Horsepower

A week or so ago ex-colleague Tom called to say he would be in the area today and would pop in with his family. Then two days ago friends we have known for the last two years in connection with farrier days said they would like to ride over to visit, our contact having been restricted to horse stables. As it was a seldom opportunity we said of course despite the "clash" of dates and also with the thought that the riders wouldn't be able to stay too long.

As the weather forecast was good, we risked a BBQ, the first since the first week of August, recommissioning the fire pit/BBQ, son J and son-in-law Barry had quickly put together for a family do on 8th August. Needless to say it poured all morning and the ride was cancelled but we asked Norbert, wife Nicki and daughter Amalie to come anyway for lunch. Tom arrived in his car, followed by his wife Sandra and daughter Josefine in a second car, the one in the Blip and the reason for their trip. It had been at a specialist for some mechanical work.

The car is Sandra's - not only men have toys! It's a 1981 280 SLC and cost the equivalent of around 25,000 Euros new. When we worked together Tom was always dreaming of getting a MB Unimog tractor & kept filling the scarce company parking spaces with various old MB G-Class SUV's he was restoring. When he became a responsible father in 2013, he gave this all up for a sensible estate car!

Cars over 30 years old and in more or less original condition can be given "old timer plates" and enjoy certain tax and other benefits eg being able to drive in city centers where normally only newish cars are allowed. For instance my 12 year old Jeep isn't allowed inside the Munich ring road being a diesel without particle filter. If you see a car with German plates with an "H" at the end, it's an old timer.

Sun came out as they arrived. Most of the time we could see dark clouds and hear very loud thunderclaps but it stayed sunny & warm. Apart from my BBQ lighting difficulties turned out to be a very pleasant lunch, with Tom taking the part of BBQ chef, a job I avoid. Angie as always served up great accompaniments. Josefine had a paddle in the pool, the first one not exactly voluntarily - the pool cover looks very solid... but as a visiting dog also recently discovered, it's not.

Sandra & a tiring Josefine left first in Tom's car to head back to Munich followed soon after by Norbert & family. Tom was able to hang on for a while and we could catch up on news since our last get together in November 2013.

As always time was far too short to really have a good conversation but hopefully we will be able to repeat in the near future. Norbert & Nicki live just 5km away, so shouldn't be hard to arrange something. Will have to get Sandra & Tom back soon as Angie missed having a good chat with Sandra and I always enjoy Tom's company. I miss not seeing him at work, we had a lot of fun together - a very special guy.

Tom set off with the sun going down and the lovely sound of the 6 cylinders, no doubt cruising his way back to Munich. I suspect once he was out of sight, he pulled over and put his Bavarian hat with a feather and toilet roll with a pink & white crocheted cover on the rear parcel shelf. Luna would have been a good addition as a Wackeldackel but got left behind........