I had to for my next book. It was hard work but sacrifices have to be made. If you have a teenage son and want to get into his good books arrange to visit a luxury car dealership on a Teacher Only day and ask him to do the filming for your research. You will be the best mother forever and ever. You’ll also get to sit in an Aston Martin DB9 ($365,000) and ask stupid questions which the nice man (Greg Brinck at Independent Prestige, Auckland) will answer without falling on the floor laughing i.e. Does Daniel Craig get thrown in as an extra? Or maybe Greg managed to hold out until after I’d gone? Seriously, he was so patient and didn’t bat an eyelid at some of my more “creative” questions and accepted my excuse that it was all part of a very convoluted plot which really made alot of sense. Nothing was too much trouble for Greg and he came up some great ideas/suggestions. For the record, Aston Martins don’t have a key, they have an ECU. What’s an ECU? Wait for it – an EMOTIONAL CONTROL UNIT. I honestly did not make this up. I thought it was a cigarette lighter. The only drawback was having a record of the visit on DVD which I needed for reference which unfortunately also recorded my gormless questions and blank expression when Greg explained some of the features of the car. I have a nasty feeling the DVD will be put away somewhere only to resurface on special occasions as entertainment for family and friends. I’ve never been a car fan – four wheels, something to steer with and a place to put the petrol and I’m pretty satisfied, but I would love to own an Aston Martin- even if Daniel Craig isn’t included…
Michelle
