I finally got my Mercedes back yesterday after a very long time off the road. Here it is parked outside the store in High Street.

It has had some serious work done to it and I am pleased to say it is back to its best.

This car really is my soul, I have driven my children home from the hospital in it, laughed and cried in it and almost died in it. I have had it since before I started the business and for many years I drove it every day.

Every time I drive her she brings a smile to my face (note affectionate term referring to the car as a woman). In my experience classic cars are a lot like women: beautiful, temperamental and unpredictable. They can be expensive and the older they get the more you value them even if they do require more maintenance.

It's also good not to have too many of them at once as they all require being used regularly.

In the past she has let me down on numerous occasions but how could you not forgive that face.

Built in 1967, the same year I was born, the  W108/W109 model series was a large luxury car line that was built by Mercedes from 1965 through 1972. The car was designed by automotive designer Paul Bracq and 383,361 were built.

Paul Bracq was the head of Daimler Benz's Advanced Design studios in Sindelffingen starting in 1957. He also designed the 230SL Pagoda and went on to work on the TGV high speed passenger train.

Many of you will be familiar with Gavin Hurleys work, we are big fans at Crane Brothers and have a number of examples of his work in the stores.

He has a new exhibition starting soon at Anna Bibby Gallery.

Pencil it in...

Disguises are good, especially when robbing a bank.

My only advice would be choose something that was less likely to be picked up by the international media.

Under the Radar.

Alex Higgins died at the weekend.

I still remember the Christmas we got a pool table. It was set up in our split level garage and became a permanent source of rivalry in our family . Pot Black reigned supreme and Alex Higgins or the Hurricane almost made having an anger management problem cool.

I've never had the patience for many games, Snooker always frustrated me so I responded to his tirades. Apart from the odd cameo with my father at the RSA I'm retired these days. I used to play pretty much every day but I think I snapped my cue in two over my knees probably 10 years ago now, about the same time I gave up smoking and drinking.

Brilliant, self destructive he was an inspiration to me for all the wrong reasons growing up.

Dead at 61, toothless and eating baby food alone in a council flat I'm glad the infatuation stopped but still sorry to see how it all ended.