Upper Middle Petrol Head:

I have just had my fourth, and final ever, article published in Tasmanian Living. I think most people know that I have been a proud contributor to the magazine since its first edition. However, I no longer feel that I can write for them, given that one of their editors has seen fit to re-punctuate my work with humiliating results.  Anyone who knows me will understand how absolutely mortifying I find it to have school boy errors such as it’s (a contraction of it is) rather than  its (the possessive of it) being inserted into my work, as well as the most egregious of errors, feral apostrophes (the plural of Subaru and Nissan being rendered as Subaru ’ s and Nissan ’ s). There were other edits that I was less than chuffed with, too. Why did he or she do it? I am at a loss to understand how anyone with an editorial role could be so ignorant of basic English. As pretentious - or petty, perhaps - as this may sound, I take my writing too seriously to have it ruined ...

At first glance, there wasn't anything particularly different about this immaculate MG TD .  However, closer inspection revealed that it was a left-hand-drive version and, judging by the car club badges adorning the car, it was from Canada's British Columbia.  If it is an ex-BC car, it's sure to be at home in Hobart, given the similarities between Tasmania's capital and the Canadian west coast province's largest city, Vancouver.  Both feature stunning mountains as backdrops - Hobart's being  kunyani /  Mt Wellington, while Grouse Mountain is Vancouver's equivalent.  Each was sited to take advantage of their proximity to the open sea, with Hobart having been built on the shores of the River Derwent and Vancouver situated  alongside the Straight of Georgia and English Bay.   Parks, markets and an abundance of outdoor spaces are common to both cities, too, as is a thriving cafe, pub and dining culture.  Hobart's Salamanca is argua...

This stunning 911 Turbo looked for all the world like it had just emerged from its lair, ready to pounce on some unsuspecting prey!  It had a menacing appearance with its unblemished black duco, wide wheels and whale-tail spoiler.  Perfect!    U M P H (uppermiddlepetrolhead.blogspot.com.au.) All iPhone images.

Hand on heart, UMPH is not urine-taking when he says he loves this Renault R4 wagon.  Everything about it - its Moke-simple styling, sliding windows, pop-up ventilation and one-piece front-hinged bonnet - is the essence of practicality itself!  No wonder they enjoyed such a long production run, with Wikipedia listing manufacture as having been from 1961 to 1992 (until 1994 in Slovenia).  They've even spawned a retro-version, the imaginatively named Renault 4 managing not to disrespect the original too much. What do we think, people?  Has it captured the original's style and uniqueness? U M P H (uppermiddlepetrolhead.blogspot.com.au.) All iPhone images, except those of the new pretender, which were presumably uploaded to the web to stimulate interest.

This Mark III Triumph Spitfire  was a real treat in metallic silver, with a quality and finish that belied its fifty-odd years of existence.  It was perfect in every respect ; its panels, chrome, soft-top and interior were so lovely, the car rivaled many an MX5 and a few other more recent sports cars.    Look closely - Tasmania has assumed its rightful position at the top of the world! U M P H (uppermiddlepetrolhead.blogspot.com.au.) All iPhone images.

This quirkily restored Mark I Cortina put a real smile on UMPH's dial, with its eye-catching two-tone paint job, white-walled tyres and apostrophe-shaped rear spats.  What a hoot! U M P H (uppermiddlepetrolhead.blogspot.com.au.) All iPhone images.