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YOU might think one of the coolest jobs around would be in an ice- cream van, but Paul Green would tell you differently.
The ice-cream man from Marjies Ice-Cream and the Little Marjie vans at Longford, Mr Green said it was actually a lot hotter in the van than people probably thought.
"You actually get quite warm in the van and especially if it's a busy day and you might be going through 800 cones in six hours," he said.
"I love it though, just love it, it's the best job.
"My building job is my trade, but this is the job I love."
Mr Green, his wife Wendy and daughter Candice have operated the vans for the past eight years in the North and are fully booked from October to the end of the Easter weekend.
He said for the first four years, he would drive around the streets but as they improved their ice- cream machine (which comes from Italy) and started getting bookings, they no longer needed to.
Each year the family also donates their time and the van to the Special Children's Christmas Party, alternating between Hobart and Launceston.
Mr Green said although people often say it's the kids who love the sight of the van, the majority of his sales are to adults.
"Obviously you attract all different ages, but we sell far more ice-creams to adults than kids," he said.
"And usually they will spend only so much on the kids, but they'll get whatever they want."
He said people often retained happy memories of the ice-cream Mr Whippy van from their childhood and were eager to see if he stocked the same selection.
"One guy said to me once, `there's not many people that would be chased down by a grown man with a smile on their face and $20 in their hand', and it's very true," Mr Green said.
His best sellers are by far the choc tops and sherbet ice-creams, which have remained strong favourites for years.
"I've had lots of offers for my van over the years, but while I'm still going well I'll keep selling ice- creams," Mr Green said.