File: 2016007-0025
Castlemorton Common, in the parish of Castlemorton, near Welland, Worcestershire, England, United Kingdom, on Tuesday 14th March 2017.
About the photograph.
In December 2006, I passed my driving test. At that point, I was a busy full-time single parent of two toddlers, and my mother believes I needed a car specially to help cope with the kids. For example, taking them to school, appointments with doctors, dentists, or making it easier to take them out for shopping, etc., So my mother helped out by getting a second hand car for me, and in February 2007, I got this blue Ford Focus.
This was a 1999 registered, First Generation (1998-2004) 1.8L petrol with manual gearbox, 5-door Zetec model, in blue colour. Although the cockpit was a bit cramped for me, it was fine for the kids whom were still young, and sitting in the back.
But over the years, the engine became too damaged, the gears started to struggle with uphill climb, and both of the kids grew too tall for the back seat, they started arguing for whose turn it was to sit at the front.
After 10 years with this car, it was time for a replacement, and my mother decided to step in and help out with the funding, but this time, I get to have a final say in what car I want to have.
I opt for a Land Rover Freelander, you can see the photos of my Freelander in my Photostream or in some of the Albums. The reason I chose the Freelander was because it offered more legroom and cockpit space for myself, as well as the back seats having more space, plus as a photographer, I could do with its Four Wheel Drive capability when going outdoor to do some photo-shoots.
So a couple of days before I got my replacement car, I took this Ford Focus out to the countryside, to Castlemorton Common for those last photographs.
Part of the reason was to remember my first car, and part of the reason was to refresh my photography skills, because being a busy single parent, I hardly get time to do photography, as I put my career on hold. I figure I’ll kill two birds with one stone by taking car photography and car scenery photos of my first car.
Finally on the 16th March, I exchanged the old Ford Focus for the Land Rover Freelander, and as the old car’s engine was not worth the repairs, she was therefore scrapped.
About the Ford Focus.
In 1998, the European division of the Ford Motor Company revealed a replacement for the popular Ford Escort (1968-2004), by manufacturing a new compact car for the European market.
The Focus was a small family sized compact car, and is considered to be a step above the Ford Fiesta. There are four generations, however Ford had announced that it would end production of the Focus in 2025.
The models vary, and comes in 3 or 5 doors hatchback, 4 doors saloon, and even a 5 doors estate. They are front wheel drive, with mainly petrol engines, and few diesel engines. The size of the engines varies from 1.4 to 2.0, while some of the Focus RS models have a 2.5L engine.
The First Generation, also referred as the Mark 1, was awarded the 1999 European Car of the Year award. The First Generation was built between 1998 to 2005 in Europe, and between 2000 to 2007 in North America.
About Castlemorton Common.
Castlemorton Common is an area of fields roughly one and half mile northwest of the village and civil parish of Castlemorton. However Castlemorton Common is also equally close to the larger village of Welland. The two villages are roughly in the southeast part of the Malvern Hills.
It is a popular area for walkers and hikers, as well as dog owners taking their dogs for walks, as long as the dogs are kept on lash because of loose sheep around the fields. It is approximately to the east of British Camp, one of the Malvern Hills. On a clear sunndy day, you could see the Malvern Hills, and on a clear night, it is possible to see some more stars.
In May 1992, about up to 40,000 New Age travellers held an illegal festival at the Commons, and made news headlines, because of the controversy of leaving behind a mess, and damages done to the Commons. It only lasted a week and never happened again.
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