By ANEEKA SIMONIS
FORGET the Man Cave.
It’s all about the Nan Cave at the home of an 80-year-old Pakenham grandma.
With a bar fridge stocked to the brim with champagne, fresh flowers, chocolates, comfy arm chairs, a lounge, heating and cooling, fabulously styled nan of six Valerie Green sips on a glass of bubbles while admiring her garage turned Nan Cave with family.
“It’s happy hour somewhere in the world,” she said with a laugh as she took a morning sip.
A lamp illuminates the ‘Nan Cave’ sign handcrafted for her by daughter Nicole and grandson Cooper.
The unique hang out, drawing in many neighbours, makes use of Valerie’s empty garage after she sold her car and gracefully gave up her car license on her 80th birthday on New Year’s Eve.
“My motto more or less is to do no harm. I have done no harm (on the roads) and I don’t want to,” she explained.
“I don’t want to be someone who doesn’t recognise when it’s time to give it up.”
“Eighty is a nice round figure so that’s when I made the decision.”
Known to many as ‘Champagne Val’, the cheery Pakenham nan said all her cave missed was a TV, remote and a personal drinks servant.
“If I won the lotto, I might just get a full-time waiter,” she joked.
Although she is without a car, Valerie said she does not go without.
She’s made fast friends with the delivery girl at her local supermarket and is saving on petrol and car insurance costs by riding with family, or even calling on a taxi for an emergency dash for cigarettes.
Valerie hosted her entire family – including children Michele, Nicole, Carolyn, Melissa and grandchildren Harrison, Marcus, Cooper, Kiara, Shelby and Lexie – in the Nan Cave on her milestone birthday.
Grandson Marcus, who turned 18 on Christmas Eve, was pleasantly surprised when his nan gifted him with her car.
“He was stunned,” Valerie said.
The car still contained bits and pieces from Valerie’s late husband, Bob, including old music cassettes.
