How about some (Lulu) Guinness?

I don't drink beer but there is a kind of Guinness that I do like...

Ever heard of Lulu Guinness? I've always liked her designs. Especially the lips. The Union Jack lips in particular (it's a clutch, in case you're wondering).

Obviously this last one isn't for sale... but I just found it in her visual archive: "Mini kissed by Lulu Guinness"... you know I'm a Mini fan so this makes me like her even more! 

I heart my Mini

I've had my Mini for about two and a half months now. Am I happy with it? Absolutely! How did I ever live without a car? No idea!  

It is such a fun car to drive, especially because it's the sporty Cooper S. The engine has a really cool and dangerous-sounding rumble to it :-) 

I'm really pleased with the colour of the car, too. I'm glad I chose the white silver metallic, I think it's elegant and there aren't that many around. The child car seat is also from Mini.

I'm even getting better at parallel parking. I've always hated it but you can't avoid it in Europe so I've had no choice but to learn. When I'm parking, though, I'm always reminded of this video and I sometimes look around to see if anyone's filming me (do you ever wonder if you're on YouTube without your knowing?!). It's funny to watch but how humiliating for the woman! (I actually cringe every time I watch this!)

Crashing a brand new car

It's been one happy week since I got my new Mini! I have been having so much fun driving around in it and I am thankful for the air conditioning! I was going to post pictures of it but it looks exactly like the one I posted here and right now I am not in the mood.

Why am I shaking and crying as I write this? Well, some stupid woman backed into my brand new car today. I was not injured in any way but my poor car!

We were both stopped before a busy road (no lights), waiting for a chance to drive onto it. I was a good distance away from the car in front. But suddenly the car reverses! It didn't just roll gently, she backed, foot on the accelerator... obviously without looking!

I was really alarmed, hardly believing what I was seeing, and I honked the horn but to no avail. Bang! What on earth?!

The 'explanation': she had suddenly realised the car was on the cycle lane and wanted to make space for a cyclist coming our way.

Actually, she did not speak. Her husband was sitting in the passenger seat and he did all the talking. Anyway, we didn't get on very well, he called me arrogant and rude (because I was on the phone with my husband asking what I should do!), so we called the police. Oh, he also said, "What's the big deal? Things like this happen all the time."

My beautiful car has little but ugly black scratches on the front and the number plate is slightly crumpled. I have two witnesses - they were so nice, thank you - so getting the insurance sorted out should not be a problem. Just a hassle.

I'm so sad.
I don't think I'll be able to do the usual commenting rounds today. Sorry, everyone, please understand.

Let Frankenstein be your guide

Or a shopping trolley? Or a slice of pizza? My son would love the fire engine.

Click here for more.

I'm talking about navigation systems for the car...

I decided to get a portable one that is Mini-compatible (no wires!) for several reasons. Starting with the display: it is much easier to 'read' than the integrated version which is too 'dark' for my liking:

It's also a touch screen, costs about a tenth of the price and the look of it can be personalised. So instead of having an arrow to tell you which way to drive, you can replace it with one of those funny characters / objects.

Of course, I'll be downloading a Mini.

Speaking of which... today is the big day! I can't believe it. I get my Mini this afternoon! Yayyyyyyy!

1, 2, 3

It's going to be a Mini Cooper S!

I can hardly contain my excitement! We ordered my Mini a few weeks ago and I just find out that it will be arriving in about two weeks! I wasn't expecting it until the end of July / beginning of August so I am happy that the torturous wait will soon be over.

Here is what I am getting.

The Mini Cooper S - 184 hp is a lot for a small car!

As an automatic because it is simply easier in the city. (Forgive me, boys! But I will still be able to shift gears with paddles on the steering wheel - like F1 drivers, sort of! And for the record, I can drive a manual.)

With black leather sport seats! (instead of the white leather/black cloth combination offered with this model. In my first assessment it was either the S or leather seats, hence the big deal.)

It will have a fantastic Harman Kardon hi-fi system.

The colour is an elegant white silver metallic, which is only available for the Camden (a limited edition 50th birthday model). I love the pinstripes on the mirror caps.

For those interested, I have included a list of features for the Camden. Other extras we have ordered include sun protection glass, park distance control, heated seats, adapters for the iPhone / iPod and I'm not sure what else... 

This is so amazing for me because I still remember my first car. I was a university student and happy to have a car at all but it only had a cassette player with crap speakers, ugly cloth seats, no power steering and how could I forget what a struggle it was to drive uphill! 

What was your first car like?

1,2(my own),3,4,5,6,7,8

Mini update: White leather is out

Thanks to everyone who gave me advice on my Mini. Most of you said that the white leather would be a problem: high maintenance, hard to keep white, eventually the inevitable patina. Although I knew this, a part of me was still attracted to those 'limited edition' seats in black and white (with pretty turquoise stitching! do you see?), and I had several sleepless nights agonising over the decision.

We went to the showroom again and looked more carefully at the car. We've been so many times but we see something different and important every time we go there! This time we instantly zoomed in on the seats and... look what's happened to the white leather. I swear they weren't half as 'dirty' when we went last time so I was surprised.

Hence I have decided to go for black leather seats. This is the most sensible choice. I won't get so stressed out trying to keep them clean. And I will be able to continue wearing blue/black jeans - for a while I was thinking I might have to ditch all dark clothes and make white my new black (that would help keep white leather seats white).

There has been a new 'development', though, so it's not a straightforward 'I've chosen alternative one' (Mini Cooper + integrated navigation system + leather seats). Once we've ordered it - hopefully this week! - I'll be back with details!

A Mini obsession: Help, I can't decide!

I went for a test drive in the Mini this weekend! It was oh so exciting. I got used to driving it really quickly, it just felt so right. The interior of my Mini will look something like this.

We went through all the details - yes, lots of optional equipment to order - with the sales guy afterwards and there are several things I cannot decide on. I need your opinions!

Basically it comes down to either (1) or (2).

1. Mini Cooper (122 hp) + black leather seats + integrated navigation system

• Black leather seats are obviously much more practical. 
• The Cooper actually looks nicer / more elegant - the chrome slat grille (apparently that's what it's called) is simpler and silver, which blends in nicely with the white.

2. Mini Cooper S (184 hp, mega sporty) + limited edition upholstery (white leather and black cloth combination) + portable navigation system

• Hopefully I won't need a GPS after the first few months when I know my way around so this might be all I need.
• I really like the look of the white leather but keeping the white looking nice for years will take more effort. 
• The Cooper S looks sportier / more aggressive - black meshed grille - but it's a great engine. Turbo! Not that I'll need it much because I'll just be driving in the city but it's cool... 

I can't decide between the two 'combinations' that I've created. Which would you choose? Please tell me!

(Most photos are from the internet.)

A Mini Cooper: Yes it will be mine

When my husband and I got engaged - or just before he got the ring, to be precise - I explained solemnly that the diamond engagement ring would be the most expensive gift he would ever buy me (and that's why he shouldn't be stingy!).

Now, there's going to be a bigger purchase and it was his idea! Obviously because it's a car and not some useless jewellery.

I'm so excited to be getting a Mini Cooper!

We went to the showroom and talked to a very friendly guy there. Yes, he was good; not pushy at all. So good, in fact, that at the beginning of our conversation I confidently said I wanted the car in "chili red"...

... and left wanting something completely different, something I had totally ignored in earlier visits to the showroom. The Mini 50 Camden, a special edition created especially for Mini's 50th birthday.

It's different because it's offered in the special colour "white silver metallic" (basically a pearl white), with black and white as a general theme for the interior and (optional) stripes on the mirror caps (and a lot more, obviously). Overall, more elegant.

In comparison the chili red suddenly looked very aggressive. And didn't match my outfit of the day.

The good thing is that this edition includes a lot of 'extras' (that I would have wanted to order anyway). What's not included and I must have... (slightly embarrassed look) is the park distance control ;-) yeah even with a tiny car like the Mini!