A Peaceful Pool

Given our newly married status, we were recently at a meeting to discuss changing our wills, and we expressed our wish to keep things simple and clear. Aiming for peace through loving choices is hopefully paving the way forward.

On the drive back, we talked about our home and the life we have, which is a peaceful pool, and how grateful we both are for the calm.

Often, memories float up, and we have learnt that it's wise not to re-hash old stories of chaos and drama by re-telling them. As the stories are shared for the first time, we can then let them settle to the bottom of the pond to rest in peace. May the wisdom gained help to shape our future choices, and may leaving them be, allow us to nurture the calm we both need.

Some memories and stories are entertaining, and I hope this one is worth re-telling.

Fifteen years ago, I was helping a friend set up his business in London and I was also in a pool of delivery drivers for a local car insurance loan company. It was fun, and I could work when I was available, which was handy. It was not uncommon for a few cars to be delivered at various locations on the same day, and a pool car would follow and bring us home.

It was a Saturday and I was driving the last car to be delivered that day to Leeds in Yorkshire. Our first drop-off was a farmer in Leicestershire, and with five vehicles between us, we all pulled up against the hedge on a country lane, as a beefy Mitsubishi truck was handed over. There was a hold up and one by one I watched the other drivers get out and go down to see what the problem was. The chap trying to deliver the truck walked back up the lane and asked if I could help, as the farmer was refusing to take delivery.

I walked down and got into the passenger seat of the truck and smiled at a man who was embarrassed and had clearly had enough of people getting cross with him.

We introduced ourselves.

I gently asked, 'What's wrong?'

He replied, 'I can't drive this.'

We had a chat and it transpired that he had never driven an automatic vehicle before, and when a replacement vehicle was booked (as his trusty Land Rover was being repaired), an automatic versus manual gearbox was not discussed.

'What worries you the most?'

He looked at me, then said, 'What do I do with my left arm when I'm driving?'

The line of people and vehicles watching us disappeared, as we both started to chuckle.

'Oh, you are going to love it,' I replied, 'this truck has got a wonderful sound system. You take your favourite CD, pop it in, and as you drive, you can sing and dance with your left hand.'

I gave him a demonstration, to our stunned observers, and we hugged.

I promised he wouldn't want to return the truck after his week was up, and he promised to let the office know. The paperwork was signed. Everyone returned to their vehicles and we set off to find our way back to the motorway.

He made sure I knew that he'd loved it when the truck came back in, and I have never forgotten that farmer and our peaceful pool in those moments.

🩷