A nice break. Part One
We've been home for a few days now, but I'm still feeling the effects of a really relaxing time away with only the Mem-Sahib for company on our sojourn South to Englandshire. At the risk of incurring a rabid invitation to indulge in voluntary repatriation...it was good to be 'darn Sarf' for a while.
Been visiting my mother-in-law who is attending a bible college in Walsall. She's certainly game for her age, having marginally exceeded her three score years and ten! Jo has thrown herself into student life with gusto and looks real well on it. What an encouragement to those of you out there thinking of tackling education as a matured mature student!!! Jo is at the Charis Bible College and they are looking after her real fine. Many thanks to Tom and Lesley Decker.
We also took almost a whole morning in Walsall Art Gallery. Fab sculptures and an Ace Building. Sadly I was too interested in the place to take any pix. If you're reading this and you live within an hour's drive and you like art and architecture - GO! Even the views from the gallery windows fit in with the displays ...... 'stonishin'!
{I really must learn to embed the links using the icon-diddly in the toollybar}
So - on we went from there to cadge some overnight accommodation from Rob & Jo in Coventry prior to heading off to Bruntingthorpe for my 50th Birthday Present - A Driving Experience!!!
Way back in March, when in Sevilla, celebrating Fran's 21st and my 50th, my ladies had clubbed together with the fellahs and bought me a track day! Finally the day had arrived and dawned - mistily...... But the fog didn't stop the fun!
Behold the Misty Ferrari 360...sorry, maybe that should read mighty. It certainly handled well and sounded great, but it was the first car I drove and I reckon I was a bit intimidated by it and the flappy paddle change and the fact that the instructor told me not to thrash it ....
Next up was the SuperBrutal Impreza... a prodrive spec too so Man Alive it was a right scorcher. It's not often you get a neck ache changing up from 3rd to 4th but this machine just flew round.
The accelaration is so fierce I spent most of my time getting out of the back seat. Many, many thanx to Banzai Barry the instructor for showing me so much in just ten minutes.
I can't wait to get the 'bends' again!!!
But then.....
Oh then!!!!
Then !!!!!
I got to realise the dream of decades.
Been visiting my mother-in-law who is attending a bible college in Walsall. She's certainly game for her age, having marginally exceeded her three score years and ten! Jo has thrown herself into student life with gusto and looks real well on it. What an encouragement to those of you out there thinking of tackling education as a matured mature student!!! Jo is at the Charis Bible College and they are looking after her real fine. Many thanks to Tom and Lesley Decker.
We also took almost a whole morning in Walsall Art Gallery. Fab sculptures and an Ace Building. Sadly I was too interested in the place to take any pix. If you're reading this and you live within an hour's drive and you like art and architecture - GO! Even the views from the gallery windows fit in with the displays ...... 'stonishin'!
{I really must learn to embed the links using the icon-diddly in the toollybar}
So - on we went from there to cadge some overnight accommodation from Rob & Jo in Coventry prior to heading off to Bruntingthorpe for my 50th Birthday Present - A Driving Experience!!!
Way back in March, when in Sevilla, celebrating Fran's 21st and my 50th, my ladies had clubbed together with the fellahs and bought me a track day! Finally the day had arrived and dawned - mistily...... But the fog didn't stop the fun!
Behold the Misty Ferrari 360...sorry, maybe that should read mighty. It certainly handled well and sounded great, but it was the first car I drove and I reckon I was a bit intimidated by it and the flappy paddle change and the fact that the instructor told me not to thrash it ....Next up was the SuperBrutal Impreza... a prodrive spec too so Man Alive it was a right scorcher. It's not often you get a neck ache changing up from 3rd to 4th but this machine just flew round.
The accelaration is so fierce I spent most of my time getting out of the back seat. Many, many thanx to Banzai Barry the instructor for showing me so much in just ten minutes.
I can't wait to get the 'bends' again!!!
But then.....
Oh then!!!!
Then !!!!!
I got to realise the dream of decades.
The Porsche 911.
This really was me! I still have to keep pinching myself that I got my hands on possibly the most wonderful piece of automation I have ever driven.
I even got to wind it up to a significant three digit velocity which felt wonderful. Truly a car of poise and sophistication with such a wonderful sound, and feel and ............and..........and........
So that brought me to my last experience of the day... Mad Malcolm and the Lotus Elise!
This little beauty turned out to be the fun - highlight of the day. For sure the other cars were wonderful experiences, but sweet little Elise - what a chav! Thunderous racket, point and squirt handling, mental companion - what a time was had. A completely different box of cogs and so affordable! I've already been on the AutoTrader site..... first of all I need to encourage the Mem to trade in the Ibiza......
But wait a mo..... what's this ??????????????????????????????
So that brought me to my last experience of the day... Mad Malcolm and the Lotus Elise!
This little beauty turned out to be the fun - highlight of the day. For sure the other cars were wonderful experiences, but sweet little Elise - what a chav! Thunderous racket, point and squirt handling, mental companion - what a time was had. A completely different box of cogs and so affordable! I've already been on the AutoTrader site..... first of all I need to encourage the Mem to trade in the Ibiza......But wait a mo..... what's this ??????????????????????????????
