16 replies to this topic

[Mini-Mad-Craig]

Wanted to share a pic. Been reminiscing with a few friends tonight about the epic times we used to have. It's amazing when you realize all the friends you have are actually from the Mini scene, and how much they mean to you.

A true symbol of my life when times were decent and nothing mattered:

[minimissionary]

I know it's a relatively unprofound comment to make, but, nice wheels.

[Mini-Mad-Craig]

Lots of people will click this thread and think scrap heap and then click away, but to me it's a massive reminder of who I am and why I'm here.

It's not just a Mini... the Mini is all things to all people, and this car sums it all up for me. Seems like such a long time ago that I signed up to TMF as a little kid thinking I'd probably linger and soak it up and then move onto new things.

The next thing I knew I found myself posting more and more everyday... the addiction had kicked in. I'd fall behind in lessons at school because I'd be on TMF rather than doing the work... and then I'd go home, and I'd be on TMF all night.

And then the time had come, my first Mini show... Southern Mini days! It was a bit of a crazy one although looking back on some of the times we've had it seems pretty tame. I didnt meet many people that year. But I kept posting on the forums, and kept attending shows, and I met more and more people, and people started to recognize me, and I'd recognize them.

A few local runs... the Bluewater runs and West Kent Mini meets... I'd meet lots of new people at those and I cant think of a better way to spend a summer evening. A Christmas event stands out particularly. Whenever I'm at Bluewater at Christmas I remember the sound of the Minis and the grin I had at the time, and it all comes back... the feeling of love for this strange little car.

I realized at that point that the Mini was more to me than a car. It'd become a lot more. Friends... happiness... it had genuinely turned into a lifestyle!

I'd left school and needed a job... CooperDan was the guy... Supervisor at the store I've now worked in for 15 months! And to those people at school that would say "Sure TMF might seem like fun now, but it's not gonna get you a job!"

Now I can go on Facebook and flick through my friends list, the people I care about and the people that care about me, they're Mini people, I can come on here... I see the names, Taffy... the regulars. The people that genuinly matter.

I think that sometimes life can be really, really crap and it's easy to lose sight of the things that matter to you and reach your all time low. It's important to remember that not all is lost... and although lots has happened, for better and worse, as long as there's a Mini, and people that love it, then there will be that reason.

A little story there. To the people that think my passion for the Mini is gone because I bought a Metro instead of the Mini I've always wanted, but financially right now, it isn't an option. I always say the Mini picks you, you don't pick it. I'll get one one day... but until that day I'll enjoy my car and enjoy going to the shows and meeting up with the people that really matter to me.

Thanks TMF
It's love - It's Mini.

Edited by Mini-Mad-Craig, 05 September 2011 - 12:56 AM.

[MaxAndPaddy]

Great read!

[muddd001]

Awesome read

[puresmartie]

shut up you soppy git!

[Sam14]

Spoken like a champ

Tmf is a people bringer but you need to progress on that and actually meet people in person so "Little niggles" and post and the things are wrote on here can be taken in some many different ways. I think that why TMF should be at the big shows, so people get to know eachother and we would be a MASSIVE tight knit community, yeah we all will have our tiffs and our taffs and opinions.

Like me and you had at the start with the whole show thing, i think i was just tired and hungry and i aint nice when those two are together haha. but im sure if we met we'd be fine.

And no when i look at your mini there i do not see a "scrap heap" i see an expression of yourself. I never look at a mini differently, its learning everyone has different taste and not everyone will be the same and share the same expressions and opinions as yourself.

TMF is great, its not just not an online forum, its community, its a mini meet everyday.

[E.L.M.O]

..... "Fwiends"

[Sam14]

..."Car Fwiend"

[E.L.M.O]

"he's not my f'king Fwiend!"


...only kiding Craig'ey, I guess you are really!

[LunaMini]

Likey Likey!

I spent a large chunk of this year away from the mini scene due to work commitments, I never parted with Luna though, and now I'm back I remember what I miss.
A large chunk of my friends are people I've met through Mini's and they will be life long friends, unlike the friends I had at school that I haven't seen since I left.
Another sad fact is that all my boyfriends have been mini people (it's a shame they've come and gone though!)

I look forward to many many more Mini Friend years!

[HARBER07]

We have our gay moments, but this means a lot to me man!. She was a beast I must admit, many good times were had, and I wouldn't have changed a thing back then!!. Mini 50 wouldn't have been the same without it. It's a shame I don't feel the same way about the 'scene' now as I did back then. So many people to look up to and years worth of experience to learn, not many people dare do something out of the ordinary now. Strangely, I don't miss the car, but I do miss the incredibly awesome times that were had in it. Bombing around Cofton Park without a care in the world for example!. It wasn't to everybodys taste, but that wasn't the point, It was a car to have a laugh in and was genuinely one of a kind!!. Never gonna forget those good times.


Heres to many good times to come.

Edited by HARBER07, 06 September 2011 - 05:52 PM.

[mini93]

Bonnie T is just SMD all over now! especialy after last year, 2010

[E.L.M.O]

Bonnie T is just SMD all over now! especialy after last year, 2010

Hell yer it is. and you cant have bonnie T without alex Crosse

[Mini 360]

OMG I remember that car from IMM! i drew a Scotish Flag on the N/S rear panel and I think I wrote Aberdeen Mini Owners Club on it somewhere too......

Heres one of the pics I have of it....



IMG_6500 by Andrew Forbes Photography, on Flickr



IMG_6501 by Andrew Forbes Photography, on Flickr

What Minis are all about. Community and fun!