The Red Sweetie

Santa has his shiny red sleigh, and we have our shiny red sweetie. It’s been ever such a long time since we last saw her, and even longer since we had her back in our clutches. She carries what I’ve always called the Alfa scent — those who know, know. A blend of leather, warmth,  fumes and a hint of magic, all wrapped together. One whiff and I’m right back in those early days: hot dates, loud music, and long hours under the bonnet refining her engine into song, the kind that made the world feel wide open.

Right now she’s with the mechanics, getting a proper going-over after being mostly dormant for the past ten or so years. They’re fixing whatever time has quietly nibbled at, and preparing her to be roadworthy once more. The dream is simple: to cruise again, windows down, that unmistakable engine note humming like memory itself.

Once she’s purring properly, we’re hoping to take her somewhere quiet so Juniper and Fern can have a turn behind the wheel. They’ve never handled a car without power steering, so watching them wrestle that glorious vintage heft will be something to behold. A rite of passage wrapped in red paint.

But for now, she’s here in Melbourne — tucked up safely in a garage each night, almost ours again, even if she’s not quite ready to roam. She’d make a very merry Christmas present indeed… so here’s hoping the mechanics don’t take too long. We’re more than ready for her next chapter.