I like the 1 second description. I was trying to convince my 16 year old grand daughter that my years are shorter than her years on the logic that one year for me is 1/69th of my life and one for her is 1/16. She just thought granpop’s dementia was kicking in.
Peter, have you not considered self-publishing? Many people do that these days and it takes agents and their requests for salacious gossip out of the equation. There are some good websites that will help with formatting, proof reading and so on, as well as the actual publishing process. One of my wife’s uncles is doing exactly that right now. He feels his life has been sufficiently interesting that people will want to read about it. Sadly, I’ve read some of the draft chapters and can say with some certainty that they won’t! However, the point is he’s prepared to take a chance and do it. It seems like both you and Gerry have something of a passion for writing a book (or books) so instead of thinking about what could have been if not for publishing agents, why not take the initiative and do it yourself? You may end up being pleasantly surprised.
Gerryn, if I may say so, reading your post suggests you have lived a life largely full of regret. Hindsight is a wonderful thing and often what we do or say is the right thing now but years later might seem to have been utterly wrong. Take the positives and remember those rather than the ‘what ifs’ and ‘if only I hads’. There’s no guarantee if you had made a different choice back then things would have worked out any better. To draw a motorsport analogy, many people said if Lewis Hamilton’s engine hadn’t blown up during the Malaysian F1 grand prix last year he would have won that race and then gone on to win the world championship. However, that is to assume his engine wouldn’t have blown up at the next race instead and that all the subsequent races would have finished as they did. We just don’t know and the same applies to all things in life. God knows I’ve made some stupid decisions in the past but there’s nothing I can do about them now and whilst occasionally I cringe when I think back about some of them there’s really no point dwelling on it.
And to get back on topic, I’m on the wrong side of 21 (now in the dim and distant past) but still have the outlook of a 25 year old!
Another trend-bucker, 29.
First MX5 at the ripe old age of 28, but passed my driving test at 16.
Great. I used to be a keen cyclist myself, but became bored so I cut down to 50 miles a week. Without it though I would have taken much longer to find great roads.
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I find being a club member helps with the boredom,
Grandpops is onto something there! It’s a good way to express it, as a fraction.
Just turned 57 where did that time go i just don’t know.
Was a very fit and active chap until 51 then had serious life changing health problems which really knocked my down.
Doing ok at a much slower pace of life and enjoying everything it has to offer. The alternative is a bit too permanent for my liking.
Really glad i got to drive my mk1 while i was still able to throw it around and enjoy it’s full and considerable potential whenever the fancy took me,ie most times i drove it.
Still do every now and then but have to pay the price afterwards in the pain on pain department but it’s worth it for that and even toodelling about is such a Joy.
Really happy to confirm that the MX5 is a whole way of Life what ever age you happen to be.
The only draw back is i can’t drive both my Grandchildren at the same time. However that does mean two drives out any and no excuse needed.
72 here
Frog
An old git down in that third world country called France.
Remembering the days when no internet, no mobile phones, no computers and my Mini Cooper that could go over 100mph legally. Thats progress I supose.
That’s why we like Germany so much. A while back my son-in-law, a Met Traffic Officer, was on my pillion travelling to Munich and was very impressed that we could happily and legally do 130 following a police car. He loves Germany now as well
The saying “you’re only as old as the woman you feel” probably applies to many here. Unfortunately, it would only give me another 11 months of youth!
These days I find it best to look forwards to tomorrow and prefer not to look back with regret because it can be very counter-productive. Many mistakes made on my part and others over the years, but thankfully I’m still rolling along with “four wheels on my wagon”!
Currently 59 and a half.
Had MX5’s now since 2007 when the first was bought for Jane for our 25th anniversary. At the peak we had 3 plus a share in a track car.
We now have just the two, both daily drivers and our number plates proudly say ‘Not a mid-life crisis, just a whole load of fun’.
The cars and the events we organise and attend through our forum keep us both feeling younger and acting younger still.
71 last year, so just a spring chicken. Sold my MX5 a couple of years ago but am still very interested in the goings on of the OC. I’ve booked a test drive in the new Fiat Abarth when it hits our shores downunder in October. Who knows I may be back in a roadster again
I find being a club member helps with the boredom,
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I did. Met a great bunch of guys and gals and some weeks was getting up to 250 miles.
We have ‘Adventure before dementia’ on ours…
TERRIFIC !
We have ‘Adventure before dementia’ on ours…
Wonderful, is this copywrited?
Jeff.
Now that really does strike a chord!
I’ll be 70 in a few months and my family has a history of Alzheimer’s becoming significant around 80, so the next ten years need to be golden; hence the MX5 as a surrogate for the E-Type I could not afford in my twenties.
Last night I thought of another measure of age, and time - “How long ago was Christmas?”
My immediate response was, “Oh, about three weeks past”, then I checked the calendar. Now THAT is a measure to consider! What prompted it? Every night (we have a manual calender) so before I go to bed I set it for the next day, and realised it was the 30th of January. Then I realised it was nearly February already.
Of course, I could go by Tesco’s clock, they’re selling hot cross buns already. Don’t blink - - - -
Er - I just blinked, and it’s the 31st already!
Truth to tell I saw it on a travelbox on the back of a camper in New Zealand. Says everything really…
MX to Greece this year but had to promise my wife that we’d take the bike next year. Ski-ing in Jan then off to see my daughter in Stockholme in March… and I seem to remember an MX meeting in Denmark sometime? The list is endless!
65 in August
Just out of a 12 year relationship with an MGB
xxx
A few days away from 70 & still my wife will not let me sell the house to fund a Mk4.
very unreasonable of her I think
(still using large print for those of us who need reading glasses)