Americans Tell A Story With Number Plates

Welcome to a particularly nippy Tuesday afternoon. I was most annoyed this morning when I had to rummage around all the random clutter in my utilility room, desperately trying to locate an old scraper to get rid of the ice on my windscreen. That's right, ice. Most unexpected, I must say. It wasn't a good start.

However, I'm pleased to bring some uplifting number plates news to you all today. That's right - the sun is always shining in my heart. I was reading about a woman in North Carolina today. She hit the headlines as she currently owns two private registrations (or 'vanity plates, I should say). Firstly, there's 'INMYLMNT', which is on her Honda Element. I like it! Her second plate is 'ZPADDODA' ('Zip-A-Dee-Doo-Dah') which, she says, reflects her car, a VW Bug. I think I prefer the first one. The second one takes a wee bit too much working out, I think. If I see a good plate on my travels, I want it to be striking, making me smile immediately. I don't want to spend the rest of my journey sporting a scrunched up, confused face as I try to fathom the meaning! That wouldn't do at all.

Anyway, the news story went on to say that personalised number plates are increasing in popularity, big time, in the USA. Over a million drivers in Virginia own private plates, with other states not being too far behind. Stefan Lonce, an American author who's written a book on the subject, said: "Behind every one of those plates is someone's story." What a charming way of putting it. I Like it. Similarly to the UK, there are some great plates out there. A Jewish grandmother was recently spotted with 'IMABUBBE', while a trained trapeze artist with a Ph.D owns 'DR FLYER'.

So, the number plates bug is continuing to spread world-wide. I'd love to find out the percentage of private plates owners in the UK. Right, that's going on my 'To Do' list! (I'm not going to carry out a survey myself, I hasten to add. I'm hoping someone else has already done the hard work...)

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