We didn't quite make it.

Was hoping to make it to the weekend, but this morning that little cog just turned that little bit sooner than I'd expected, and there it was. Four days before we'd spent six years and six months in each others company and we'd hit 100,000 miles together -four days and we'd have had a double anniversary.

Sure, the engine clunks a bit, the exhaust growls a little, the aircon may be about to go and you have to get ever closer for the remote central locking to work. There have been minor scratches and a couple of new bumpers, but the wing mirrors are heated and there's a little light in the ashtray (those Japanese think of everything!)

Every year I'm threatening to trade it in, but today, as yesterday, we weaved through busy city traffic with ease, across country lanes without squawking at the ignominy of the potholes or the pain on the suspension. Shall we do another 100k together? Shall we?

My car, I salute you.