Putting a price on happiness...

So it's Saturday, myself and my friend Rich have just been out cycling, and are out in my back garden fixing up my mountain bike for my girlfriend Vanessa to use on tomorrow's cycling trip (as you've probably guessed by now, we are really into our cycling) - Anyway it transpires that we need some of the tools that are kept in the Splitty.

It was on one of these tool retrieval trips that I heard a shout from a man in van saying something along the lines of "Excuse me mate"...

As I looked up, I saw UPVC drainage company van, and I thought "Oh here we go, he's going to try and sell me some new downpipes or something"

So I was surprised when he said "Saw your van whilst driving round, I just had to stop and ask you if you'd consider selling it"

Now, this has sort of happened before, previously, whilst at my friend Lucy's BBQ, which I had driven the Splitty to, a neighbour of hers called in and gave her his business card to give to me. He had said he wanted to buy it for his daughter. I was flattered, I didn't do anything about it because I didn't want to sell it.

This prompted a long discussion between myself, Pete and Rich about how much it would take for me to sell it. Eventually, after much debate, we came up with a hypothetical figure.

Cut back to me and a drainage salesman on my drive a month later.

It turns out the guy has 3 Splittys already, all in varying states, and he wants mine to restore as he can see that structurally it's sound, even if cosmetically, it looks a little worse for wear. So, he knows how much they are worth, and he asks me how much I want for it. I still say I don't want to sell it. Eventually after pushing me for another 5 minutes, I give in, and say the only figure I can think of, and that's the figure we thought of at the BBQ. He says he'd be happy to pay me that.

I guess you don't really realise how much these buses are worth. I mean, especially with a rat look one like mine. People often come up to me and say how much was it, to which I reply "How much do you think it cost?". Normally the answers range between £500-£1000, and when I tell them the actual figure they are dumbfounded.

We're still standing on the drive, and despite the offer, I'm still saying "no, I'm not going to sell it". So the Drainage Man gives me his business card and tells me to call him if I change my mind. And then, in a very clichéd way as he leaves says "I can't sell you some drainage stuff instead can I?" to which I laughed and replied, "no. but you can try the neighbours, theirs looks like it needs doing".

I have to admit, that my mind was now in a mess, it's a lot of money, I could buy another van and a bug with it. But I didn't want to.

I spoke to my parents, Dad just said "sell it" as soon as he heard, Mum couldn't really understand why I wouldn't sell it either. My sister just kept saying it to me every time I saw her, friends generally just thought I was mad not to take it. They still do.

So it was in a discussion with Vanessa later on the Saturday where I really got my mind together on the whole issue. Whilst the value of the van is high, and in essence, it is a sort of savings account for me, neither of those are the reasons that I bought it. I bought it because I wanted it, essentially it's an expensive toy and the pleasure that I get out of it is worth far more to me that the material monetary value that it has.

If I were to sell it, would I find one that I liked as much? Could I find one with as much character? I doubt it and it's a risk I'm not willing to take. I guess, in essence, I am emotionally attached to my bus. That's a weird thing to admit...

Will I regret this, well the same could be said as to whether I would regret selling it? I suspect there would be a bit a bit of regret either way. In the future, if for some reason I actually wanted to sell it, would I be able to get that much? I don't know, I won't know until that day comes.

I'm not going to deny that the thought of phoning this guy up and sorting out a deal with him has completely escaped my mind, but it's 3 days since the offer and my heart is still quashing the notion of selling it with a very large helping of bus love....


Previous Blogs From Jon Ladley:


Split Screen Desire - The road to true love is never easy


Vans in the News and 19 Windows


My 27th Birthday and an AA Recovery "Low" Loader