File: 2016007-0012
Castlemorton Common, in the parish of Castlemorton, near Welland, Worcestershire, England, United Kingdom. Tuesday 14th March 2017.
About those photographs.
Those are the last photographs of my old Ford Focus, before I changed it for a Land Rover Freelander.
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 need 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 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. 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, but this time, I get to have a final say in what car I want to have.
Two days before getting the replacement car, and while the kids were at school, I drove her out to the countryside, to Castlemorton Common for those last photographs. Mainly to remember my first car, and in part, to refresh my photography skills, because being a busy single parent, I hardly get time to do photography.
On the 16th March, I exchanged her for a Land Rover, and as the old carโs engine was not worth the repairs, she was therefore scrapped.
About the Ford Focus.
In 1998, the European division of Ford Motor Company revealed a replacement for the Ford Escort (1968-2004), for the European market. The Focus is a 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 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.
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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