I had a very draining experience down on Brighton’s seafront at a Mini gathering.

Why I allowed my family to be battered all day by wind and rain I’m not sure, but it was sold to me as a great day out. And I suppose it was, helped tremendously by bacon butties, copious amounts of coffee and biscuits, burgers and chips, all topped off with a stick of rock. Felt disgusting by the end of this feast and then had to contend with very active kids on the way home.There’s always a price. However, my daughter did me proud as I used her as a prop once more to bolster my confidence. It’s normally with the in-laws, but it just shows how versatile they can be. I had to hand out leaflets, one for a mini product and the other for my own project of which I am so obsessed I fear that soon all my family and friends will leave me. My daughter is cute (what six year old isn’t?) and so greatly helped the cause…

There were many sights to behold once the rain had stopped – and not just the cars! I do love Minis and think back with great affection to a hand-painted yellow one, jointly owned with distant boyfriend. He got custody when we inevitably went our separate ways.

Then there was the lovely metallic blue one owned with husband, pre-marriage, pre-children, when all we had to worry about was our lovely black cat Polly, sadly deceased, who refused to travel in her basket and would sit draped around my shoulders whenever we travelled. She was spoilt and vicious.

I learnt a lot from her and vowed never to spoil my kids – however they’re vicious too, so something’s gone wrong. I still want a Mini and husband constantly promises, but it’s all wearing rather thin these days along with my looks. I know the Mini has benefitted from many facelifts, redesigns, upgrades, improved technology and indeed a complete transplant a few years ago, but the essential looks and character remain: It just seems to get better with ag

When I’m 50 (not too many years to go sadly) I’ll need so much plastic surgery to look good that I’d be unrecognisable, whereas the Mini still looks like a Mini. I’ve always consoled myself that with age would come more money with which I could make the most of myself with fabulous clothes and weekly facials. I hadn’t factored in the sheer cost of raising three kid

While I do manage to give my legs a shave now and then, I still shop at Gap and M&S and find designer stores intimidating. Unlike me, the Mini is celebrating its five decades looking better than ever. For me, elegance with age is a distant dream, rather like my hopes of a Mini. I shall have to content myself with being extremely wise instead…