The perfect convertible for a British summer

AND SO THE GOOD weather finally arrived! Sunny days, the mercury above 20ºC – yes, we know, no big deal in California, Florida, Southern Europe and elsewhere but, at last, the dankness had come to an end. Cue a busy time for the BMW and some topless motoring.

Of course, it hadn’t sat completely idle, but it had been a good while since the BMW last travelled 400 miles in a week. And the end of lockdown had an input: pubs and restaurants had reopened, so we booked a table at a lovely little place near Ashbourne for the Sunday of the Spring Bank Holiday weekend, just south of the Peak District, roughly halfway between my Northamptonshire home and Lancashire, where I was brought up. We travelled up and my parents travelled down.

The halfway thing seems pretty fair; what’s less so is that they get to enjoy the blissful scenery of the National Park en route, whereas it’s the M1 motorway for us. So this time we went the long way, via Market Harborough and Melton Mowbray, enjoying a favourite road of mine – the B6047 – which winds its way in rollercoaster fashion through rural Leicestershire. So nice to soak up the sun while I exploit the E30’s poise and balance, and great exercise for that silky straight-six too. We even did the same coming back. Never known my daughters (nearly ten and nearly 13) enjoy a drive so much, despite it taking the best part of three hours each way.

Back to work on the Tuesday, but kicking off with a drive to Caffeine & Machine near Stratford-upon-Avon, where I was picking up the new Aston Martin Vantage F1 Edition (see

Scorching hot day and another no-brainer for having the roof down and going the scenic way: there’s a particularly nice drive via Napton on the Hill and a twiddly bit close to Gaydon, before heading along the Fosse Way.

Come the weekend, we used the weather as an excuse to go out for ice cream, and found another fabulous road not far from home, one I hadn’t travelled before despite living in this house for more than 20 years. The B664 from Uppingham to Market Harborough is an absolute belter, with ever-changing vistas, challenging corners, surprising changes in altitude (I was brought up in the Pennines; I know what these things are) and even the odd hairpin. Great fun, and the ice cream was delicious.

Then Mrs W and I headed off to the Suffolk coast for an early anniversary celebration. And the weather changed. With perfect

Above, and below left

A sunny Sunday meant the Waddington clan could make the most of a trip to the Peak District; somewhat danker weather in Suffolk.

timing. I loaded the boot in pouring rain and we set off through torrents. Not so much fun, though the BMW shrugged it off and kept us dry; sometimes I actually prefer to drive with the roof up anyway, as you hear the engine more. But I confess to being extremely pleased that the next morning dawned clear, so we could make our way between Aldeburgh and Orford Ness then beyond to Shingle Street in the open air, smelling the country air and hearing the birdsong as we’d intended.

One thing the unseasonably wet weather only served to strengthen was my love and respect for the BMW: it’s truly a car for all seasons.