The tandem Mobility Scooter and the Cordless Vacuum cleaner

Mum in Holland with a Hoover electric vacuum cleaner. (not cordless)

Sorry  talking about the weather. But, after last week’s balmy summer days it has turned winter again. I had packed away the flannel summer pyjamas only to suffer a cold sleep last night. ( three toilet visits) It was 3C this morning at 6 o’clock. I should have closed the windows.

I spoke yesterday with a man riding his mobility scooter near the Bradman Cricket oval. It looked brand new. I asked him, and he confirmed it was only three months old. He obviously took pride in it. He also told that the range of the battery (lithium) allowed him three trips up and down to the shopping- centre arcade. ‘Nine kilometres in total,’ he added proudly. ‘It gives me mobility and independence which I would not have otherwise.’ ‘My wife has one too.’

This made me think if there are any of those scooters in tandem for two people to use. He did not think there were. I am sure there would be a market for them. You could have one person sitting behind the other or, even cosier, next to each other. That would of course mean the tandem mobility scooter not able to go through normal doorways. I am sure that there are couples who both need mobility, and independence, when walking or driving becomes impossible. Hence my idea of tandem Mobility Scooters. The same could be said about those Zimmer frames and rollators. Why can’t they make them for dual use? It would be a rather touching sight to see elderly happy couples going about their ways sharing them in an intimate fashion.

I must also share with you the joy of having bought a cordless vacuum cleaner. With our rough coated Jack Russell, there are hairs everywhere. He sheds his own weight in hair almost daily. It is embarrassing. If visitors are expected, I am forced to vacuum. I am generally not shy of domesticity and enjoy very much shopping and cooking. Vacuuming is not on my list of pastimes that enhances or gives satisfaction. The noise of it and the tethered cord of the machine irritates. We have a Danish made one and it does a good job, but it still gets hooked at corners and bangs around the book shelves. I show the JRT ‘Milo’ the bulging dust bag but he turns away. He needs a shrink, really. What arrogance. Helvi doesn’t vacuum. She reckons the vacuum cleaner is too complicated. All that ‘on and off’ button pushing must be so challenging.

My brother said: ‘why don’t you get a cordless one?’ It hit me like a bolt from the sky. ‘Are there any that really work,’ I asked enthusiastically. ‘Of course, we have had one for years,’ he said. We got very excited and next day went to Godfrey’s Emporium for vacuum retailers. They are a Mecca for vacuum cleaners and always give good deals. I have often looked in their windows and noticed a huge change in vacuum cleaners. The more expensive ones seem to mimic a kind of rocket with all sorts of fuel chambers on the side. It would not surprise me if they double as an anti domestic violence weapon or mobility escape device.

The salesman showed us a much cheaper demonstration model, slightly used but with two year warranty. It looked nice, was bag-free and came with attachments for cleaning corners and around window ledges. It has a belt driven brush. The Danish corded vacuum cleaner has a brush at its foot but it doesn’t rotate. When the salesman noticed a bit of wavering he stated; ‘it comes with lithium battery.’ This was the card that the salesman played at the very end. He knows his customers.

The word ‘lithium’ has transformed the battery world. Everyone talks about their gadgets having ‘lithium.’ Our Vacuum cordless is the Hoover and its name is ‘Freedom.’ ‘How’s your lithium going today?’ Often overheard at street corners.

Tags: Bradman, Cordless, cricket, Danish, Godfrey's, Mobility Scooter, Vacuum cleaner, Zimmer frame