Tag: Maserati 300S


100 Days Of Awe: Day Seven – From Diamond Backs to Maseratis

Day Seven: From Diamond Backs to Maseratis

IMAG3619T Bird In Hiding

I always like Friday down the market in Portobello Road; it is a cat stretch of a day after a quiet week of local trade things start to pick up for the weekend performance.  It is alive and vibrant, more local than international, more functional than ostenatious.  The regular fruit and veggie stalls are augmented, bread, pastries and olives an addition to loyal Tom with his exotic range of mushrooms and a pretty trickle of craft stalls are starting to emerge.  I like to stock up on my fruit and vegetables so after my Open Age pilates class (subject of a previous Days Of Awe blog) I head down on my trusty 1993 Diamond Back bicycle.  It is chipped and rusty, I notice moss growing in the wheel treads this morning and my saddle cover is a blue plastic bag.  I am dressed for stretching and comfort, electic casual blending into the raggy edges of the neighbourhood.

Despite my chosen mode of transport I am a fan of a good car with a preference for a unique design over a great engine but what I spotted looked like it had both; a vintage style, open topped cream sports car with a distinctive roundel.  I wasn’t quick enough to catch a picture of it or the sleek equally impressive leopard that purred out of sight before I extracted my Smart Phone (HTC One S if you are asking).  When I saw a third beast of magnificent engineering I thought this one was not going to get away.  Momentarily I thought I had lost sight of it but then spotted it expertly parked in an unprepossing spot between two vans and in front of a pile of rubbish.  This was going to be my awe moment for the day – this deep salmon red sinewy lustrous specimen of a T Bird.

Now I squirm at the idea of asking permission for a photograph so my idea was to coyly approach and take a quick snap.  I had not accounted for the fact that I might recognise the driver who was getting out of the car.  Jonathan Ross’ eponymous ITV Chat Show is one of my medicinal perscriptions for laughter.  Suddenly this person was no stranger to me – though obviously I was to him.  It was in this moment I became conscious that I may look more manic bag lady than quirky fashionista.  I was almost taken off target contemplating discarding the more comfortable garments in my wardrobe,buying a proper saddle cover for my bike and thinking it is definitely time to get my roots done.  I say almost but I have been down that road before favouring superficial over substance and this time  I will not be deflected from my adventure of capturing this beautiful specimen of car for my Days of Awe gallery.IMAG3626

My trusty 1993 vintage Diamond Back & bags

Now I spent a little trying to track down the first car I spotted.  The closest I got was a 1958 Maserati 300S but I find it hard to believe that there was a such a rare vehicle with a multi-million pount price tag poodling around my neighbourhood.  But you never know Portobello runs the whole gamut.

Maserati 300S 1958 rearCourtesy of Simons Cars

100 Days of Awe is a playful project I set up to bring my attention to awe in my daily life. I see awe as wonder, a mixture of amazement and respect.  I expect the experience of awe to be about perception shifting awareness and that demands a reframing of some sort.  I am excited to see what will awe me on this journey.

Anne K. Scott is an imagination technologist, her work to teach, facilitate and deliver innovation for individuals and business.  She is the creator of FindYourMojo a FREE iPHone productivity app. If you are interested in what intuitive coaching can do for you please do contact me.  I support clients all over the world.