When there's snow on the ground, how much does a 4x4 really help?

The Saab's future and a 13-year-old Land Rover were the topics that grabbed visitors to andrewnoakes.com in 2009.

My electronic greetings card for Christmas and New Year 2009/10

The first 'accessory' I bought for my Land Rover Defender was this – a Sankey ex-army trailer.

A historical curio, this: the first bit of paid-for journalism I ever wrote, for the news pages of The Cricketer International magazine, July 1989.

Now that I live in the wilds of Shropshire, and have 3.5 acres to look after, a go-anywhere working vehicle sounded like a good idea. The search took me to south Wales, where I found M304VEJ.

If all goes to plan I should soon be moving to an old stone cottage situated down a long, unmade track. Four-wheel drive and decent ground clearance might be a pre-requisite for any winter trip further than the front gate, so I'm wondering about adding a 4x4 to the fleet.

Patterns in the sand, Cornwall 2005

Cornwall beach, 2005

Fishing boat in Padstow

Sunrise at Padstow, Cornwall

Wintry railway crossing near Chiddingstone Causeway, Kent

Waterfall

Spire, Oxford

Shield bug, runner-up in the Kent Natural History Photographer of the Year competition in 2000.

War memorial in Chatham, Kent

A beautiful 1930s watch with a square face and domed crystal. Another Ebay find.

A 1960s chronograph with a Valjoux 7733 movement. The face bears a Breitling badge, but it's clearly been added later. On the back the watch has an inscription relating to Jim Clark's Indianapolis 500 win - but was that added later too?

A blue-faced dress watch, bought in an eBay auction - not because it's immensely valuable or beautifully made, but just because it's a great colour and a clean design.

This early 1970s watch has a superb 'sunburst' dial that reminds me of a 1950s Fender Stratocaster or Gibson Les Paul guitar.

1960s sports watch with a pseudo-chronograph Swiss movement by R Lapanouse Ltd that was probably more for show than for use, and a simple circular slide-rule bezel.

A restoration project, bought at a car boot sale.

MG Midget parts I'm currently looking for

MG Midget parts I have for sale

GAC442K is slowly being modified for speed events. Engine and suspension are largely standard, but there's been plenty of detail work in other areas.

GAC was at Gaydon in May 2008 to celebrate the Sprite's 50th birthday, wearing its Ashley hard top for the first time in public.

Two books on great British cars dropped onto my desk recently - one new and one a timely re-issue.

The new book is Born in Lode Lane which combines an autobiography of 'Mr Land Rover', Roger Crathorne, with a history of the vehicles with which he is so closely associated.

It's an interesting mixture of Crathorne's fascinating career story – from a Solihull childhood with a Land Rover Dinky toy to Land Rover engineering to the company's ambassador and off-road demonstrator – with the curiously British story of Land Rover itself.

As a tribute to the great British marque on its 60th birthday, it could not have been done better.

The other tome is Spritely Years, which dedicated enthusiasts of the 'Frogeye' Sprite will recognise as an extraordinarily sought-after book, by rally man John Sprinzel and Sprite specialist Tom Coulthard.

Dealing with Sprinzel's race and rally career, and focussing on his creation of the 'Sebring Sprites', it's a book which has become one of the essentials for a Sprite enthusiast's library.

Sadly it has been out of print for years, but to celebrate the Sprite's 50th anniversary in 2008 Coulthard has unearthed the repro film (thanks to the book's original publisher, Haynes) and has produced a limited number of new copies.

Spritely Years remains a treasure trove of detailed and diligent research which every Spridget owner should possess. It's available direct from the authors, but in strictly limited quantities: email me for details.

After years of diligent research, I have finally found what must surely be the worst article ever written about cars.

Today sees the publication of Automotive, the magazine produced by automotive journalism students at Coventry University. It's the third magazine the course has produced - and the best issue yet.

Just back from the Guild of Motoring Writers' annual dinner at the RAC in London, where I was delighted to receive the Timo Makinen Award for my book, Ford Cosworth DFV: The Inside Story of F1's Greatest Engine.

Coventry University's Automotive Journalism graduates returned to the city for their graduation ceremony today - every one of them already working in the automotive or publishing industries.

I've been called many things in my time - not all of them very pleasant - but this is a new one. The latest issue of CAR, on sale today, calls me 'the Superman of technical features'. Which is nice.

My first website was set up in 2001 with no real objective in mind except to learn a bit of HTML and have some fun. At the time I was editing a magazine called It's on the Net, and I thought I ought to find out more about how websites were constructed.

It can be surprisingly difficult for authors to know how well their books are selling. Amazon doesn't give out sales figures but it does provide a sales ranking, which at least gives you some idea how your book is fairing in relation to some of its competitors, so I like to keep an eye on how mine are doing.

I'm pleased - and slightly surprised - to be able to report that after a couple of weeks on sale, my book on the DFV F1 engine has raced into Amazon's best-selling motor sport books. Meanwhile, The Classic Car Book - which came out last year - is right at the top of Amazon's list of best-selling classic car books.

Positive reviews of both books can't have hurt. Autocar's Steve Cropley gave the DFV book the thumbs up in his column the other week, while Rosie McMahon was equally approving in Motorsport News. Meanwhile, the reviews page of Motorbar.co.uk described it thus:

Bit of a surprise, this one... I expected to find something rather boring and technical. Not so... there is such a wealth of anecdotes, interviews and many archive photographs (some previously unpublished) that there is enough to keep you focused — even if you find facts and figures a bit hard going... Worth investing in, even if you have only a passing interest in motor racing, The Ford Cosworth DFV is a fitting tribute to the most successful Formula One engine of all time.

How long this run of success will last is anyone's guess, but even if it's short-lived it means I can now describe myself as a 'best-selling author' - as long as I don't look anyone in the eye while I say it...

Always a thrill to watch a brand new magazine coming together, and today I got to see the first page proofs for Total Evo, a quarterly for Mitsubishi Evo enthusiasts which launches later this month.

My contribution is a road test of the Evo IX MR, the last version of the current-generation Evo before its replacement arrives in the autumn. Wonderfully moody pics by my old mate Matt Barnes made the best of a changeable day and a grey car - inexplicably, the only colour of Evo on Mitsubishi's press fleet.

The new mag is eagerly awaited by Evo clubs and specialists, apparently, and on the evidence of these first few pages they'll love it.

Restoration project,bought at a car boot sale. This is an attractive little watch, much smaller and thinner than the flashy Sicuras but no less interesting - I particularly like that 'red arrow' seconds hand.

Restoration project, bought at a car boot sale. This is a classic big, heavy diver's-style watch, probably from the 1970s when Sicura were at their peak.

Restoration project, bought at a car boot sale. This uses the Ebauches Bettlach 8800 movement. It has a curious orange seconds (?) hand with another hand fixed to it at 90 degrees - the two hands move together.

Bought as 'new old stock' from online watch dealer RLT Watches. I love these huge Sornas just because they are so absurdly over the top.

Fittingly, Ford Cosworth DFV: The Inside Story of F1's Greatest Engine was launched in the week that the DFV celebrates its 40th anniversary. Our little lunchtime launch party was accompanied by some celebratory fizz provided by my wine-columnist partner Paula.

Opinion seemed generally positive - on the book, I mean, not the wine - and I even bagged a couple of early sales. Will the book be as long-lasting as the engine? I can only hope...

Was looking forward to Colerne, as it was my second visit there and this would be the first event I'd done where I already knew which way the corners went. But it was a disaster.

GAC looks a little different: the front bumper has gone and it's wearing a works hardtop borrowed from Classic Cars of Kent (who are restoring my Ashley fastback). Also new is the thicker front anti-roll bar.

I find watches fascinating, particularly mechanical watches. They offer the same functions we expect from our modern electronic wristwatches but using tiny, precision-made mechanisms.

First visit to Colerne. Made steady improvements throughout the day, but this is a power circuit and GAC has an almost standard engine.

Our first competitive event. GAC and I were slow, but at least we didn't hit anything and were quicker with every run.

Tips on serving food on your yacht, from top chef Gary Rhodes

Despite the onset of cooler autumn weather, and occasional precipitation, I still insist on driving my MG, wherever possible, with the roof stowed. Not because I’m a hardy, pre-war sort with a wardrobe full of woolly scarves and flat caps and flying goggles who sees the battle against the elements as a rite of man – more because the thing is, after all, a convertible and it seems silly not to take advantage of an opportunity when it is presented.

They say in Britain that if you don’t like the weather, just wait a minute. Our little island has a climate so changeable you can experience all four seasons in a day, making clothing decisions tricky. Napoleon called us a nation of shopkeepers, but in reality we are a nation of umbrella carriers and anorak wearers. And because of that, people think I’m mad.

Every terrestrial TV channel has its share of sports coverage and there are satellite channels devoted to it. But if you still can't get enough sport you'll find that the Internet is well up to the challenge of keeping you up to date with all the latest action. Here we've highlighted some of the major events in 10 top sports, together with the best sites the web can offer for all the latest news and information. Whatever the sport you're interested in, you'll find plenty of it on the net.

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