Oh the sense that somehow, innumerate though I am, I have achieved a feat of three dimensional mathematics, that my body, brain, instinct and expertise have combined to get me on or off a bus that, had I surrendered to common sense and prudence, would have left me to stand and wait for its successor, or whisked me far past where I wished to be.Alas, no longer. “I don’t want any cheap SLs, like £15,000 cars with what the owner thinks is a ‘bit of rust’, because a proper bodywork restoration costs £25,000″, says Lavers. “I’ve never seen a restored car that fits together quite as perfectly as one untouched since it left Stuttgart.” Mercedes’ thoroughness means every SL component is still available new. So once you own the perfect example, keeping it that way is easy.Motor magazine’s verdict on the 230SL in 1964 (price £3,865, 16 shillings and 3d, against a vulgar old E-type at £1,992, 17 shillings and 11d): “Two seats and fabulous handling but not a sports car; limousine luxury but more exhilarating than a saloon.” That is why the world wanted one then And still does.. Is he too old to have a mumps jab now? And if he can have one now, how long would it take to become effective?

Dr Fred Kavalier answers your health question:
Mumps immunisation was introduced in the UK in 1988 as part of the MMR (measles, mumps and rubella) vaccine. Before 1988, children in the UK were not routinely immunised against mumps, so it is possible that your son missed out on the MMR because he was a bit too old when it was introduced.

The reason that there is a mini-epidemic of mumps at universities this year is because there are quite a few students who did not receive MMR as babies But it’s not too late. Your son could have an MMR jab and it will begin to protect him within days Within a couple of weeks, he should be fully protected. Even if he has already had the measles and rubella jabs as a baby, there is no harm in having another dose. Mumps is usually not very serious, but it can cause quite a lot of discomfort. Men sometimes get orchitis – inflammation of the testicles – and this can even lead to reduced fertility. Mumps can also cause deafness, so there are several reasons why your son may want to get immunised now.Please mail your questions for Dr Fred to health independent.co.uk. By far the most hostile environment for a boat is water, especially salt water, but, in the spot-lit warmth of an indoor ExCel exhibition centre, problems evaporate, romance springs eternal, and the old words of that triumphally optimistic song float, if that is the right word, through the brain.

“Hey fiddle-di-dee, a sailor’s life for me/ A big cigar, a fancy car, that’s the life for me.”

By far the most hostile environment for a boat is water, especially salt water, but, in the spot-lit warmth of an indoor ExCel exhibition centre, problems evaporate, romance springs eternal, and the old words of that triumphally optimistic song float, if that is the right word, through the brain. There are now some boats, moored Southampton-style, on the water alongside the public attraction of HMS Sutherland. And while there may be still a “club” of old lags to meet at the Guinness bar, none of them wear yellow wellies any more. Most of them either already have boats, or have resolved never to own one again. There is now a new group of pilgrims, some from not far up the Docklands Light Railway, looking far more serious.The idea of owning a boat without going afloat is not a very clever idea, unless it is a restoration project or museum piece. Yet it is when they are afloat that boats take the most punishment. The sea, as we all know, tends to have waves, which are made worse when there is a decent-enough breeze to drive along a sailing boat.

The result is like driving a car down a road with hundreds of speed bumps At speed Anything over 20mph and water can be very hard. Everything in the boat is given a fittings-threatening experience with a bone-shaking bang every few seconds.Both car and boat owners are used to their possessions arousing envy when sitting still, being admired in a pristine state But, once in use, a car has a much easier time of it. Especially if the boat is given a regular soaking in dollops of briny This is why many folk choose the freshwater options. Inland lakes, rivers and canals are a lot more benign and tend to have better hostelries within easy access. But they are not as adventurous: they do not stir the blood of a seafaring people.Boats can also deplete a bank account much faster than four wheels. They have a bewildering variety of electronic toys and bolt-on gizmos to add to your credit-card account.