The Keys to Happiness
18th January 2007

My Dad had a Jag when I was young, just like the one in Inspector Morse but my Dad’s was maroon I loved that car and so did my mates which was even better than me loving it, in the early seventies it was a cool car. That car made me cool and it made my Dad cool and let me tell you that that was no easy task to make my Dad look cool, as for me I was always blessed with the cool gene.

Nowadays things have shifted slightly as it is usually people of a certain age that now drive Jags, especially the more retro ‘S type’. I like that particular Jag as it takes me back like the wink of a pretty girl to a time before Jade Goodie back to an era of Glam Rock and Stylofone’s back to when personal computers was pure science fiction.

Just imagine my surprise when my old Plymouth mate Graham Ireland and his slip of a wife Sarah arrived for a prearranged weekend along the mighty banks of the Severn with me and my almost slip of a misses. Graham was all Jaged up! Gone was his German mile muncher his BMW powerhouse was blitzed in favour of the English home guard. He could not have been more excited than if Kylie Minogue herself had whipped of her boob tube and had said “come up and see me sometime”, Graham was soon showing me the hand stitched leather and the built in SatNav that doubles as a DVD player and on and on he went. Evidently European luxury cars are very expensive in Australia, so just prior to his emigration Graham bought the Jag on the spur of the moment with the idea of shipping it out. At this point I have to admit that it was a beautiful car and that I was just a little envious of Graham and the lovely Sarah and even Michelle fell in love with it, the superb car was a hit all round with its most amazing feature being the near silent three litre diesel engine. Brumbrum!

That evening after a fabulous meal in the local all four of us trekked the fifty yards back to our cottage by the river. It was then that the beer whisky and wine came out along with an innocent looking pack of cards. Graham is a bit of a gambler and a player, I had heard all about his exploits around various card tables and I too in the past and in my more younger moments had played a few hands. The scene was set and the rules laid down and Poker pure and simple captured all that night. It started small and innocent but doesn’t it always but it ended in youthful over confidence and the mastery of an old card sharp. My winnings that night was an almost new S type Jag! Graham was less pleased than me at the outcome and Sarah was even less pleased but a bet is a bet and a win is a win.

Now, I have a dilemma I have a beautiful Jag costing around thirty grand new which I cannot afford to run or keep. She is now up for sale and a quick sale at that, all I am asking is £10,000 and absolutely no offers. Anyone interested contact me on marcmoor@googlemail.com first come first served.

The official handover and the keys to happiness or £10,000 which ever comes first!