I was reminiscing with a friend over the old Aussie Shiraz, as you do, and began telling her of the time that one of my then young teen-age daughters had to appear in court.

My husband, myself and our two youngest daughters (both young teen-agers) were living in Arcadia in Los Angeles 20-some years ago at the time. One evening we attended a football match (boring, boring, boring) between their school Arcadia High and Pasadena High. During the course of the match the girls disappeared with their friends ? other teenagers from the local Brit pack and school friends. Youngest daughter reappeared on the scene to say that daughter number one had been arrested with a friend?s teenage lad. Scrambled out of the school grounds after her to where the children were being held by a local policeman. Big lad, large gun, nice smile.

He was charging them with riding two on a bike on the roadway. This was a violation of a local traffic code. It transpired that although they were actually on the road they were just circling around talking to their friends and were not travelling in a forward direction. A plea for a warning to be given was refused. He was making an example of them as too many children were getting injured when riding bikes.

Ultimately a court date was received. Time to be in court was 9.30 a.m. The other mother, two children and I arrived at Arcadia Court House on the appointed day at 9.00 a.m. No record of the children was there. Great puzzlement all-round. Light dawned with the court official. It must be Pasadena Court we had to appear. Brief instructions on how to how to get there were given. I drove like the wind breaking every rule in the book (no lectures please). Arrived in underground car park with 5 minutes to spare. One parking space only was available which was on my left. Was just preparing to swing my rather fetching white Buick Riviera Cabriolet past and forward to reverse into said space when from the opposite direction appeared a very, very, superior car, dark blue, as I recall which was in a perfect position to be just slid into the vacant space thus thwarting my intentions.

I drove my car forward ever-so slightly thereby reducing the width of the space. Exited car, strolled over to driver of other car and said ?excuse me, there is just that one space available and I intend that I should park my car in it. Now, as far as I am concerned my car is just a dustbin from Detroit and I really don?t care if, when parking it, it gets damaged. Is that alright with you.? His response, after a few seconds considering his moves, said ?Why of course, ma?am, you take the space, I?ll find another?.

Parked my car, we all ran like hell to the courtroom, case was heard. Kids fined 11 and 7 dollars respectively. End of story.

?That was road rage? says my boozy friend.
?Couldn?t be, says I, I wasn?t on the road.?
?Well then, it was intimidation?
?Nah ? he was 280lbs minimum and I was 8stone two and tuppence. I couldn?t hurt a fly.?
?Verbal abuse, then?.
?Never swore me a swore? I countered.
?Threatening behaviour?? she queried.
?Never raised my voice? sez I.
?Assault with a deadly weapon??
?I wasn?t even in the car?

Now, I know I was desperate to get into the court on time. I know that I couldn't/wouldn't do it again.

I know too that I must have been guilty of something. I now leave it up to all you people to decide just what it was that I was guilty of. Read more

Cleaning my wife's Mondeo yesterday (with her help!) revealed several scratches to the paintwork. Is there a reason why makers use a white undercoat which reveals every mark? The pearlescent petrol blue paint is nice in the sunshine but those marks show through.

Is it deliberate so that we get out the touch up brush before it rusts or are they just being daft?

The bonnet had a few new stone ships too. Flying along the A55 every day won't help, as the road is heavily used by quarry lorries travelling unsheeted with stones aboard.

I have found the neatest way to touch up stone chips is to use the end of a cocktail stick dipped in paint rather then the brush which puts too much paint down. Read more

Took the Lupo in for a service this morning and drove away in an Audi A2 1.4 TDI. courtesy car. Cor, it don't half shift! Thinking I was doing about 50 I glanced down at the speedo and saw an indicated 80 (on a private road of course). HJ's car by car breakdown has it as a three cylinder, you'd never believe it the way it drives.

But, oh those horrible A pillars. Big and wide, positioned so that in narrow town streets pedestrians stepping off the pavement between the parked cars are completely obscured just at the critical moment. This alone would make me think twice about buying one. Shame though, very impressive ride and handling. The Lupo is going to feel like a tractor when I get it back. Read more

Taken directly from the Beeb motoring web site, dont think anyone else has commented on this one yet, if so humble apologies to all....
5th April 2002

Jeremy Clarkson, the most opinionated man in motoring, is coming home to Top Gear, on BBC Two.

Clarkson has signed a two year deal that will see him once again presenting the leading motoring show that he helped to make so popular. In addition to his work on the new series, he will continue to write for BBC Worldwide's 'Top Gear' magazine. He will be contributing exclusive road tests, features, opinions and the column he has penned since the market-leading magazine was launched in 1993.

Commenting on his return to the series, Clarkson said: "The motorist is under attack from all sides, and this gives me the chance to fight back on behalf of all us petrol-heads."

The renewal of his contract will also see him working on other new programmes for the BBC.

Jeremy Clarkson will be giving motoring manufacturers more sleepless nights when Top Gear returns to our screens later this year. Read more

I have just bought a 205 XL 1.1, the last owner sprayed the bumpers black, but he didnt take his time, so all the paint is peeling, i want to strip down the bumpers and respary them. i have borrowed an electronic sprayer but i wnat to know hte best way to get the paint to last?

Cheers

Chris Read more