Targa Tasmania–Day 4

The last day of our Targa adventure started even earlier than before. We needed to be up super early to pack, checkout, have breakfast and then head to the first stage of the day which was about 40 minutes away.

I gotta say, that by this stage I was beginning to run out of steam. A full day’s driving, followed by dinner and early morning starts where not really providing the ability to be as fresh as these Tasmanian mornings.

None the less, with our luggage stashed in the support van, we completed our final briefing and breathalyser before heading onto the suburban streets for the drive to the first stage, Cethana.

During our trek we were greeted with some early morning fog that made the experience somewhat eerie as you can see from the above shots. Ferrari’s in the mist if you like.

Cethana, is quite a long stage by Targa standards at 40kms.

Our next stage, Castra, about 20 minutes away but would start off quite differently than all our other stages. Why? Well, we were greeted by about 5 kilometres of loose gravel as we climbed up the mountain.

There is nothing worse than the sound of stones constantly peppering a Ferrari as you will see when you watch the above video. Cringe-worthy to say the least.

At one point a stone appears to have gotten lodged in the brake calliper, so that during braking there was an awful grinding sound, which we didn’t appreciate exactly what it was at first. Luckily, the stone came loose not long after and there was no damage to the car and especially not to the carbon ceramic disks!

We continued along and completed the stage without further incident.

Gunns Plains was our next stage about 10 minutes away. This was a stage of about 15 kilometres.

From there it was only 5 minutes to probably the best stage of the day, Riana.

Riana is quite long at 36 kilometres and allows you to really get up some speed.

It has some long straights, sweeping bends and some tight turns that were all filled with spectators.

The above video gives you an idea of what being in the passenger’s seat was like. I gotta admit that I really like the sound track that accompanies these videos. Nothing beats the sound of a screaming 458 powerplant.

Riana was to be our last Targa stage. We headed to Burnie to regroup and grab some refreshments. Unfortunately, we also probably over whelmed the local coffee shop with a sudden rush of orders from a caravan of cars and caffeine deprived occupants.

We headed off to our next stop which was to be the car collection of Chas Kelly.

We parked up in the entrance way and had a tour of the cars he has on display there including an Ferrari F40 that Chas actually complete in Targa with (and crashed! Ouch).

Chas then took us to his ‘shed’ to see the remainder of his collection.

As you can see from the pictures, the collection in here is AMAZING! This is what I call a REAL man cave.

It was clear that it was going to be tough to drag everyone away from the collection but the time did eventually come that we needed to head off to our afternoon stop.

Not far away was a local winery where we spent the rest of the afternoon sharing all the experiences we’d enjoyed over the last few days. Many were already starting to plan their return next year. Here I managed to score the prized ‘chunder’ award for being the closest to actually throwing up (I will however point that I didn’t actually, but I did go close). My prize? A set of plastic raincoats ready for the next time on Targa. Other prizes were also awarded to worthy participants.

As the sun began to set, we headed back to the Devonport ferry terminal for the return trip to the mainland. As we were ending our journey before the end of the Targa proper, the ferry was much less crowded and luckily the weather was much friendly. This meant, that we could at least get some sleep without the massive swells we experienced on the journey over.

We sat around the upper deck and enjoyed some finger food and drinks before calling it a night and heading back to the cabins.

Before we knew it, were had arrived back in Melbourne and rolled onto the mainland to commence our journey home. We rendezvoused for the last time before going our own ways back home. Some headed to the airport, others the open road. I returned with the land convoy back up the Hume Highway for the long drive back, which was completed without incident.

We were all tired and keen to get home but glad we had come to Targa Tasmania.

So now it’s all done and dusted, and I’ve had a while to reflect, what are my thoughts? It was an amazing experience on the road as much as with a group of fellow car enthusiasts. Our accommodation was brilliant, the roads and scenery were amazing and the laughs we had were priceless.

Although I didn’t bring a car I did get to drive a number of Ferrari’s during the trip, which is always special. I will readily admit that I don’t like being a passenger in a car at any time but probably more so at speed. There was never any doubt about my driver’s or the car’s ability but I’d rather be behind the wheel rather than in the passenger’s seat I will happily admit.

Would I come back? If I did, I certainly wouldn’t bring the F355. Why? Being a manual car, without lots of driver aids (like say traction control), it would certainly be hard work driving and I am the first to admit that I don’t have the ability or experience to drive the roads we were on at the speed we were going in my car. However, if I was driving a 458, it would be a different story.

Probably the biggest takeaway for me was simply the added respect I gained for the 458. It eat up every stage with ease and never missed a beat. It is amazingly quick but it’s control, poise and braking ability is something you simply don’t appreciate until you experience it for yourself.

As much fun as the driving was I feel that the real highlight of the event was simply being part of a group of enthusiastic car owners who were part of the special experience that is Targa Tasmania. This is such a unique event, so well supported by the locals and enjoyed by everyone I hope it continues well into the future.

There we go, Targa Tasmania done and dusted in a Ferrari.

Targa Tasmania–Day 3

Another crisp but clear Tasmanian morning greeted us on day 3 of Targa. We were up even earlier today for another full day of stages. Although everyone was keen for the off again, these early starts were not what many had in mind when they signed up, was a common conversation point as people shivered in the early dawn. However, everyone was keen for another full day of driving as we received our daily briefing and mounted up for the day.

Our first stage, The Sideling was about a 40 minute drive from the Country Club. The Sideling is a 14 km stage.

We then headed to Moorina about 50 minutes away. Moorina is stage that is all up hill. It was hill climb time and the 458 didn’t disappoint.

Only 3 minutes away was the Wedlborough Pass a 14 km stage which included a long descent down the mountain, which was not something we had really seen as yet. This did take some adjustment and braking as we wound down the mountain.

Next up, Pyengana, only a few minutes away.

From here we headed to St Helens for the lunch break. We parked up on a local football field and headed off to enjoy some refreshments.

As I have said previously, it is truly amazing the support this event enjoys with locals, none more so than here at St Helens. While waiting for the group in front of us to leave we were blown away with the number of locals who had come to look at the cars. They were all really keen to learn more about us and the cars. It was truly gratifying to see how enthusiastic they were about Targa going through their neck of the woods and the support they give competitors like us.

We then had about a 45 minute drive to the next stage, Elephant Pass.

This is the most famous East Coast pass of Targa. It is about 11 km long with plenty of challenging driving conditions starting with a hill climb and finishing with a hill descent.

We had an usually long wait before we commenced the stage. This was great as it again allowed us to take in the fantastic scenery and catch up with others.

Elephant Pass was probably the most enjoyable stage I found in that it included both a hill climb and descent, while also having a combination of twists and straights all combined with some spectacular scenery.

With Elephant Pass complete we now headed along normal roads for 50 minutes to the Rossarden stage.

Once again this stage was through the mountains both up, but mainly down a mountain. It was a real rare treat to be able to drive these mountain roads at speed.

At the end of the stage we were greeted with with about 5kms of unsealed gravel road, which had a different effect on different drivers. Some, tried to ‘tip toe’ through the never ending ‘crunching’ gravel in the vain hope of limiting the damage to their car. Others, like my driver, took it as an opportunity for a ‘real’ rally stage by doing fishtails, slides, launches, emergency stops and more. For a few, like my driver, it was a prefect way to finish the day and you couldn’t wipe the grin off their faces.

I once again was given the controls of the 458 and we headed back to the Country Club. The return trip was over 90 minutes so it was great to get an extend time behind the wheel of the 458 which had seen quite a bit of action on day 3. Many a time the car had bottomed or ‘nosed out’ when travelling a speed down the mountain, but once again it had performed flawlessly. It truly is an amazing piece of machinery.

Today we’d done over 380 kms through Tasmania and was unfortunately our last full day on Targa a fact we lamented on over dinner at Cataract on Paterson in Launceston after freshening up before heading out. Tomorrow would again be an early and we’d also need to check out as well so we chose to make an early evening of it and get a back to our accommodation early.

Today, for me, was probably the best day on tour. We completed stages that really had everything and were truly characteristic of this wonderful place. The car and my driver performed flawlessly and we had some great times between stages. I don’t think it could get much better than this!

Targa Tasmania–Day 2

Today was to be our first complete day of stages, morning and afternoon, so we needed our energy and as such, most people were at breakfast early, with many still babbling about the prior day’s experiences.

We excitedly headed down to the car park where we were again greeted by a clear but extremely crisp morning. We completed our last minute briefing for the day, grabbed our radios, got our stage notes out, passed the breathalyser and once again headed off across Tasmania to our first Targa stage.

High Plains was our first challenge, about a 40 minute road trip from the Country Club. This stage is about 6 kms in length.

After High Plains we needed to travel about 50 minutes to the next stage, Sheffield.

As you can see, there is no shortage of scenery to look at while driving in Tasmania. Once again, the weather was magic, fine and clear.

I had also made a bit a discovery for myself while navigating during the rip roaring tour stages. I found that if I pushed my head firmly into the head rest I could read the notes and see the trip counter without becoming as motion sick. I think if I looked forward during the stages I would have been fine, but looking down, trying to read stage notes and then looking back up does not do one’s stomach well. Seems to me that you either look down at the course notes for the entirety of the stage or you look forward.

Sheffield is about 15 kms in length and starts with an uphill run. When we arrived the group in front of us were yet to start so we parked alongside and as usual, drivers and passengers, made a beeline for the bushed to help irrigate the local fauna.

As we stood around shivering and stamping our feet to ward away the cold of mid-morning Tasmania we were joined by a few locals, who were keen to check out the cars.

Another amazing sight we became accustom to down here is that fact that while we felt it was freezing and surely about to snow, the locals were getting around in shorts, thongs and T-shirts! They’re a hearty bunch down here.

Soon the group in front of us mounted up and rolled towards the start. As they took off from the start and headed up the mountain we could hear the roar of their engines and that made us all even more excited.

Soon, it was our turn to tackle the uphill climb which was very different from most of the previous stages.

It was at about this point during the tour that I confirmed my growing admiration for the ol’ 458. It is an absolutely AMAZING car. Not only is it quick, it accelerates, brakes and handles beautifully. In short, I want one!

The above video will give you some idea of what it was like during the climb. Don’t forget, that Targa is conducted on closed roads so you don’t have to worry about traffic (read logging trucks) coming the other way. Travelling at speed across double lines, around blind corners, what can I say? Gold bless Tasmania!

From Sheffield we had a short drive of only about 15 minutes to the next stage, Nook.

Nook is about 6.5 kms long.

We now headed for lunch at Latrobe.

Moriarty was the next stage after lunch, about a 15 minute drive from lunch. There was no time to ‘dilly-dally’ we had to be off at an exact time, directly behind the group in front. Stragglers would be left behind.

Moriarty is about 5.6 kms long.

Next up was Paloona, about 25 minutes away which was a 17 kms stage with plenty of twisty bits and tight corners.

Mt Roland was next up, about 30 minutes away. This was one of the longer stages at 27 kms and basically starts with a hill climb, goes across a plateau and then down the other side.

Mt Roland was our sixth and final Targa stage for the day. With the trip back to the Country Club, that would make fourteen driving stages in all up, over 350 kms for the day.

We regrouped at the end of the stage and confirmed plans for dinner tonight in Launceston at the Mud Bar Restaurant.

My driver and I swapped seats and I sedately headed back to the Country Club to rest and refresh before dinner.

Day 2 had been bigger, better and longer than day 1 and everyone was much more exhausted once the adrenaline had subsided. Today we’d taken on our first real mountain stage, both up and down, which was really special. We’d also had challenging twists and turns as well as flying straights. Everyone was really grateful that they’d made the time to come and looked forward to an even earlier start tomorrow for another full day of Targa Tasmania.

2018 Australian F1 GP

Well, I headed down to Melbourne again for the Australian F1 GP. Unlike last year, I was already in Melbourne for work so I just came along to the track rather than driving down in convoy like last year.

The stand was in the same location as last year, right over pit exit as you can see above.

Managed to also do a pit walk in the heat and capture some video of the experience that it is for you so you get an idea of what a scrum it is.

Friday was bright and very, very hot, much of which I copped walking back to my accommodation at the end of the day, which was about a 30 minute walk from the track. By the time I got back, and after a hard week of work, I was pretty knackered, so I decided to go to bed early and give the planned cocktail party a miss.

I awoke on Saturday to a very different Melbourne, overcast and windy. I again headed off to the track and about 15 minutes away the heavens opened and it bucketed down. Not having any rain protection I didn’t have much choice but continue my journey to the suite to dry off there after having been thoroughly rinsed.

The heavy rain continued for most of the day but started to clear by the afternoon, to once hot and sunny skies. Typical Melbourne as they say.

The suite this year was much large and was really a combination of two suites. There was much more space to view the racing and best spot was again on the chairs at the back on the elevated platform. Food and drink was regularly forthcoming so there was no real need to move.

Those that had brought their cars for the vent also got some track time but it was in very, very wet conditions so speeds had to be kept well down. Still, when else do you get the opportunity to drive around an F1 track in your own car? Even in the rain, it is something special.

That night I headed over with a few others to Lorbek Luxury Cars for a meet up with YouTuber Shmee150. Of course, there were also plenty of night cars to look at.

We finished the night with a nice Italian dinner, ready for race day.

Still overcast, race day was full of the usual excitement and enjoyment. Unfortunately I had to leave early to fly home but we got the right result at the end.

I’ll be back down south next month for Targa Tasmania, which is going to be a week of driving through some magic scenery along some amazing roads. Can’t wait.

Day 4–Australian Grand Prix 2017

After a hearty breakfast all the cars headed over to the track for their parade lap around the Albert Park circuit.

With around 50 cars you can see that the line up drew quite a crowd as it waited to head onto the track.

Just about every modern Ferrari was represented.

I headed over to the suite to watch the spectacle from the comfort of the suite as the temperature was now starting to rise.

By midday the suite had started to fill up as the action on the track started to get serious.

By qualifying time it had gotten quite humid but we all enjoyed the tussles of the drivers going for pole position. In the end the Ferraris are sitting second and fourth on the grid which is a great place to start tomorrows race.

It was another day of action and great interactions between people in the suite and everyone enjoyed their time and are ready for the main event tomorrow.

We finished off the night at Brunettis in Lygon street to ensure we got the the full Melbourne experience.

Roll on Sunday.

The night of the Prancing Horse

The launch of the 488GTB in Sydney was held at Inglis Newmarket stables in Randwick. That meant a trek from the opposite side of the city but I was lucky enough to score a shotgun seat in a 458 driven by a kindly FCA Club member. Clearly, the best way to arrive at an official Ferrari event!

We arrived a tad late thanks to the shocking state of Sydney traffic, even at this time of night! (Does peak hour ever end in this place?). After alighting and being ‘checked in’ at the entrance we were greeted with a display of cars that lead to the inception of the 488.

In the first layout was a 308, 328 and 348 just inside the entrance. It was also a nice to have a dressage horse and rider ‘sauntering’ and around the cars and guests.

A walk through the stables, along a candle lit path ended us in front of a huge flood lit 488GTB sign. One kinda wonders what happens to this after the event? maybe it follows the car around to other locations? Who knows?

To the immediate right we could see a further display of cars and the entrance to stable.

Here we found a 360, 430 and 458 along with a 355. These cars belonged to club members and if you are wondering why my 355 didn’t make the grade it is because it is a GTS (detachable roof) not a GTB (i.e. Berlinetta). Unfortunately, given the detachable GTS roof has now been replaced by folding metal ones on the coupe, it seems my model may never get a guernsey at future events either. No worries, I like owning something unique, the last GTS Ferrari!

Inside the stable was a crush of invited guests and other dignitaries, 300+ seemed to be the count. The front of the main hall was where all the action was clearly going to take place while off in the stalls on the sides where a number of displays and refreshment.

I managed to position myself towards the front but as you can see from the above video all I really managed to capture was everyone else holding up THEIR phone also trying to capture the 488’s entrance. Hopefully, you at least get an idea of what the atmosphere was like.

After the car’s entrance the rest of the night was basically a throng of people oohing and aahing over the 488.

As you can see the car was a gun metal grey, rather than the traditional rosso corsa. That was a tad disappointing as the car tended to get lost among the crowd also in generally attire.

I also have to say that the way they lit the car didn’t help taking photos as the light seemed to bounce right into the lens as you can see from the above shot.

As the crowds began to thin out I took the opportunity to hop behind the wheel and see what the pilot eye’s view was. Such a nice place to be, even with the engine not running.

As you can see, the true enthusiasts (i.e. me) stayed until there was virtually no one left in order take some pictures of just the car.

Only problem was those damm lights where still spoiling my shots! From here the car is packed off to its next destination to have more sweaty bottoms inside. Would you buy this demonstrator? Hmmm…certainly not in this colour.

The official video Ferrari made for the event (above) is very different feel from all the others so far which is interesting. A little more understated that some of the other launch videos.

All in all an interesting night and my first experience of a Ferrari ‘launch’. The theming and the venue were great, the lighting no so much and sadly, it would have been better if the car was the traditional red, but I still considered myself very lucky to have had the opportunity to attend.

We expect to see the first 488GTB in Australia come February or March 2016.

Riding shotgun

Been a bit quiet here recently, but that is a good thing as the F355 has been running well, taking many trips, consuming much petrol and providing endless enjoyment.

However, for recent change of pace I decided to leave the F355 behind on a recent Club run and see how many different cars I could manage to ride shotgun in.

The day started out with a ride in a California. Next was a 308 (Magnum PI style). Then I jumped into a 458 for the journey through the Royal National Park south. During that stage I captured the above video.

The car in front is a new McLaren 650S owned by a Club member. Spectacular stuff, through the forest, along the windy road in weather that was a little damp to say the least.

After pulling over to admire the view at Stanwell Tops I swapped to the McLaren for the ride to Bulli where we enjoyed a great lunch at Sublime Point.

I was returned to Sydney in the 308 (after it received a bit of an electricity ‘top up’ from another vehicle and their jumper leads.

All in all a great day of partaking as a passenger and being able to just sit back and enjoy the ride, through both the city and countryside. My choice for best ride? The 458 without hesitation. It is a magnificent car and all I can say now is – I want one!

More skidpan action

Here’s some more skidpan action from the FCA National Rally 2014 at Sydney Motorsport Park.

FCA National Rall 2014

Every year the Ferrari Club of Australia (FCA) organises get together for Club members from all over Australia in one location. This year it was Sydney’s turn and I was lucky enough be assisting with making this week of events happen.

The week kicked off with registrations at the Four Seasons hotel in the heart of Sydney.

It was certainly a sight to behold in the car park below the hotel but the initial challenge proved to be getting all of these cars out of the car park the following morning on their way to the concours at Woolwich.

Provisions had been made for the cars to exit via the normal exit route, however this proved too ‘scraping’ for some, even with boards in the gutter, so it was decided that the cars should exit via the entry.

This took a little bit of co-ordination and logistics but by about 9am those wanting to exit had done so and were on their way to the concours.

Having travelled into the city via public transport I opted to continue that and hopped on a ferry for the very pleasant trip around Sydney Harbour to the foreshore location of the concours.

After a short walk from the ferry terminal I cam upon the spectacle as you can see above. A fantastic location filled with fantastic cars.

Only problem was that the wind had come up to a point where it prevented the erection of all the banners and flag which was disappointing as they would have really capped a great atmosphere.

Having all the cars linked up on the foreshore was a truly spectacular site with Sydney Harbour as the backdrop. You just can’t beat that.

Unfortunately, after lunch (but luckily after judging had completed) the weather started to close in and it started to rain.

That was the signal for everyone to make a beeline for their cars and to call it quits for the day and head back to the hotel. However, all in all the day went well and everyone enjoyed themselves. I strolled back to the ferry terminal for a leisurely return via public transport.

Day 2 of the Rally signalled the start of a drive day down to a winery in the Southern Highlands. My job for the day was to arrive at the way point ahead of participants and guide them as to what to do.

The first way point was at Dolls Point in the southern suburbs of Sydney. It is always interesting to see the reaction on residents faces when 40+ Ferraris all rock up to their quite neighbourhood street.

The next stop was Panorama House at the top of Bulli Pass for morning tea.

Once again, an impressive sight to see so many prancing horses in one location.

The final stop for the day was the winery where some major traffic management was required to get everyone accommodated. Unfortunately, by this stage the weather had turned quite chilly and wet but everyone was safely inside enjoying a fine lunch. I headed back home the short way along the freeway as I had work commitments to attend to for the rest of the day.

The third day was the highlight for most attendees, that being track day at Sydney Motorsport Park at Eastern Creek. Because some serious bragging rights where up for grabs all cars had to pass scrutineering.

My roll was to marshal the troops and keep them happy and caffeinated.

Next came the driver’s briefing (basically don’t do anything stupid).

And then they were off, split into three groups.

After lunch the skid pan was also opened up for people to complete a tight course through some cones over a wet surface. I was lucky enough to be a passenger for one of these runs and caught it all on the video you see above.

After many more laps and a great deal of fun, everyone head back to the hotel. This was my last day of helping with the Rally as I had work commitments for the rest of the week.

I had a blast meeting some very passionate Ferrari owners from around Australia and sharing the events with them. A great way to spend a few days!

The two year anniversary

As I move into the third year of ownership of my Ferrari F355 it is once again time to step back and reflect on what has transpired in the previous 12 months.

You can revisit my musing at the one year anniversary here:

https://blog.lovethe355.com/2013/09/the-one-year-anniversary.html

So let’s get on with a wrap for the paper anniversary.

Costs

Maintenance costs for any sort of supercar are always going to exceed those of a ordinary road car. Now the most interesting thing this year is that I drove the F355 over 7,000 kilometres which was a 48% increase on what I did the previous year. This was directly reflected in a 48% increase in the amount of fuel I used, so no surprises there.

Interestingly, that usage is about 60% of the usage of my normal road car. Total maintenance costs for the Ferrari fell below $9,000 for the year which was about a 9% decrease over the year prior. That figure also included the cost of insurance which is the major running cost of the car. This year I switched insurers after shopping around (and going through some renewals dramas).

Over the twelve months I did not make any major improvements to the car, unlike the previous year, so the totals costs all up for everything associated with the car was just over $10,000 which was 40% less than the year before.

Travel

The car has now done about 12,500 kilometres since purchase, completing over 7,000 this year (a 48% increase over the previous year as mentioned). That averages out to 142 kilometres per week this year verses 100 the year prior.

This years learning’s

1. As last year, the number one thing you need to have with cars like these is a great mechanic and luckily Sal DiMauro from Racing Red is just that and his assistance in the prior year once again proved invaluable. Answering my questions during my panic with overfilling the car with oil was just one example of what a great job he does. So if you need Ferrari mechanic, Sal’s the man.

2. The car won’t dissolve when you take it out in the rain. Although driving in the wet is far from being the most pleasant experience with the F355, it doesn’t prevent the car from working! After a number of trips in the car this year in quite heavy rain I have shattered my preconception that it only works when the sun is out.

Low Points

1. Backing the car into a road sign and splitting the bumper.

2. Overfilling the oil level.

3. Insurance woes

4. The car getting over sprayed by a fire extinguisher.

High Points

1. Every day I get to see the car. Whether under a cover or from behind the wheel, I thank my lucky stars every time.

2. Finally taking the car onto the track.

3. Road to Sydney Cavalcade.

4. Ferrari Racing Days.

The year ahead

The end of this calendar year will be a major maintenance appointment for the car. It will the engine taken out and serviced and the timing belts replaced. This has always been a know quality with the F355 as it needs doing every 3 years or 15,000 kilometres. I will also probably take this as the opportunity to get the shock absorbers refurbished as they have been showing signs of wear. All this won’t be cheap but it needs to be done.

I see the car doing more kilometres given the number of outing that the Ferrari Club is undertaking. This is also in part due to my increased confidence with the car and the realisation that it isn’t going to ‘fall apart’ just by being driven long distances.

Summary

Owning a Ferrari F355 still challenges me but I am finally beginning to be more comfortable with driving it. I doubt whether I will ever be as casual about driving as I am with a normal road car but another year’s worth of driving the F355 has greatly increased the comfort levels.

I also think that ‘repairing’ the bumper that I cracked has overcome much of the fear I had about doing something ‘wrong’ to the car, simply because I DID something wrong if you know what I mean. Actually sanding, filling and painting the car has perhaps removed that ‘pristine’ misconception I had about the car. The difference this year is that rather paying someone to fix a problem (like the dent I previous put in my door) I had a go at fixing it myself. Although far from perfect, I was rather proud that it turned out as good as it did. Most importantly, I learnt a lot throughout the process.

I have been on so many amazing drives this year where it was simply a pleasure to put the roof down and just drive along. Doing so has allowed me to experience some great scenery as well as interact with some great people from the Club. That, above everything else, has made the previous twelve months ownership more than worthwhile and something I’m so glad has happened.

The final note is a thanks to anyone who reads or follows along with this blog and my YouTube channel.I need to get back to making more videos which I promise to do soon. Hope you have enjoyed another year of ‘entertainment’ and hope you’ll stay with me to see what transpires in the coming 12 months.

The above video is what I reckon is my best one for the year.