Paper Kosmonaut

I have had these ones: All Volvo, all station wagons.

• “De kat in de zak” (pig in a poke) - A red Volvo 240 named so because it was a pig in a poke (Name was given afterwards)
• “Het lek in de nek” (The leak in the neck) - A silver Volvo 240 that had a sunroof which could open and it leaked. Everytime I had to brake after a rainstorm, I risked a generous gulp of cold water in my neck. (Name was given in the last few months we had her)
• “De Noordkaper” (the North Caper) - A Grey Volvo 240 that had, before we bought it, taken part in a rally to the North Cape. (This one had her name from the start)
• “Je Reed Heel netjes” (You drove very neatly) - A red Volvo 940, named after the license plate. Its name originally was in present tense but on a fateful new year’s eve it fell victim to arson and burned to a crisp. It was a good car and I hated to see her go.
• “De Barones” A fabulous luxurious old dark blue Volvo 960 with a purring six cylinder and flaky paint. It drove like a bat out of hell and I really loved that car. Unfortunately she started to sag in the back and the repairs got way too expensive to keep her.
• “Het Bakbeest” (The Beast) - my most recent car, a Volvo XC90 that is way too modern for my taste. It is big, heavy and chockfull of computers. It is a solid tank but I prefer the older Volvo types.