I've just bought a Smart car (February 2007). Here he is!

Isn't he cute!

Now you might be vaguely wondering why I've left the VSG part of the number plate intact. This is because I especially chose this one out of the list of 20 odd they gave me. I don't really believe in personalised number plates and would certainly never purchase one. However, I do believe in memorable number plates, and although it's rather sad, I'm not likely to forget this one as I spent nearly four years of my life working on genes called Variable Surface Glycoproteins or VSGs. I just had to have it.

So, what did he replace?

I was very fond of my fiesta, nicknamed Peanut because his number plate was MM. I loved the shade of blue and he was really comfy and easy to drive - a great little car. He'd never given me a moment's trouble (not even a flat tyre), but he was three years old and I fancied a change.

Since I no longer do the motorway mileage I used to travelling from Manchester to Norwich or Glasgow I went for something really tichy and economical.