Mini Money

Back in October, when I saw the ad for my Mini, I didn't actually have any money to buy it (I'm pretty much perpetually broke - a situation that probably wouldn't change even if I had millions). A couple weeks before, my dad had come with me to look at another Mini that was twice the price and although we lost that one to someone quicker, my dad had agreed to help me secure a loan.

The day we looked at the first Mini, my dad was actually on the way to the airport to start work in Darfur for a few months so we couldn't work out any finances - I thought it could wait until he came back to look for another car. But, only a couple of weeks later I spotted my Mini and the price was just too good to pass up.

Unfortunately, I couldn't get in touch with my dad - his only contact was through e-mail and his satellite connection wasn't always reliable. I needed to know if he thought it was a "good buy" and I needed to sort out how to pay the seller, but the longer I had to wait, the more chance there was that someone would get the car before me.

Once I went to look at the Mini, I immediately fell in love and did not want to miss out on a second chance at owning one. I figured, even if I managed to buy it without my father's approval and it turned out to be horrible, I would still have the chance to work on the car and learn - and most importantly, I would be a MINI OWNER.

I waited as long as I could (three days, thankfully the seller was as interested in selling to someone who could appreciate the car as I was in owning it) to hear back from my dad but it was looking like I might lose it to someone with cash on hand.

Bemoaning my predicament over coffee with my friends, Andrew and Emilie, Andrew suddenly offered to loan me the money until I could work out the finances with my dad. I don't normally like to borrow large amounts, especially from friends, but goddamn, IT WAS FOR A MINI. I had the cash in my hand the next day, got it out to the seller and my Mini was delivered a few days later!

As if this wasn't enough AWESOME - they also gifted me with a digital camera so I could document the whole restoration process. They are the meat beneath my wings and I am forever in their debt. (But not literally, once my dad returned I was able to get a bank loan and pay them back.)

Here they are in all their zombie glory: