Just for a laugh? Don’t know if you have heard of Nadia Munno " The Pasta Queen" but I signed up to her membership and bought her book. She is taking me and her thousands of followers all over what is now Italy but was not Italy till 1861, so it’s really a collection of provinces under 1 roof now all with their own take on dishes & recipes. Suffice to say she has transformed my kitchen efforts…and she is a complete comedian as well. 
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Well, we Italians all have, more or less, a “pasta king or queen” at home… 
In any case, food is a fantastic way to travel and make people travel even without leaving home… and even back in time…
The two trips to France I’ve taken in the MX-5 (Champagne last year, Bordeaux this year) have always been driven by the culinary factor.
And it’s also a way to do without artificial intelligence and instead use all our magnificent senses. Which is also the reason why people buy an open-top car: to enjoy the sounds and scents of nature.
I call it freedom.
That said, let me know where you live and what time dinner is… 
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Scotland here. Haggis,neeps, and spuds for dinner.
Wild haggis ,not these tasteless farmed ones.
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Okay, I think I’ll pass this time…
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Well if you ever get here, you will be most welcome at our pasta supper table. We are like that in UK..Im nowt special. Somehow I’ve taken your amazing country to my heart. Odd but true.
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You will not believe it, but I’m starting to organize next summer journey, which will surely be in Scotland … 
I’d like to come with my mx-5, but they are really many many km … 
I thought of arriving by plane and renting a MX-5 in Scotland, but it doesn’t seem to be the simplest thing in the world … 
Welcome from Wotton under Edge UK Nicola, that’s a very beautiful MX! Glad it’s used a lot and enjoyed. Did you have a picture of the custom gear knob (no rush). Enjoy your car.
Kind Regards Jamie and Jacob.
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Thank you very much JandJ!
The gear knob was made to my design and measurements, inspired by the colors of some products CDIY had already made. Here are the photos.
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Wonderful. Thank you!
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Not cheap but possible?
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Welcome Nicola, the best of cars and the best site. Ohlins, I wonder how they compare with Meister CRDs on my 30AE? I understand they’re a bit more composed.
How great it is to be able to drive across Europe with no divide. Love Italy here in this house, between me and my wife we’ve had six Alfa’s. Incidentally my wife was in the Italian band Planet Funk and she recently played at the San Remo music festival with them. We love Italy, in the times I’ve been there over the years I can’t recall seeing many MX5s?
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Yes, I found it too (I think through this site). It’s not cheap and it’s a little further north than I was looking for (Edinburgh). It’s currently my only option.
They also seem well organized and I like the idea of using an NA as well.
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Thank you Dutchie.
I don’t know how Ohlins compare with Meister. What I can tell you is that it’s a high-quality product. I also chose them because I cover a lot of miles. Roll is almost completely eliminated, even with the original bars, and the grip limit is very, very high (I have the Michelin Pilot Sport 5). This also demonstrates the potential of the MX-5 chassis. Comfort is more than acceptable (I’m 59 years old, so I’m quite sensitive to this issue…). Obviously, it’s very important that the setup is correctly done, including paying close attention to the suspension angles.
Yess. It’s truly fantastic. I still remember traveling in the 1980s, with different passports, borders, and currencies. I hope European governments don’t manage to ruin this too… 
Wow! They are great!
You’re right! It’s the land of the sun, but Italians don’t like small spiders… They prefer SUVs… 
It’s the second time I’ve head Meisters. A business called Roddisons run by Paul is well known here and is in my hometown Sheffield. He sets them up well, fully aligned and corner weighted. He’s going to be putting on the Sport 5 soon and will be set up again. I think the Ohlins are quite a bit more and I’ve heard they’re very good. I’m 56 so getting sensitive to it too. SUV’s are popular here too and I wouldn’t say no to the Stelvio Quadrifoglio, rather the Giulia though. I use to run an Alfa 164 QV, that was a great car. Yes strange that a Sheffield lass ended up in PF, her last gig with them was this years San Remo music festival. Chase the Sun.
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I was in Sheffield in 1997. I was in England for a recruitment process for the Rover Group in Gaydon, and I took the opportunity to visit my thesis professor, who had just moved to the University of Sheffield to lead a research group. Nice city and the worst B&B I’ve ever stayed in… 
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And now a little tourism promotion for my Country…
For years, I’ve been craving at least a week a year in this magical place: the Funes Valley (Val di Funes, in italian, northeast of Bolzano). The most beautiful peaks of the Dolomites, endless meadows, and fantastic roads.
You haven’t seen the Dolomites if you haven’t seen the Funes Valley…
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Dolomites are stunningly beautiful, summer or winter.
They’re an essential bucket list place.
The WW1 military history is gruelling and unbelievable. Just how did they do it?
I’ve also done five weeks of skiing round the Sella Ronda and a couple in Cortina.
One of my favourites from one of the earlier trips was the Hidden Valley, back when for the last section we skiers were pulled along a frozen river by ropes from a horse-drawn sled.
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Welcome Nicola from a very different Suffolk landscape. That’s a fine ND in some very fine spots, lucky you. I’m jealous!
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Oh my goodness. What a backdrop 
Truly wonderful.
Thank you for sharing.
I’m getting a “Lord of the Rings” vibe 
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Hi Nicola, your photos are absolutely stunning. We have been to the Dolomites on a coach trip, however your photos have certainly inspired us to come back in our MX-5. Thank you for sharing.
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