Mr Hawkes. Some people enjoy high performance cars for the quality of their engineering and the joy of driving them, perhaps that's something in my blood as my father was a motor mechanic? But such cars are really for the track not the public highway (I remember a director trying to draw a discussion on data protection to a close quickly so as not to get stuck in traffic on the way home from the City office underground car park on a Friday evening; fast cars can be difficult in slow moving traffic!), but I've had several enjoyable days at Brands Hatch and Snetterton in my younger days, although that's mainly been a Formula Ford or RS2000 on the circuit, or an old banger on skid pans - that's fun - except once with laps in a Massa and Aston around an airfield (only cones to hit there, no crash barriers; i wouldn't claim to be a good fast driver 🙂). I'm not sure all those City directors with posh cars would appreciate your comments on their status trophies which presumably are to emphasise their success to friends, family and neighbours? (Yeah, and sometimes the doors have to be widened to get their egos into the meeting rooms ... but I wouldn't accuse them of being drug dealers ...)However, let's be practical, these days, Zipcars are best; someone else does the maintenance, they're up-to-date lease cars, and residents parking is not my problem. I'd also stand by my own comments - that's why I often post links to justify them - and even when I'm drawing analogies or playing "devil's advocate" that's to move the arguments forward - not that there's a Devil! Similarly, there isn't really a Sabbath as not all religions agree on the day, and if one enjoys one's work, isn't every day a holiday? :-)Out of interest, in your IBM days, did you wear the uniform of a black suit and white shirt, or was it just the salesmen (not sure I came across any saleswomen back in my software house days)?
Michael Ixer ● 17d