When my friend Eamon was in Bordeaux a few weeks ago they told him at the car- hire office when he arrived that they hadn’t got the car he ordered so instead they were going to upgrade him to a BMW.

Now I’m not a great one for cars but must confess that I would like to drive this ultimate boys toy if only to find what all the fuss was about.

Last week in Carcassonne the car-hire man said just the same about an upgrade to me as had been said to Eamon, and, as I peered over his shoulder, I saw him write the significant letters BMW down on the form.

My little heart made a boyish leap, it seemed I was going to get my moment behind the wheel of a beamer.

Then we went out to the carpark and I discovered the truth.
We had been upgraded to an Opel Corsa with BMW in the reg.

Ah Well , its probably as close as I’ll ever get to driving one.