It's been a long wait.......

Atteeennn-SHUN!! Stand by your beds!
Corporal Jones reporting for duty. It's been a long wait.... finally, at the ripe old age of 39, I have bought my first ever Mini. My first, and I reckon also my last and only.... because I absolutely love the darn little thing. It's a keeper, for sure.
I'd been mad on cars since God was a boy, and the Mini captured my attention from an early age. I remember owning the book 'Amazing Mini' aged about twelve. Father though, owned an Austin 1100 (ADO16) for many years, and when I'd finally saved enough to afford a second car as a toy (July 2011), I bought an Austin 1300 GT in Blaze Orange. It was a 1974 (N) - one of the very last off the line, with only 20,000 miles. The first owner had it for 17 years, until his death in 1991, during which time he clocked up less than 9500 miles in it.
However, driving it wasn't as much fun as I'd hoped, as it felt so very old and delicate, and I felt like I had to be very careful with it. In addition to that, there are very few of them about; much less in Norfolk. I couldn't swap notes or hang out with other owners. I joined the Owners Club, but the nearest 'chapter' was the London side of Essex, and I'd be blowed if I was driving all that way just for an hours chinwag. I sold it in March 2012.
Here I would like to thank two people, neither of whom I know. I found myself in the area of Auto Services, just off the Mile Cross one day, on unrelated business, and spotted a gorgeous G-reg Mini 30, in for some work. I had a good look at it and was smitten - the Mini spark that existed as a youngster had been re-lit, just by ogling this very tidy example. A credit to it's owner.
"I'm going to buy a Mini", I declared to my long-suffering fiancee, when I got home that evening. (I'm apt to making spontaneous declarations such as these). Being the brains of the outfit (and the looks.... and the sense.... and the tact....) she cautioned me thus: "Don't you think, at 6' 1", you'd better see if you fit in one, first?" 'Quite right', I thought.
And here, I must thank Mystery Person number two. For one morning, driving in to work, I clobbered a poor young lad I spotted filling his Mini up at a petrol station, who, God bless him, succumbed to letting this random wierdo who he'd never met before into sitting in his drivers seat and putting my grubby work boots all over his pedals. Thanks to this most affable young gentleman - and his delightfully well restored red K-reg Mini - I discovered that yes, Corporal Jones DOES fit in a Mini...... but better than that, this fellow said to me exactly what I wanted to hear: He said: "If you do buy one, make sure you join the Norfolk Mini Owners Club. I'm a member - we're a friendly bunch, and we get out and about quite a lot."
After the solitude of ADO 16 ownership, that is EXACTLY what I wanted to hear... not only did I want a Mini, but I also wanted to buy in to the extended social life that comes with it!
I began my search in earnest. Well, in Norfolk actually, but there was nothing to be found there. Eventually I found my dream Mini in Sandwich, Kent, and on Saturday 6th October 2012 she became mine. A 2000 (W) Rover Mini Cooper Sport, in British Racing Green. A couple of my workmates are Mini-mad, and are very jealous! I've joined the NMOC, and intend to attend meetings from January on.
See you soon.
Stand aaaaattttt.... EASE!
Corporal Jones
PS, will be posting pics of it in the gallery section....

Welcome to the forum, SIR!

Will be good to meet you at one of our meetings, SIR!

At ease.

I thank you.
BTW, is there a section here for members to post pics of their cars? Can't see it

Don't panic!! Let me add you to the "club members" list...

Ok, you should be able to see it now.

BTW, I also have a late Cooper S

Thank you, Captain. I'll add some photos later. Looking forward to meeting the rest of the platoon soon, and flying the flag of Minidom alongside my Brothers and Sisters.
At ease. ( salutes. )

Welcome to the mad NMOC family
I had a 2000 cooper sport a couple of years ago and have always regretted selling it but still love my current one lots as it has taken me across Europe twice now with no problems! They are amazingly tough little cars.

Looking forward to meeting you and your mini in the new year.

Harry

Welcome to the forum Corporal Jones I am the number two person with the K reg mini finally with a reply after being told to 'get your *rse on the NMOC forum someone wants to thank you' (Sam Dix)I haven't forgotten I had helped the guy with the dream to own a mini and what a cracker it sounds like you've bought. My ideal mini, a Rover mini cooper sport in BRG. Look forward to seing the new recruits at the next meetings