Serious scootering

As may be apparent, one of my New Year's resolutions was definitely not to write more blog posts. I haven't even managed one per month. One per quarter maybe?

However, something I did decide to try and do was to scoot to work. Bear with me.

About seven months ago, I decided I wanted a scooter for adults - one which is bigger and can take my weight. My friend got given one for her birthday and I decided that it was awesome and I must have one. I ordered mine - a Cox Swain - and when it arrived, I took it out a total of five times in the summer and then retired its services as the temperatures dropped.

Mainly, I forgot about it and my other half pulled a trick my mum does - he put it away to see if I would notice it was gone. My mum's strategy is to throw away the object if it has not been asked after in a defined amount of time - maybe a year?

So, as a means of bettering my life several-fold, I decided to buff its wheels and tighten its screws and use it to glide into work with the wind in my hair and the good, exercise ache in my thighs. It would mean paying ZERO English pounds to get to work, it would mean getting up five minutes AFTER I would be doing to walk to, take, and walk from the train to my office, and it would mean an hour's exercise every weekday, which I promised myself I wouldn't overcompensate for by eating an extra couple of daily meals and believing they're justified.

So, new year - new start. All of January, except one snowy Thursday, I scooted through wind and rain, hail and ice to get to work. Frankly, I'm surprised with my perseverance and I think it's actually my frugal nature and my desire to prove something to myself that has been the driver behind this venture.

Just in case there is anyone out there even a little bit inclined to take up the art of scooting to work - or to wherever - I would like to wholeheartedly support your decision and offer a couple of words of experience. Over the last month, I have discovered a few interesting phenomena:

1. People are surprisingly supportive. I feel a little bit like I'm entering my office each day with a rare bird on my shoulder. Everyone looks at it with intrigue and amusement and asks cautiously about it. People secretly want a go but don't know if they're rude to ask. Twice now, my managing director has seen me scoot home and the second time, he shouted "Go on, Kami!" as I flew past him, oblivious, with Meghan Trainor blasting loudly in my ears. Aside from this, I have had a man in a knitted hat and a high vis jacket in a van beep, stare with delight and wave, and I have had a couple of "Nice scooter!"s from random strangers, alongside numerous stares. I'm choosing to hear no sarcasm in people's voices and remind myself that I will probably be home before they get to wherever they're going.
2. It bloody hurts. Steely thighs to follow. The smallest incline begins to feel like you're jogging up K2 after a short while.
3. It is pretty unnerving when you see kids on their own regular-sized scooters. Just because it's a toy doesn't mean it can't be a serious vehicle. Right?
4. A set of tools might be necessary for when the scooter's handlebars begin to move independently of the wheel they're supposed to be controlling. But I'm sure they will iron out little glitches like this when the scooter becomes universally accepted as a means of travel.
5. It's surprisingly easy to kick dirt and mud (from seemingly dirtless and mudless pavements) onto the backs of your legs.
6. It's advantages over a bike are that it folds up so it's easy to carry or take onto trains/buses/taxis and it can be ridden on the pavement rather than trying to squeeze yourself among the huge metal giants on the road. 
7. Get one!