I was nine years old when I first laid eyes on the car of my dreams. It was Morden Corn & Apple Festival's annual Show & Shine. The sun was shining as I wandered through the cars with my uncle, a huge fan of old American muscle cars. However, the owners of these types of cars tended to be very particular with who they would allow near their precious vehicle. But as we continued wandering, I saw a different car that piqued my interest. She was small, light blue with a Union Jack on the roof. As I neared this car, the middle-aged gentleman, who had owned the car since new, offered me a smile. More than that, he offered me, a young boy fascinated by the culture around me, an opportunity that would change my life forever. He offered me the chance to sit in his car. If you haven't figured it out yet, that car was a Mini. I sat in his car, grinning from ear to ear. When I left that day, I knew, that someday, I would own one of these fine specimens of British engineering.
So, when I discovered a great deal on the car of my dreams, I had to have it. Lucky for me, my wife agreed & encouraged me to purchase my first mini and so Maggie came home to live with us. She's a 1978 Austin Mini 1000, with a 1275cc engine, blue with white stripes on the bonnet, 12 inch white Mini-Lite rims and a white roof. 
We've built a shed to house her, been in several parades, car shows and rendezvous' as well as taken her to the Mini's 50th birthday party this past year. Life with a British car is never boring and we've had our share of troubles but they all add to the adventure. She's definitely not my last Mini but she will always have a special spot in my heart as My First Mini.
