Car sold at boot sale!

ONE woman went home with less than she bargained for at the first-ever BSPCA car boot sale after she sold her car - boot and all!

The Bahrain Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals (BSPCA) has just started holding car boot sales, on the first Friday of each month, to raise money for a new shelter for the island's unwanted and abandoned animals.

And when Kim Spicer, 50, heard about the venture via an email to her husband Clive, who works at the British Embassy, she quickly signed up.

She said: I bet there are not many people who can say they went to a car boot sale and sold the car!"

The Spicers are due to return to the UK in November after three years in Bahrain and Kim thought it would be a great opportunity to sell off some of the clothes and household items she wouldn't be needing back in England.

She packed up her Honda and headed for the event with a full load. Even rescued desert dog Jasra, who has become the couple's pride and joy, went along for the ride.

Once there, Kim quickly set about selling off the various items, from books to kitchen equipment.

She said: "There was one local gentleman who came and bought a few things, then he wandered off. I was really shocked though when he returned and asked if I was also selling the car!

"I have been planning to sell it, obviously I wasn't going to be taking it home with me, and I had had a few other people interested, but, for one reason or another, it had not sold and I was beginning to think I would be stuck with it - but then here was this chap was asking if he could buy it."

The would-be buyer had a good look around the vehicle and, undeterred by the fact that it was loaded up with items for the car boot sale and a very protective Jasra grumbling gently from the front seat, he seemed very taken with the car and asked Mrs Spicer the price.

He asked if she would take less and an excited Kim phoned her husband for his opinion expecting him to be overjoyed at the prospect of a buyer but Clive was adamant that they should achieve the asking price so Kim went back to her new acquaintance and the bargaining began.

She said: "We went backwards and forwards a bit and then he said 'I'm finished' at which point I thought he had decided he didn't want it but instead he pulled out a roll of notes and counted off BD200 as a deposit. We exchanged phone numbers and that was it.

"We've been in touch since then and the gentleman has visited our home and spoken to my husband and had another good look at the car, this time without the dog and all the car boot jumble, and the sale will be concluded before we leave.

"It just goes to show the BSPCA car boot sales are a good idea. I went along hoping to sell unwanted household items and ended up selling my car as well."

BSPCA spokeswoman Jo Bradley said: "This story just shows you never know what you will find when you come to one of our car boot sale! As well as helping people dispose of unwanted items they're a great way for us to publicise the work of the society and also to raise money for the new shelter we are building."

The next car boot sale will be at the BSPCA site in Saar on November 7 and they will be held on the first Friday of each month throughout the winter. To book a place call Jo Bradley on 39673205.