Would you like me to quietly read to you? Earbuds in, sit back... and let the kids go nuts. Life in the Fast Lane: amzn.to/2tLmutT The Mechanic's Tale: amzn.to/2NE9tLL The Chariot Makers: amzn.to/2Tawdch These Desired Things: amzn.to/2VtcG3y

Wordle 1,954 4/6 ⬜🟩⬜⬜🟨 ⬜🟩🟩⬜⬜ ⬜🟩🟩⬜⬜ 🟩🟩🟩🟩🟩 I’m invited to the post race ball, held at the second best country home of the Lady Glugs-Champers. The invite is black tie, but I have absolutely no intention of wearing that, entirely because mine host calls for it.

Wordle 1,953 4/6 🟨⬜⬜⬜🟨 ⬜🟨🟩🟨⬜ ⬜🟩🟩🟩⬜ 🟩🟩🟩🟩🟩 There was absolutely nothing solid about this race plan; the very fabric of the thing was falling apart from lap one. I mean, “drive faster, brake later than the competition, don’t shunt the car…” What use is that?

Wordle 1,952 3/6 ⬜🟩⬜🟨⬜ 🟩🟩🟩⬜⬜ 🟩🟩🟩🟩🟩 Note to self: If this race was set to music, I feel as though I’ve been a half step behind the score all day long.

Wordle 1,951 3/6 ⬜🟨⬜🟨🟨 ⬜⬜🟨🟩🟨 🟩🟩🟩🟩🟩 I do believe the entire payroll of Dolittle Racing needs to pause, ponder, try again. The very idea that they would employ a driver who is younger, stronger, faster, and far less expensive than me is clearly completely bonkers.

Wordle 1,950 3/6 ⬜⬜⬜⬜🟨 ⬜🟩⬜⬜🟩 🟩🟩🟩🟩🟩 Oh dear, I’m supposed to meet my agent/manager later today, but it’s been so long since she rang me, I can’t remember her name. She did once tell me that I’d never forget her name, “just remember how much I value you!”she said.

Wordle 1,949 4/6 ⬜🟩⬜🟨🟨 🟨🟩🟩⬜⬜ ⬜🟩🟩🟩🟩 🟩🟩🟩🟩🟩 I did everything in my power to snatch that third place trophy but, alas, I could not. I shared this angst with old thingy, the mechanic one, but all he did was to enquire if I could have driven faster, braked later.

Wordle 1,948 4/6 ⬜⬜⬜🟨⬜ 🟨⬜🟩🟨⬜ 🟩🟩🟩⬜🟩 🟩🟩🟩🟩🟩 I don’t wish to raise a fuss over this result but how on earth can they not award me the third place trophy when I was soooo close to winning it?

Purely in the interests of balanced reportage, however, I ought add that I’ve also had to deal with my fair share of absolute fools; lost souls consumed by delicate ego, ineptitude and writhing insecurities, but thankfully these ghastly tragedies are far outweighed by the others.

That tweet concerning Ed Shames, serves to remind me of just how exceptionally blessed I have been throughout my life to this point; the events I have witnessed; the remarkable list of the good and the great I have encountered and spent time with. So very thankful for all of it.

One of my most precious memories is of the immense privilege of sitting next to the incomparable Lt. Ed Shames of Easy Company, 101st Airborne, during a Paris to Charlotte flight. Of the many stories he shared with me, I believe he was most proud of this record-setting march.

It certainly got me through many freezing days and nights of winter testing in Silverstone, but I cannot take credit for the idea: it was gifted by the team’s gearbox mechanics. A somewhat curious bunch but most definitely contacts worthy of cordial interactions. They know stuff.

Wordle 1,947 3/6 🟨🟨🟨⬜⬜ 🟨🟨🟨⬜🟨 🟩🟩🟩🟩🟩 Rather splendid third place cup; it’ll add a touch of much needed sparkle to my somewhat drab trophy cabinet. Old thingy, the mechanic one, seemed displeased by my deliberately slowing, missing second, but one mustn’t be grabby.

Went to bed last night with the weather resembling Monza in September; awoke with it now resembling Silverstone in December. Looking for bubblewrap shoe liners…

Wordle 1,946 3/6 ⬜⬜🟨⬜🟩 ⬜🟩⬜🟨🟩 🟩🟩🟩🟩🟩 Yikes! Bit of a blunder there, I’m afraid. Was told to let my teammate by to finish second, which I did, my being a team player and all, as we all know…but the teammate I waved by has been racing for another outfit this season.

Wordle 1,945 5/6 ⬜⬜🟩⬜⬜ ⬜⬜🟩⬜⬜ ⬜⬜🟩🟨🟨 🟩🟩🟩⬜⬜ 🟩🟩🟩🟩🟩 The musings of dear old Maugham come to mind whenever we race here; all of which reminds me, I must call my manager to get me, once and for all, out of this ghastly outfit. Now, off to sweet talk the press.

Wordle 1,944 4/6 ⬜⬜⬜⬜🟩 🟨⬜⬜⬜🟩 ⬜⬜⬜🟩🟩 🟩🟩🟩🟩🟩 I feel a tad stoopid messing up this race.

Wordle 1,943 3/6 ⬜⬜⬜⬜⬜ 🟨⬜⬜⬜🟨 🟩🟩🟩🟩🟩 All through this race couldn’t stop pondering the deep inner meaning of that Douglas Adams novel: The Long Dark Tea-Time of the Soul.

Physically exhausted, wet, cold and carrying so much equipment and ammunition they can hardly walk; only then tasked with clambering in, through and over wrecked buildings while fighting for their very lives… Meanwhile, the rest of us are complaining because the printer’s down.

They’re right here! youtube.com/@matchettandtheo…

Wordle 1,942 4/6 ⬜🟨⬜⬜🟨 ⬜🟩⬜🟩🟩 ⬜🟩🟩🟩🟩 🟩🟩🟩🟩🟩 Whatshisname, the engineer one, was constantly droning over the radio, saying I ought approach the corners differently; insisting I need to open up the apex, blah, blah, blah. Sure… a car weaving left/right is fast?