Spotto

When I was last in Australia visiting Son #1 and his family (an almost extinct activity which many of you will remember in the olden days), his children introduced me to the game of Spotto. It's customarily played on a car journey and involves the participants saying (it's usually yelling, actually) saying "Spotto" when they see a yellow car. The first to say it for a particular car gets a point and the player with the most points at the end of the journey wins.

You have to say the word in an Aussie accent, with the "tt" very soft and the final "o" more like "ao".

A simple game, you might think. But, as you can imagine, it leads to much controversy. Most obviously there are questions about the "shade" of yellow. "No, that's gold!" is a frequent cry. Marginal calls can be made on cars that have some yellow in their livery and adjudication is then called for. Did I mention that you lose a point if your claim is disallowed? Then there is the question whether buses count or does it have to be a car? Experienced players will sneak in the odd yellow road sign when attention is elsewhere, and caravans definitely engender debate. Ties (half a point each, which is awkward for three way ties) can be allowed, although loud shouts often win over equally well-timed but timid ones, unless you have a strong and well-respected adjudicator - normally the driver to make sure (s)he concentrates on all other road users not just yellow ones.. Familial respect can go out of the window.

When I returned to the UK I introduced Spotto to Son #2 and his family. So the game is no longer unique to the Aussies. As with the latter, daughters-in-law prove particularly pugnacious in playing the game. We have explored alternative versions such as Grotto for grey cars and Blotto for blue ones, and also (since they live close to the sea) inclusions of boats and garbage trucks. It whiles away the time on long trips.

If/when I buy a new car, I am considering getting a yellow one. I'd climb in it every morning and claim my Spotto point, almost always winning the day's competition. But would that be cheating? It's a moral dilemma that I may need help with. Let me know.