Monte Carlo

Monte Carlo

Ferrari in front of the Cafe De Paris

Roger & Sue Middleton arrive at the Hotel Columbus

Roger & sue with John & Lyn at the Cafe De Paris

All the natterers at the Cafe de Paris

Not strictly Monaco but this is the Millau Bridge which was of particular interest to all crews.

Natterers in front of the Monte Carlo Casino

The cars joined by a helicopter

The idea came from Cannonball Bob over a year ago - a little fed up with normal car club natters down your local smoky pub he decided "Why not have a natter but we'll do it on Monaco". Bob, Caroline and Neil had tested this run out earlier in 2004 and so it looked a "doable" option. Thus the Natter that Matters was born - a normal evening natter but in a slightly more exotic location. How you get there and back is up to you . So a date of September 17th 2005 was decided on and the place - The Cafe de Paris in Monte Carlo at 8pm.

Over the proceeding months interest waxed and waned until finally four crews actually left the shores of the UK heading south.

Tim & Liz Morris, Mike & Jan Hall and Roger & Sue Middleton all left the UK on the sunday aiming for a lengthy but leisurely tour to the South of France. John & Lyn Ponting left midweek for more of a dash to the sun.

With varying routes all crews had one thing in common - they wanted top go over the recently opened Millau Bridge. The highest bridge in the world is certainly an impressive sight with it's sail like suspension arms glinting in the hazy sunlight nearly a kilometre above the valley they traverse.

All had booked in to the Columbus Hotel , partly owned by David Coulthard, and arrived in Monaco on the Friday and saturday ready for the natter on saturday evening. With the roads narrow and delving into tunnels and swooping along flyovers and taxi drivers on the Grand Prix circuit believing they are Mr Schumacker we decided to leave the Fs and TFs safely in the underground car park before heading to the Cafe De Paris. It's certainly a great experience actually being on the famous Grand Prix Circuit and going round the hairpins and driving through that tunnel - although I'm sure there are no buses or pottted palms when the F1 drivers do it.

Prior to the natter itself there were some awards to give out to Mike & Jan Hall for winning the "Challenge" Trophy, Roger & Sue Middleton for the longest journey (over 1,400 miles) and John & Lyn Ponting for the shortest journey (800 miles)

With stories to tell of the individual journeys and the usual chatter about our Fs and TFs the evening on the terrace in the shadow of the Monte Carlo Casino sped by. Before long it was time to wait by the rows of Rolls Royces and Ferraris lining the Place De Casino to hail a taxi and race back to the hotel.

The sunday we all went our seperate ways again - some heading straight back , some lingering in the Alps or just relaxing a bit longer in the Monaco sunshine but not before an obligatory photo session with the cars lined up on the Promenade next to the ever busy heliport.