A Skoda is born. Again.

A few months ago, we bought this fine specimen for £400.

Little did the car know that we had big plans for it. We were taking it on holiday.

In fact, it was taking us on holiday.

After a life in Datchet – ferrying around it’s one, careful, elderly owner – it was going to see the world. Later this month, the three of us are, rather ambitiously, going to drive to the south of Europe in it.

Now that it has been taxed and insured, we’ve got a few tasks to help get us at least to Calais.

We’ve a shopping list that includes non-deathtrap tyres, wiper blades, a harness for a radio that works, number plates and a beer chiller for the boot.