaran's office is close to us - perhaps maybe 10 mins walk away while I can get the bus or Dart to work. And sure for the meanwhile, Ciaran is working from home while I am working from home too and going in to the office one day a week.

Let's see if we can make this work!!

Goodbye Smartie!

Boost me up baby!

When Bones travels in my Smart car he hops on to the dashboard.  Obviously this is extremely dangerous.  When we were over in the States we got this great booster seat for him.  It's so safe.  He gets strapped in and can see out while we drive along - he loves it!

Smartie goes through the wringer

Testing times for the Smart Car

Every 2 years we have to take our cars to be tested to ensure they are roadworthy and safe.  The testing takes place in NCT centres all over the country.

Your car's emissions get checked along with lots of other things.  I really hate when the put my car up on a piece of machinery and shake it all about!

Why do all the staff get such a laugh from my power machine?! It always gets a lot of attention!!!

I should mention that I paid €55 for the pleasure  of getting my car prodded.  Then they found an issue with my lights so I have to come back after getting them fixed for a retest which will cost me €28.  I have the car booked in to the garage this Friday but I can't get a retest until 3 weeks and the only appointment available was on Sunday.....*Groan*

I will see if I can get a more suitable date on a cancellation.  

Does your government test your car like this?

BTW, my fail issue was very minor - some cars are deemed unroadworthy and the owners aren't allowed drive them home!!!

Smart parking!

Last weekend we visited the monthly flea market in Dublin City - a fun little market with some real gems.  In particular there was a man selling 1960's Danish furniture.  It was all really good stuff in perfect condition.  I had to remind Ciaran that we had the Smart Car with us so we couldn't buy any large items.


I also saw a cool ice bucket in the shape of a pineapple! Fun!  My sister had been telling me how cool these are.  They are very retro!


When we arrived at the market the car park looked full and we didn't think we would find a space.  But of course we were able to squeeze our car in to a spot that was not usable by any other car!

Look what I just bought!

The bedrooms are going to be kept quite traditional and classic. Features like the window shutter boxes, coving and ceiling roses give the rooms this feel.  Ciaran also decided that we would wallpaper these rooms!


Wallpaper!  I know!  
I think it must be 20 years since I have lived somewhere that has wallpaper. 

Ciaran reckons he will bring it back in to vogue!

Here is the box of wallpaper from Laura Ashley in the back of my Smart Car!