The author's Land Rover Defender: A Personal and Emotional Connection

As I sit here with my trusty old Land Rover Defender, I am reminded of the countless memories we've shared over the years. This car has been a part of our family for around 20 years now, and it's hard to believe that it was once a staple in my life as a young musician. I remember using it as a band van, transporting my guitar and drum kits to various gigs around the UK. The Defender was always a bit of a handful on long-distance trips, but its quirks and character made up for it.

One of the most remarkable things about this car is how difficult it is to start. None of us can ever get it going, no matter how many times we try. My dad, however, has always been able to coax it into life with ease. It's embarrassing, really, because my dad isn't exactly a petrolhead. He never was. But he does have a deep understanding and affection for this car that I've come to appreciate over the years.

As I grew older, I started to notice more about the Defender's quirks. The windscreen wipers don't always work properly, it fogs up in the rain, and water leaks into the door. But despite these issues, my dad has always taken good care of the car. He's even restored it a few times over the years, including when he decided to give it a new lease of life by painting it and sealing its underside.

I remember one time when my sister was the first person to insult this car. She said it was an old, outdated vehicle that didn't deserve all the attention my dad gave it. But he took it as a personal affront, and I could see how much it meant to him. It's funny, because now I can understand why he loved this car so much. For me, it's become a way to connect with him on a deeper level.

One of the most vivid memories I have of my dad and the Defender is from when we were driving down to Cornwall for Christmas. He had decided to take his Range Rover out for a spin instead, but it had a flat tire or slow puncture. The garages were all closed on Boxing Day, so he came up with a plan to try and fix it himself. I remember the two of us sitting there in the cold, trying to patch up the tire as best we could. It was a moment that I'll always treasure.

Despite his love for this car, my dad never thought of it as an investment. He just wanted to enjoy driving it and keep it in good condition. And even though he's had some issues with restoring it over the years – including one time when he claimed it needed more work than he'd initially let on – I can see why he's always been so attached to it.

As I look at this old Defender now, I'm filled with a sense of nostalgia and gratitude. It's not just a car; it's a connection to my dad and our shared history. Every time I get in it, I think of him. And that's a good thing. As I drive away from here today, I know that this car will continue to be a part of me for years to come.

2024: A New Era

As I look ahead to the new year, I'm excited to see what the future holds. One thing is certain, however – simple things like my trusty old Defender are going to stay with me through thick and thin. It may not be the most special vehicle in the world, but for me, it's special because of all the memories we've made together.

I'm glad that I can share this story with you, dear reader. It's a reminder that cars aren't just machines – they're connections to people and places that make life worth living. And as long as I have my Defender by my side, I know that I'll always have a piece of my dad with me.

As I come to the end of this year, I want to say thank you to all of my viewers who have supported me on this journey. It's been an amazing ride so far, and I couldn't have done it without your enthusiasm and encouragement. I'm looking forward to seeing what 2024 has in store for us – whether that means more stories like this one or just enjoying the sunshine as we drive along.

And finally, as I put on my seatbelt and hit the road, I take a moment to appreciate the little things. Like how the leather seats feel under my hands, or the rumble of the engine as it comes to life. It's moments like these that remind me why I love driving – not just for the freedom and adventure, but for the chance to connect with something bigger than myself.

"WEBVTTKind: captionsLanguage: ena candle in the window but I feel got to move oh I'm gone I'll I see well hello one and all welcome to scene through glass I'm aware that I've been pretty quiet on here recently it's been a strange and and pretty tough time but I think 2024 is going to be a big year for this channel so subscribe now stay tuned Etc but today I wanted to talk to you about this my dad's Land Rover Defender this car has actually appeared on the channel before some uh some 8 years ago when I was still filming things purely point of view uh but it's been in the family for Guess around 20 years at one point this was this was kind of my car I was using it as a band van back when I was in a rock and roll band used to use it to transport with the guitar ramps and drum kits to various gig venues around the UK it was It was kind of amazing because if you've ever spent time with this era of Defender you'll know well firstly they're terrifying to drive on the motorway so longdistance trips in this thing was interesting but also to coin a Doug deuro phrase they're full of quirks full of character and personality for example this car uh well none of us can ever start it my dad is the only person who's ever be able to bring this vehicle to life all of us sit here turning the key pumping the throttle so it's so embarrassing dad comes out and just somehow something in his silky hands finesses it into life and I'm always like God's sake because my dad's never been a Petro head you know never really been into his cars when I started seeing through glass he started to pay attention a little bit more admired some of the cars I'd bring home at the weekend things like that he actually loved the 9/11 GT3 when I brought it home at the start of the year he was like maybe I should get a porch for some reason he always loved this thing and he always understood this thing I have so many visceral memories of doing this sort of Point pointless errands with my dad in this car going to get sausage rolls from The Bakers going on walks with the dogs seeing him go out on missions on a Saturday morning he worked so hard my dad you would think when it came to the weekend he' want to just put his feet up and not do anything but he was a borderline workaholic and couldn't ever really sit still so yeah I just I remember being being a lazy teenager and watching TV and then hearing this thing start up Rumble down the driveway and seeing him this big winter coat driving off so I actually feel like a bit of a fraud sitting here now I'm kind of trying to imitate him but it's also a very nice feeling funny cars aren't they because whether you're into them or not they can hold so many memories especially if you keep hold of them for a while 20 odd years long time to have a car and so whilst this thing hasn't been regularly used can kind of remember almost every time that we have used it or or at least it just paints such a clear picture for me of younger years and and Times of my dad times as a family remember one year we were going down to cornal I think it was around Christmas and we were going to take his range over which he had at the time but it had a a flat tire or at least a slow puncture but it was it was boxing day all the garages were closed so he said let let's just go and try and put some air in it and see what happens but whilst my dad was incredible at many things in life in his later years manual labor wasn't one of his strong suits so watching him try to put air in the tire of a Range Rover was one of the funniest things we've ever seen when he got so stressed and angry about it all he managed to snap the vow and so yeah just we had no hope in hell and taking that car had to leave it at a petrol station from my memory and so we decided to take this the defender all the way down to Cornwell it must have been a 500 m round trip and it was just me and him that were brave enough to sit in here can't actually remember how my mom and my sister got there I guess maybe they went in my sister's car or mom's car I don't think it's could train but anyway there we were bumbling along with some pretty tiny speakers just having a having a funny old time like I mentioned earlier the quirks of this thing that windscreen wipers don't always work it fogs up rain water leaks in this door very easily there's rattles bits fall off but if you ever insulted this car to my dad he'd be furious my sister was the first person to slag this thing off and he used to really upset him he just had so much pride en joying this car so much so that about six or seven years ago he decided to start restoring it I don't think it ever needed restoration but he wanted to give it a new lease of life so he painted it and sealed the underside he did some good stuff initially then he got a bit carried away or potentially even scammed because he would call me up and tell the defender's going back in the shop I'm very excited so what are you doing Daddy is replacing all the bolts was alone fair enough it was the the the ultimate project car he was never finished just always wanted to keep doing things I mean these seat covers are just bizarre but decided he really wants to protect the original seats not as an investment he never thought of this thing as an investment even though it's kind of become one it's only got 30 or th000 miles on the clock this car it's in pretty good Nick considering all the work he did to it but yeah he just adored it and so whilst he was never a petrol head and whilst I fully am his love for this thing well it's it's another bond that we have it's something that I can really connect with him on I can really understand him on I been so close to my dad all my life and that's been amazing to have this one extra thing that really feels like me and him it's very special and I'm so glad that car can still do that because we're in a new era a new dawn for for cars and we don't all know what the future holds but simple things like this bloody old Defender which let's face it well isn't the world's most special vehicle it is so special to me being so special to my dad that's all I really want to say it's a way to wrap up the year and share a story with you because if you watch this channel regular you know it's all about the stories and this thing has a pretty special story that means every time I get in it every time I see it think of my dad that's a good thing so as I said stay tuned 2024 it's going to be a good year it's going to start in a pretty big way and I'm going to continue to enjoy the sunshine I'm not quite sure when I'll stop driving this thing but today I think I'll drive it for a little bit longer long as I See the Light yeah yeah yeah long as I\n"