Today I said goodbye to an old friend. A friend I have had for seven years, who has got me from A to B, and even C & D on the odd occasion, too. Marvin T. Micra. After a lot of soul-searching, and wallet-searching, I came to the conclusion that given his recent check up at the doctors (read: MOT at the Garage) it was time to put the old boy out to pasture. For the first time in a long time I am without a car. The last instance I can remember was 2006 on my return from travelling, where I borrowed my mum's Micra between returning from New Zealand, and the purchase of Sam the Seat (Yes, I name my cars...). These days I am within cycling distance from work, in fact it would take me the same time to cycle to work as it would to drive to a suitable (read: free) place to park and walk the remaining distance to the office. I am on a good bus route where I live, and only a short hop to Birmingham New Street on the train, from which I can get to pretty much anywhere...