I have not spoken to the editor about how much she wants from me, however I am aware we have just had the AGM, so there will be reports from that and these will take up a few pages. I am also aware that Don has more test drive reports and these will also take up some space so I am assuming I need to make this one shorter. I am going to just type and see what rambles through my mind, time will tell if it is short, or not!
In our immediate sights we should be looking at the Fish and Chip drive to Kaiaua, a good excuse just to get out of the house and drive your Peugeot, or any other vehicle you wish to bring along, either meet us at the “Autobahn” stop just south of Papakura or meet us there. When? 11.30 Saturday September 10.
I know that Don said at the AGM that he would get hold of Nick, after we all discussed it and voted unanimously for it to happen, and see if he would organise the inter-club with Wellington early next year. Well I have pre-empted it, couldn’t help myself, Nick Watson has said yes, so the wheels are rolling, watch this space for further detail as we head towards the end of the year. In my opinion the last one Nick organised was the best interclub I have attended, and by that I take nothing away from those that have been held in Taranaki before and since which were excellent as well as. Looking forward to Taumarunui or some nearby location that Nick will no doubt be organising.
This time last year I was writing about my first driving and pedestrian ‘adventures’ in Sicily. I reread my Ramble for inspiration. It has brought back some very fond memories and can only reiterate that the driving in Sicily is mad, and yet despite this, or maybe even partly because of it, I would return to Sicily at a drop of a hat, it was my favourite location in Europe. Since finishing my work, at least for now, in the Bay of Plenty, I have not left Auckland. I have been no further West than New Lynn, no further North than Okura, no further East than Botany Downs, and no further South than Manukau, so relatively confined. Therefore very little rambling to note.
My parents have recently been overseas and bought back a mix of newspapers from Europe, the Middle East and Australia, these I have let my eyes and mind ramble over instead. I can report the following;
The New York Times international edition is very grey, little colour used and has very few advertisements – I am guessing largely due to the fact it has an international distribution that doesn’t match a lot of companies markets.
The Middle Eastern newspapers, (I have more than one of them) are the most colourful and are printed on a thin glossy paper type. I suspect not as durable as ordinary newspapers if the pages are turned quickly. Some have glossy outside pages with inner pages of ordinary newsprint quality, but still very coloured. The middle- eastern version of the FTWeekend has a strange almost pink aura to the newsprint.
The Italian papers they bought back have to be most colourful papers I have ever seen; pictures often take up more than the text, and the text on some articles has coloured backgrounds, often starting with a relatively dark background at the top of the article (in colours such as green, orange or blue) which fade to the background paper colour by the bottom of the article.
The Times from England was of a small format, many pages and lots of colour, but all dull colour or subdued, no glossiness at all. Although in different languages the Dutch and Australian papers seemed very alike, lots of colour, lots of sport but plenty of other articles too. Somehow they use the same quality newsprint as the Times of England, but their papers seem glossier and brighter. Not sure whether it was because they print their photos in a brighter format or whether they simply have more bright colours in their photos and adverts.
Of interest to those of us not used to the culture of Muslim counties I noted that many of the advertisers, especially in the Gulf News of Dubai, advertise Ramadan specials, though often without mentioning Ramadan itself. They are more subtly worded, talking about “the season” or “the celebration.” Not quite like our blatant Christmas and New Years sales.
Of greatest interest to us Peugeot Club members was what Peugeot in Dubai is offering. They were advertising for the 208, 308, 301 and 508 and a limited time offer for “Generosity that lasts beyond the season” of a 5 year or 1 million(!) km warranty, 3 years/60000km free maintenance, free window tinting, free insurance and free registration.
The next best I could find was 150,000km being offered by KIA.
Right, that’s it.
Brent
PS Your $45 subs are now due.