Happy New Year to you all. We must now struggle through the cold, pointless and dark miserable weeks ahead, known as January and February. I wish I could embrace this time, as opposed to wishing away what is left of my life in my annual longing for the Spring.
And talking of the cold and misery...I have again been a victim of crime, albeit indirectly this time. A wonderful man for the Forest of Dean called Richard has, ever since we moved to the fated (once fêted) Schloss Ziegler, delivered our logs to us four or five times a year.
Oil is no longer vanishing but, given its cost, our log burner - lit in September and flaming twenty four hours a day until April, is an essential part of our winter well-being. For Richard we were good customers. I never ’phoned around for competitive prices preferring, as ever, the devil-you-know principle.
The other day Richard called to say that his service would have to cease. All his log cutting and splitting machinery had been, erm, liberated at Christmas. Now - without pointing the finger at chaps in white tipper trucks, adorned with flashing orange lights and "Highway Maintenance" stickers and with perhaps a penchant for mobile homes and hard dogs - I am sure Richard was able to give the police a bit of a clue. The trail, however, has gone cold. No surprise there then. I feel most dreadfully sorry for Richard and almost guilty as, with stocks dwindling, I sought alternative sources. Without me being aware, Richard’s choppings to size were half the price of anything I have found thus far - hence my victim of crime schtick. Mrs Z is freezing her walters off. At least I spent the two interminable weeks of Christmas with the right car. Gracing the crunchy gravel until yesterday was the new Audi A5 Sportback 3.0 TDI Quattro. This is, in effect an A5 with a couple of extra doors. Some remain unconvinced about its looks. I don’t and nor does my daughter, which is very important for the future of Audi. It is as easy on the eye as the lines that form Keira Knightley’s jaw. From the rear it puts me much in mind of that other coupé in disguise, the Mercedes CLS.
Some say, that Audi’s Quattro (four-wheel-drive) models feel a little dead at the helm, especially when cornering con brio. Well, it may lack the ultimate sharpness of my Morgan but, tell you what, the Quattro system coupled to the refined 240bhp V6 Diesel, with 370 torques has proved to be just the ticket in the ice and snow of late. Phenomenally sure-footed and confidence-inspiring.
There is a bewildering array of engine options - as with the entire Audi range - but this 3.0 TDI is the A5 to go for, no mistake.
£35K gets you all the fruit, lashings of style and that Audi build quality. Sixty in six seconds and a limited 155MPH ain’t too shabby either.
It is also nice and warm in there.
Zog Ziegler