This is no basket case!

Now, it will come as little surprise to learn that here in the OBM Shed we don’t tend to take too much notice of brand-new motorcycles (and we think of anything made this century as being ‘brandnew’). Nor have we ever been known to show much interest in scooters – we know there are many fans out there, but we prefer our tiny wheels on go-karts or the OBM wheelbarrow. But we do like a picnic. And that flimsiest of reasons is enough for us to bring you the Vespa Pic Nic.

It’s actually a Vespa Primavera, a name which the Italian company has used since the 1960s and the 21st century version has enough familial resemblance to the original to warrant that hallowed name. But this version of the Primavera has been equipped with a picnic basket made of wood intertwined with rattan and that comes complete with a removable cooler bag and a blanket. That picnic blanket is made in a special jacquard fabric with a pattern that echoes the woven basket and is water resistant, making it, says the press release, ‘the ideal accessory for any outdoor activity’. Yes, yes, being of a smutty turn of nature, we smirked at that line…

The blanket can be conveniently transported on the chrome-plated front and rear luggage rack which comes standard on this special version and is accompanied by a brown leather belt that also serves as a handle to easily carry the folded blanket. We’re not sure that even the Pic

Nic would make us want to rush out and buy a scooter but we now have a strange craving to knock up a load of egg and cress sandwiches and set off for the seaside with some bottles of pop.