Have you ever noticed how modern-day baths are becoming increasingly narrower? This phenomenon is rather bizarre, since just about everything and everyone is supersized these days, yet bathtubs are shrinking. Of course, there’s no doubt that when it comes to personal hygiene the shower takes preference over the dear, old tub. Nevertheless, the bathtub still has its place and, ironically, even adds more value to your home than your shower ever could.
When I bought my first townhouse, there were two things that needed some serious attention – the kitchen and the bathtub. However, little did I know that buying a bath is not as simple as it looks. In short, it took a lot longer to find a decent tub than I’d expected. I’d assumed that it would merely be a matter of walking into a shop, picking a nice-looking tub and taking it home. One day of shopping and that would be that… or so I thought.
Naturally, if you’re looking for a great big, hulking bathtub, then I’m sure it’s not too hard to find something suitable. On the other hand, if you’re searching for a very average-sized bath to fit into a rather average-sized bathroom, then things get a little trickier. Yes, many tubs may look appealing from the outside, but it’s the inside that counts – and bathtubs are particularly deceptive in that regard.
In my opinion, a bathtub is like a bed. You simply can’t buy a bed without trying it out and the same goes for a bath. I’m not sure how most people shop for bathtubs. However, I get the feeling that while it is quite acceptable to try out a mattress in a store, I don’t think many people actually try out bathtubs. I mean, it’s not often that you see a fully clothed person jumping into a bathtub and then sitting there on the showroom floor – but I wasn’t going to let that stop me. Yes, despite the awkwardness of it all – and a few strange looks from some salespeople and their customers alike – I made it my mission to try out every potential tub I came across. How else was I supposed to know whether the inside was as nice as the outside?
In hindsight, I’m glad that I put all convention aside in my hunt for a good bathtub, because I soon learnt something interesting. Most modern bathtubs of a supposedly average size seem very suitable from the outside, but once I was actually sitting inside them, I realised that there was hardly any room to move. In fact, most of these baths were no wider than I am and, since I’m classified as petite, this really does make you wonder. Seriously, if I can barely fit into a bathtub then how on earth is anyone else supposed to? And what’s the point of a bath that you can barely sit in, never mind lie down in. That just defeats the whole point and it blows my mind how manufacturers can even make a utility this small and then dare to call it a bath.
Needless to say, there was no way I was going to buy a poor excuse for a bath. So, my quest continued from shop to shop and bath to bath. I was determined to find the only decent, average-sized bathtub in the entire country no matter how long it took – and I did eventually find one.
At one of the last shops I went to, I saw a glimmer of hope mounted on a wall. Hence, I wasn’t entirely sure if it would be the right fit. However, after calling a salesman and then waiting for quite some time, a similar bathtub was hoisted down from the rafters, where it was being stored, and plopped before me. I wasted no time jumping inside – despite the bemused salesman – and I was very pleased to announce that I’d finally found the one.
Having paid for the bathtub, I then drove my little City Golf around to the collection point where the salesman stood visibly gobsmacked. “The bath isn’t going to fit in there,” he said with conviction. “Oh, you’d be surprised what I can fit in this car,” I replied amused, as I watched him look from bath to car and back again with a frown on his face. He was entirely unconvinced.
Fortunately, I like to beat the odds and I really do believe that you can fit just about anything into a City Golf. It’s quite an amazing little car – and I rather enjoyed seeing the astonished look on the salesman’s face as I thanked him and drove off with my bathtub safely stowed on board.
Audrey Whyte 
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