I love Christmas. Having the family together.
It's still my favourite time of the year
even though I do have health issues, and my
mum suffering from dementia. Somehow at
Christmas time all of that seems to disappear.

What's your happiest time?

When I got my first rifle, at the age of ten years.

Dear Is Mise,

Wow. That's awesome.

I can understand how you must have felt.
Getting what you wanted. I remember
wishing for a bicycle at that age. I got
clothes instead.

Dear Foxy,

I wasn't given any ammunition however; that was only doled out when I went out with an adult!!

Dear Is Mise,

That sounds like a very responsible thing
to have done.

All the good books I've read.

Nothing is better than a good book.

Dear Tony,

Yes. Stories found in books seep into our very being.
We all have books that lifted the fog for us,
caused the Great Aha, and literally changed our lives.
The printed word is pondered, and it is received
only when the mind is fully engaged. Like no other
medium books have the power to stay with us.

Foxy I hesitated about this for quite a while.

However it was Bathurst, Easter 1966.

In 1965 I bought the oldest Brabham race car still in existence. It was way out of date Formula 2, & had a blown up engine, with bits hanging out the side. No one else wanted it, or I wouldn't have been able to afford it.

Three mates, an accountant, a tool maker, a salesman & I then spent 6 months updating, overhauling & rebuilding the chassis, suspension & stuff, working on it 3 or 4 nights a week. At the same time, the accountant & I built it an engine, based as all F2 engines of the day were, on a Ford 115E {Cortina] engine block.

I had a massive amount of help. People did things for us, & gave us bits, or supplied their bits or work very cheap. Still it was quite a struggle to pay for it, & the mortgage.

With a huge effort, with a few major items borrowed we got it to Bathurst for it's first race. Long story short, I won the Formula 2 race, & my class, finishing 3Rd outright in the Bathurst 100, the main Formula 1 race of the weekend.

After the racing, my lady & I were sitting quietly, a bit overwhelmed actually, down the back of the BP tent. My crew were the noisiest in the tent. Everyone congratulating them on getting that "old heap of junk" not only on the track but to the winners circle.

My lady asked me how I liked all that responsibility. If I had put a foot wrong, those blokes would now be all miserable, their efforts wasted. However, with the result, all their efforts & work were rewarded, in the best possible way.

It felt just so good to see them on top of the world, & that made me really happy. For the next 2 seasons it was us against the world. Although a huge relief financially, it was a pity I was then given a Formula one drive, & the team split up.

Dear Hassie,

Wow! Congratulations! What an achievement.
The only thing I know about racing in Bathurst
is Peter Brock. I watched the TV special a while
ago - and I can only imagine the rush and
sheer joy of racing that people experience.

You've led an amazing life by the sound of things.
Thanks for sharing some of it here with us.

For some weird reason my most beautiful moments were the milk cart's deliveries when at age 4 I collected a can full. The cart had an ornamental curved foot-step and coach lamps on the curving metal reins-bar. My oldies were cattle-thieves on the Scot borders so genetic throw-back may cause admiration of the horse-cart ornaments.

At age 10 my slightly insane father made me drive a Jeep up the NSW north highway and when I played chicken with an oncoming semi he took over the wheel.

Dear Nick,

The things that we remember from our childhood.
I remember Saturday's were house-cleaning and
clothes-washing days as both my parents worked
during the week. I have fond memories of
that time. Clean sheets, the smell of cooking.
cinnamon even today brings back memories of mum's
delicious pastries. Then we'd all gather around
the television at night. Those were happy times.
Just like for you, they come flooding back at
times when you least expect them and are a great
comfort.

My mother's grandfather produced this which is less stylish than the milkman's cart. But at 4 I had no idea about it , ..weird..
Angus Buggy By Angus & Sons Sydney D White & Co • AUD 44.99 ...
picclick.com.au/Angus-Buggy-By-Angus-Sons-Sydney-162187498765.html
Angus Buggy By Angus & Sons Sydney D White & Co FOR SALE • AUD 44.99 • See Photos! Money Back Guarantee. Ref No F2 18 Angus Buggy By Angus ...

Dear Nick,

Still very stylish.

Goodness you've got a good memory.

I don't remember much at that age.