I had a colleague years ago when I was health visiting who drove to work in her husband’s huge Citroen. When she turned the engine on it appeared to rise up like a hovercraft.

It all seemed very posh, especially in the area of Vauxhall where we were working. It was quite incongruous in the health centre car park where all the other cars were small, old and rusting with the occasional burnt-out one taking up a precious parking space. I had the tyres of my Mini slashed in that car park – obviously someone hadn’t liked the advice I’d given them.

While there are still large Citroens around (the beautiful C5 estate springs to mind) with lovely new ones about to grace the showrooms over the coming months, it’s their smaller cars that I really love.

And there I found myself at a Citroen launch day with the sole intention of getting to know their cheeky C3 Picasso in more detail only to find myself smitten with the special edition C3 Pluriel Charleston.

It immediately took me back to another era and another girlfriend who had a 2CV and had upped sticks with partner and moved to Dorset. I had always found her quite alternative and thought this was the height of alternativeness.

She is now married (same man) with two teenage boys and a very steady job. It’s only when I talk to her that I’m reminded of just how different she is! She would love this ‘new style’ 2CV, because, although it’s been around for several years and is clearly a girls’ car, there don’t seem to be many of them on our roads (this is the first one I’ve knowingly seen) so it would be suitably different and stylish for her.

I was finally allowed to have a go after much begging with our video man. Funny that, when there are any decisions to be made it’s pointed out, in no uncertain terms, that as the editor it’s up to me, but when it comes to doing something I want, then I have to cajole and beg – bloody photographers, such prima donnas.

Needless to say, I wasn’t disappointed, apart from the fact that the weather suddenly changed and I drove with the fear of returning to base with a very soggy car.

So it’s great to see Citroen keeping some old traditions alive. Even though the original 2CV Charleston and this Pluriel version are poles apart in terms of safety, sophistication, performance, build quality and just about every other measure you’d care to mention, the style remains and perhaps that’s the real success?

Sadly at my stage in life with kids still very much in tow, an MPV is the best car for the job, i.e. transporting the little darlings and their friends about and filling the car up with far too much luggage and essential toys for those painful holidays. Frankly I’d much rather stay at home.

So for now I feel stuck with this mode of transport, never having considered what a burden it would become. I wonder whether those yummy mummies and their lovely 4×4 yummy mummy cars get sick of their chosen vehicle. I doubt it, possibly because they change it every year.

I always feel that I reflect the type of car I’m driving – internally at least – and I feel I become what I drive…

That’s to say, harassed mother, constantly shopping in order to keep the fridge full of food for hungry teenagers (a losing battle) sensible clothes and shoes so that I’m comfortable when I’m driving as well as being able to transport said shopping without breaking a leg.

Always in a rush as I’ve never learnt to time-manage despite husband giving me lessons. I just don’t think he gets what home life and childcare is all about and tries to deal with me as he would an annoying, slightly useless colleague. I told him a little tale the other day I thought quite amusing, but all he did was repeat it back to me in a more succinct way so that next time I wouldn’t drivel on and waste his precious time!

I like to think I’m part of a group of mums in the same boat, but when I look around, I feel somewhat isolated:

From the earth mother who is so patient with her kids, always looks smart and floats along, to my friend down the road who gets out of her very sensible car and then sashays down the road looking gorgeous and unflustered. She was a model in her former life and my does it show.

Another bounces along despite what life has thrown at her and of course then there’s the rock chick who always looks as if she’s just got out of bed, but still manages to exude femininity and style despite shoving her kids in her MPV before whisking them off to some private school in a posh part of London.

The moral of this tale? If you have to drive an MPV, choose one that’s practical but more importantly stylish. The Citroen C3 Picasso fits the bill perfectly I think. Then you can drive your vehicle with your head held high, exuding confidence and calm, knowing you look good on the outside even if on the inside you’re a total mess.