We went to the Bristol Italian Automoto Festival on Saturday. A great event on many levels, not least because it’s actually held on the streets of Bristol, and there’s something undeniably cool about seeing everything from Fiat 500s to Ferraris packing the city centre.

The closure of TVR’s Blackpool factory was all a bit confusing and very sudden. A young Russian bloke bought the company one minute, and the next TVR was no more. It was almost like it had been disappeared for being too subversive.

I found this at a flea market. It’s tatty and from 1965 so not even relevant to my 1800 which is a full ten years younger. The reason I had to have it was the message scrawled on the back in biro – ‘Dennis, I’m in the pub next door, Geo.’ You can just imagine the handbook propped up in the windscreen, while Geo is propping up the bar.

Simon’s soul searching over the Golf brought on pangs of guilt. Since we started Dep-O, I’ve been ‘collecting’ cars (and associated stuff). Well, if you’ve got a shed the size of ours, you feel obliged to fill it…

Car washed. New wipers fitted. Windscreen chip, new exhaust and MoT are up next on the to-do list, when suddenly it strikes. Serious glaring doubts.

Yes, I know it’s sick but I love books like this. New from Veloce, a book entitled ‘Brittans Toy Models Catalogues 1970 -1979′. It’s like reliving your childhood – seeing all the ones you had and all the ones you wished you had had. Got to get this one in for a full review.

Of all the things you probably expected/dreaded about the 2010 General Elections, I bet you didn’t envisage the Audi Quattro playing a leading role in the opening round of bitching.

Does anyone out there in the land of the three Ws, collect old car magazines – specifically Motor? I’m after an article from 13th December 1969, so if anyone can help that would be smashing.

Just received the usual morning press releases. Am I sad that the thing I got most excited about was the Frost Auto Restoration one? Tool catalogues are great, but Frost (and their US parent, Eastman) …

After three minor electrical shocks, a cloud of smoke setting off the alarm and a visit from the Fire Brigade, the Dep-O blog goes live. Oh yes.