Mayflower Park and Meriva

Two days apart and two very different visits to Mayflower Park. On Tuesday we saw Queen Mary 2 depart on a beautiful evening. Today, watching the departure of Queen Elizabeth for Amsterdam meant braving a cold wind and sharp showers. Whatever the weather, Mayflower Park has become a favourite and comfortable location, a place for leisure. We reached Southampton today in our new car. I was much more pleased than I had expected when I saw the high spec Meriva in the showroom on delivery but we are still evaluating it in use. Our Vectra was a much loved car and I was sad to see it go. The Meriva has a lot of differences. It amazes me the mean ways in which car manufacturers save money. With this new car only one folding key was provided with the spare being rigid. The new car is very comfortable but reaches and exceeds 30mph too easily. I am reflecting on whether many of its internal curves are superfluous or impractical; they seem to reduce the usefulness of the storage space. I will be very grateful if the local peasants at ASDA can avoid pushing their trolleys into our car. Most of the marks on my faithful Vectra were cause by other people with cars or trolleys.

I am feeling a little bit rattled with my latest book choice, Die Trying (a Jack Reacher novel) by Lee Child. I usually spot re-issues but on this rare occasion I was sucked in by a new cover cynically consistent with those of more recent publications. The title first appeared in 1998. I have almost certainly read it and, although I do not remember the narrative so far, I wonder whether to continue when I have so many books to read.

I am still a bit numb with the tiredness of two early mornings and the new car admin but I am looking forward to a stimulating weekend.