Coats and cars

When I was a child, I remember being bought a "rally jacket". Sounds mildly ostentatious, but in truth it was nothing more than a black quilted anorak without a hood. It was alleged to be in the style of the jackets worn by rally drivers of the day, and for a while I was suitably proud of it, almost certainly without any real reason.

I remember my father driving in his overcoat, even though his cars all had heaters by then, but he'd got used to driving older vehicles without them, and preferred to have the heating on low or off and to wear a coat and scarf instead on cold days.

I however, dislike driving while wearing a coat or jacket and feel restricted by too many layers in the car. I might keep a coat on if I know it's a very short journey of less than a few minutes, but beyond that, I'll always chuck my jacket or coat on the back seat if I'm going any further. Nor indeed have I ever felt the need to wear a hat while driving, except maybe on a cold day in a convertible with the roof down. Never quite understood the attraction in driving in a hat when the car has a roof, but again I can still picture my father in a Trilby or a Panama while driving his Wolseley.

My wife though, despite having about a 45 minute drive to work, will keep a coat, hat, gloves and scarf on in the winter months to do it. 

And you?