It all began so promisingly. While browsing eBay over breakfast a low mileage, original paint, British market from new Vespa T5 sprung out at me from the listings. I’d no intention of buying it but when I mentioned it to Mrs Stan her reaction was surprising. “Go buy it,” she said. “God knows how long we’ll be in lockdown for and you need something to do.” Even though it was clearly code for ‘You’re not getting under my feet all day’ I didn’t need persuading. Unfortunately, the scooter was a couple of hundred miles away in London, and needed snapping up quickly. A good friend was dispatched and despite his cautionary warnings about both the paint’s condition and vague steering, I told him to strike a deal. Two weeks later the T5 was in my garage and reality set in. My preference
