The Triumph Herald convertible was a bone-shaker of soft-top – it would rattle and squeak at every opportunity.

My first open top Herald was pretty knackered and the front footwells would fill up with water at the first sign of rain.

But it was where I learnt that the best place to watch shooting stars and meteorites was in an open top car on a clear night in the winter months.

And so it was last night in the MX-5. No leaks of course, just a heated seat, a bit of World Service on the radio and warm air fanning my feet.

I found another use for the Mazda then…