Interlude: Citromobile 2015

With a growing 'wants' list of parts, I convinced my wife, and myself that it was more economical to go to a big Citroen meeting in Holland to buy parts, than it was to buy them piece by piece from the UK. there was also more likelihood of me finding the things I needed and wanted. 

I'd not been before, but by 2015 'Citromobile' was based at the exhibition centre in Haarlem, just south of Amsterdam. Held over the first weekend in May, the meeting consists of all things Citroen, including cars on display and for sale and, importantly, a large auto jumble. The car park alone is worth the visit.

Taking Richards Citroen estate, we caught the night ferry from Dover on the Friday night. We found ourselves in good company, with a few other Citroen Car Club members making the same journey. We had a curry, watched the ferry fill up, had a drink and chatted with the other obvious Citroen travellers. This was quality downtime for me. Taking a cabin, we were woken early to find ourselves in Holland and, after a good breakfast made the hour drive up to Haarlem. The event did not disappoint. I deliberately took a very ambitious list of wants - knowing that I would be able to come back with at least some of the things on the list.

The event was also an invaluable source of reference material and I took many under-bonnet shots

After two days of browsing and buying, split by a night on a nearby campsite, we caught the Sunday night ferry back to the UK - arriving at Dover for breakfast. Having left home on Friday evening, by Monday mid morning I was home again - with a load of DS treasure.

The Citromobile weekend is now firmly established in my calendar and I am indebted to the continuing indulgence of my wife Gayle, who not only tolerates my rabid and incessant DS fascination, but who also lets me clear off to the Continent each May for a 'lads weekend'. XXX