Fond memories….(before turning into a grumpy old git again)
15 years ago I knocked off work early and set off down the
M3 onto the A303 heading towards the
South West in my trusty 1977 Dolomite sprint (Named “Zanusi” after the old washing machine that had been used to hold the
floor together ) the low cloud cleared traffic disappeared and with a TDK C90 mix of Stone Roses, Charlatans and
Kula Shaker playing on the stereo I ragged the Sprint to Minehead to view a 1977 2500TC that had
been off the road for 10 years, I remember the trip well as not only did I end
up buying the car (UGP 840R aka “the big red bus”) but remember the roads being
great ,the old car going well ,and just feeling good –the world was my oyster
so to speak - this was a non-sat nav trip just a dodgy old atlas and a
scribbled sheet of A4 with names of towns to head for and road numbers for me
to glance at whilst driving, I didn’t get lost and even found the sellers
house first time from his directions given over the phone, on the way back I
had a great 50 mile tussle with a Golf
GTi who couldn’t get shot of the shit bucket “old Triumph” which
eventually went past him on the inside of one of the big roundabouts on the
A303 …
Fast forward 15 years
and I find myself traveling from Taunton
to Watchet to pick up a Rover P6 panel this time in an “old” Audi A3
that hadn’t even been built when I made that trip to view the 2000 ,Sat nav on
passenger seat and 4 year old Son in the back- I find myself remembering
driving that section of road in the Sprint all those years ago, the music was
the same but being played via my “shite useless” phone, the sun came out, the
roads cleared a bit –the only thing spoiling the trip was the shite awful handling
of a 100,000 mile front wheel drive Audi with mud and snow tires on it ! but I
found myself caught up in the moment thinking what a lucky boy I’ve been over
the last 15 years, and all was well with the world ,its amazing how a section
of road some music and a splash of sunshine can lift your mood.
We were a bit early for the vendor so stopped at the cider
farm in the village which had tea shop, swings, slides and live chickens and
pigs to chase this kept the 4 year (and me) more than happy for 15 mins or so.
The sat nav was turned off for the trip back and we tootled
along me teaching the 4 year old the lyrics to “I am the resurrection” (Stone
Roses)
Ah happy days….
