Driving
I've always loved cars. They've been "my" thing since I could walk I think. I learnt to drive, well I don't know when. Certainly before my mother did. I think I was 8.
If I ever sat in the front seat with my father driving, I'd do the gear changes. Long journeys too, like Croydon to Penzance to go on holiday. Meant I got the front seat!!
Once mum had learnt, they'd be two cars doing the journey. 4 kids, dogs, luggage. Needed them! They both had Mini Estates. A red one & a grey one. I honestly don't recall but I think the red was father's and the grey mum's.
Apart from feeding the chickens, slaughtering anything that needed it, and getting it ready for the table to earn my keep, to earn some pocket money, rather than a paper round, I helped the milkman. Roger. Every morning. 07:00 - 08:30.
This wasn't some electric float. This was a Ford Transit. I learnt on that. Honestly, I could drive a car before my mother could. I helped her pass her test.
Father took me out in his mini for a lesson when I reached 17 and his only comment was "Fuck, you've been driving for years." One of the few times I ever heard him use that word.
When I got my FIA licence, I took some of his mates in the force out and upped their skills on blue lights.
Fast Cars
I've owned some of the very best.
Have both a FIA Formula 3 and a FIA Group A Rally Licence. Many years. Never got F1 leider.
I've owned multiple Lancia Delta Integrales (yummy), even Ferraris.
I am, sorry was at a certain time, an Audi guy, so I've owned probably every version of any RS they ever built.
The latest fun car? GR Yaris. Now that is a rally car for the road. Read the test reports. Stunning.
How much fun can you have with your clothes ON? THE best set of wheels I've ever owned. By far.
Shame
Money talks, money walks. Car went back to the leasing company. Cheap 2nd hand old diesel Skoda it is. Oh well.
Home. How lucky?
I always had a thing for Switzerland.
Went there with the school on a skiing holiday as a teenager and then in my early twenties used to go to Grindelwald regularly to ski with Bob. (Short drive from Frankfurt where I was living at the time.)
Well, to ski like an Englishman with zero talent. Zero skill. Zero knowledge.
I still get the "Andy, you ski like a tourist" comments from time to time even though I've been here 20+ years.
To be fair to me, nearly everyone I meet wants to practice their English.
Or show me how well they speak it.
I do actually speak German and the local Swiss German.
French has gone out of the window as has my Latin and even worse Italian.
I came across an article that lists "42 Fun Facts About Switzerland". Have to be honest that 1. it is fun and 2. contains some unusual oddball facts! Have a read and a giggle.
Spoilers......
The Most Innovative Country in the World
The Least Obese European Country
Switzerland Has 7000 Lakes
link - 42 fun facts about Switzerland
Good job I've had work done