Goodbye dear friend
Discussion
The end of a wonderful and scintillating relationship. After nearly 23 years together, age is now taking its toll. I can no longer drive at night as my eyesight changes, and driving such a demanding car requires real concentration. My reactions are not as sharp as they were. The car will be sold at Paris this week, and I hope she finds a new sympathetic owner who can use her as I have done. The Alps, tours, track days and many other events. Here are a few photos of those wonderful times
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Edited by lowdrag on Tuesday 4th February 10:03
You have my sympathies, lowdrag. A couple of years ago I ended a 21-year affair with my SAAB 900 Convertible, albeit through choice. I still miss it, and you will miss the D too, but you'll cherish the memories and have earned our respect by taking the big step of admitting you can't continue driving it.
Not many people can say they owned anything as glorious as that.
Not many people can say they owned anything as glorious as that.
Whilst not entirely the correct poem, Binyon does spring to mind;
With proud thanks giving, a mother for her children,
England mourns for her dead across the sea.
Flesh of her flesh they were, spirit of her spirit,
Fallen in the cause of the free.
Solemn the drums thrill; Death august and royal
Sings sorrow up into immortal spheres,
There is music in the midst of desolation
And a glory that shines upon our tears.
They went with songs to the battle, they were young,
Straight of limb, true of eye, steady and aglow.
They were staunch to the end against odds uncounted;
They fell with their faces to the foe.
They shall grow not old, as we that are left grow old:
Age shall not weary them, nor the years condemn.
At the going down of the sun and in the morning
We will remember them.
They mingle not with their laughing comrades again;
They sit no more at familiar tables of home;
They have no lot in our labour of the day-time;
They sleep beyond England's foam.
But where our desires are and our hopes profound,
Felt as a well-spring that is hidden from sight,
To the innermost heart of their own land they are known
As the stars are known to the Night;
As the stars that shall be bright when we are dust,
Moving in marches upon the heavenly plain;
As the stars that are starry in the time of our darkness,
To the end, to the end, they remain.
Lawrence Binyon
And well done for admitting that you can no longer enjoy the car, I trust you are still driving something a little less demanding?
With proud thanks giving, a mother for her children,
England mourns for her dead across the sea.
Flesh of her flesh they were, spirit of her spirit,
Fallen in the cause of the free.
Solemn the drums thrill; Death august and royal
Sings sorrow up into immortal spheres,
There is music in the midst of desolation
And a glory that shines upon our tears.
They went with songs to the battle, they were young,
Straight of limb, true of eye, steady and aglow.
They were staunch to the end against odds uncounted;
They fell with their faces to the foe.
They shall grow not old, as we that are left grow old:
Age shall not weary them, nor the years condemn.
At the going down of the sun and in the morning
We will remember them.
They mingle not with their laughing comrades again;
They sit no more at familiar tables of home;
They have no lot in our labour of the day-time;
They sleep beyond England's foam.
But where our desires are and our hopes profound,
Felt as a well-spring that is hidden from sight,
To the innermost heart of their own land they are known
As the stars are known to the Night;
As the stars that shall be bright when we are dust,
Moving in marches upon the heavenly plain;
As the stars that are starry in the time of our darkness,
To the end, to the end, they remain.
Lawrence Binyon
And well done for admitting that you can no longer enjoy the car, I trust you are still driving something a little less demanding?
Have followed your posts for many years with great enjoyment. Many thanks for your insights. I understand the issue of increasing age and will be facing similar decisions.
Still, you have had fabulous experiences with the car that the vast majority of people will never have. Congratulations for using the car properly and keeping it in shape for the next owner!
Still, you have had fabulous experiences with the car that the vast majority of people will never have. Congratulations for using the car properly and keeping it in shape for the next owner!
For those who were wondering about my continued Jaguar involvement, this photo might reassure you. The 1961 flat floor has been my companion for very nearly forty years and 176,000 miles, visiting twenty countries and only having failed to proceed twice, both with a broken dynamo, requiring a new one being overnighted and on our way the following morning. And still starts first time.
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