Shanghai Grand Prix 2011

A Ferrari Fan

Ticket prices

Vroo0mm.....

We were there too early

The 2 Ferraris

Yo-yo expert

Natale Bimbi 2010

Kids' last Natale Bimbi at Ferrari

You realise that time really flies when you attended Ferrari's Natale Bimbi or Children's Christmas for the 4th and last time. And to mark the occasion, we turned up first at the party - just before Domenicali and his kids - for once. We were late every time in the last 3 editions of the festa.

For a change, they've decided to hold the party within Ferrari and not in the Fiorano tracks like they used to. This meant that Hub could drive into the company and park in his usual parking place - cutting the mother of all queues building up outside the gates. It was very cold outside so we definitely appreciated that.

The F1 Pilots in Santa Uniform

Baby Boy and his friend Fede

It was the usual free-flow popcorn, candy floss, hot chocolate and pandoro, we had tickets for a few games and then the rides were also free. This year we were spared the need to run out if they should hold the Telethon when we're there (for those who are new to this, they hostage the kids with the F1 drivers this time of the year so that they could appear on National TV to appeal for charity donations) as we turned up for the afternoon session and the Telethon was held in the morning. Appearing on Italian national television does not appeal to us since we have no relatives to watch us on it.

The kids had a great time especially on the bouncy castle - almost impossible to get them out of it. I bumped into KF, LS, CF and a number of other ladies from the school and out of it so there was never a dull moment. After the amusement park, we took a little train that brought us to a creche with live reindeer where the kids were offered a stocking filled with Kinder chocolates. Then the train brought us to the canteen where the children were each given a present for Christmas.

Families collecting presents for their children (until age 10)

Creche with real reindeer

The Ferrari Christmas Tree

Voilà the last magical Ferrari Children's Christmas for us. A good way to end our stay in Modena, don't you think so?

Finali Mondiali 2010, Valencia

Finali Mondiali 2010 in Valencia, Spain

Hub called from Valencia (Spain) to say that I should have gone with him to the Finali Mondiali 2010. He had just checked into his hotel room at the Westin Valencia and was hoping that I could advise him on what he could do in the city before dinner.

Westin Valencia

I told him that he wasn't a child so I had no idea. A pity as the zoo and the aquarium there are very good.

He called just as I was trying to (1) stem my finger from bleeding me dry (paper cut from moving cardboxes of clothes), (2) cook lunch and (3) scream at the children who were fighting - all at the same time. Why wouldn't I want to go to Valencia with him? But who would look after the children? Plus I had made various appointments with friends that weekend.

He had taken my camera with him so that he could show me some of the going-ons. So here's Ferrari's Finali Mondiali 2010 in a few pictures :

Science Museum

The F1 pilots on stage

Legs, Beauties & Parapluies

Vintage Ferrari

During dinner on Saturday, he was at a table where there were a number of old and/or ugly rich men with 1.8m-tall blondes with big boobs hanging on the arm. I told him that he could find one of his own the day he becomes very very rich - and after he had shared half of his fortune with me, of course. While waiting, he is but a salaried man like most men and must make do with a girl like me. :-)

Driving the (Ferrari) California to Tuscany

Ferrari California in Tuscany

I told Hub that he should get us the Ferrari California to ride in before we leave Modena, having obtained the idea from friends who had rented one when they had guests in Maranello. He was resistent to the idea at first, considering this whole business a real hassle. He's too used to never mixing business with pleasure - that's the problem. But how could one work, hear and breathe Ferraris for nearly 4 years and not ride in one at least once, right?

The key

He gave the matter some consideration (after, I must admit, some nagging on my part) and drove home with a beautiful red California last Friday! It was his for the whole weekend, could you believe it?

Seen from behind

We decided to join 3 other familes on a wine-tasting weekend in Tuscany (Montepulciano, Montalcino...) in "our" Ferrari. My initial idea of just doing a few rounds in Maranello was voted out almost immediately. The beautiful car is like a beautiful woman that you must bring out and make some distance with to better hear her purr. So instead of just having a 10-minute go in the car, I had to sit in it for 3 hours on the way out and back. You may remember that I've been driving the Lancia Phedra for a few years now. Am not too used to being so close to the tarmac. It made me quite nervous.

The Teenager checking out the car

If you like attracting attention, drive/sit in a Ferrari. The Teenager was like a Maharajah on a white tiger, glowing in any look (intentional or accidental) thrown our way. I was wishing that I had found the time to wash my hair that morning.

CB's car was following us

Hub loved driving the California. He told me at least 5 times in 3 days that one could get used to having a car like that. Though I still haven't figured out how one could drive this car without holding on to a stick of some sort. Needless to say I never for once even thought of asking Hub to pass me the wheel. I am not suicidal.

The outside

The interior of the car is LUXURY. Poltrona Frau leather seats, many sophisticated-looking buttons and a roof that can be opened - if only it would stop raining. And really rich people must not often be fat - because there isn't much room (not for the bum nor for the legs) in the car. They must also travel light - for boot space is almost non-existant. Just enough for a few bottles of Brunello, if you must.

Inside the car

Hub had a picture taken with the California - so that he could send it to DC. Why DC? Because the car was his baby. He designed it when he was working for the company. And I've told the famous stylist a few times that if there was one Ferrari that I would like to ride in it'll be his California. For that reason too I'm really happy to have had this dream fulfilled.

Wind in the hair

The boys loved the very loud noise sound that the car produces when you start the engine. It gave them a high. You get from 0 to 200Km in a matter of seconds. The drive was surprisingly very very smooth, though I held the airline vomit bag I borrowed from MB all throughout the journey just in case.

Closing the roof

It was a lovely weekend. I only sat in the car twice - having given up my place to those in our group so that they may have a go in the car too. This way I got to try out a Mercedes and a VW, I've never sat in one before last weekend.

Babinou checking out the driver's seat

Hub will drive the kids to school in the California in the morning - on his way to return the car. We've had a wonderful weekend in Tuscany : beautiful car, great company, good wine, nice agriturismo, marvelous landscapes and delicious food. Even the bad weather couldn't spoil anything for us. Except maybe the hole in the pocket. That car has an insatiable, voracious appetite for unleaded petrol.

Ferrari Family Day 2010

Ferrari Family Day 2010

Two years ago, we attended our first Ferrari Family Day in Maranello. It's a biennial event organised by the company for family and close friends of its employees, basically an open day for visiting most of the factories and offices. The lastest edition took place last Saturday on the 2nd of October.

This year we asked to bring 2 families along with us during the visit. It was something that would interest most men, tolerable for the women with a spot of shopping (I spent a small fortune in the Ferrari Store), and quite long/painful for the children who would inevitably be tired/hungry etc. The Babies were happy to have their friends suffer along with them, so I think we had a tolerably good day.

Hub works in this building

One of the meeting rooms

Set aside the fact that Ferrari only sells cars (and souvenirs), Ferrari Family Day is a wonderful and magical day for all who has family working in this beautiful company. I've often said that Ferrari is a world of its own. And it is nice to know that if Hub had to spend so very many hours working, it should take place in a modern glass building with Japanese ponds, leather chairs in airy offices and a fabulous view of the most beautiful Ferraris fresh out of the assembly line. To give you an idea how nice it all was, one of the little girls who came for the visit started holding his hand at one point, telling him,

"I like you very much. You have a very nice office..."

Painting the cars

We had a difficult start to our day though, running late as usual and finding the public parking full full full. People were starting to park in Maranello itself and we had 2 families to meet at the gate...Then Hub thought to call his PA who kindly informed him that actually he had no need to look for parking space as he had parking reserved for him inside the company grounds.

Friday's lunch menu

Ferrari Canteen

That gave me time to do a spot of shopping as we parked just behind the canteen that became a makeshift Ferrari Store that day. The items were really expensive, Hub wanted to buy something for his teambuilding at Mugello (for this evening), but found that there was nothing that would fit into his budget. Then we started our visit - and within minutes managed to lose the Teenager for an hour or so. That boy is incorrigible.

Those things they weighed almost nothing...

This year they distributed free water, balloons, posters, Kinder chocolate and fruit juice. Not bad at all. For lunch we had pizza in a pizzeria nearby, though by the time we've covered the F1 part of the company we couldn't walk anymore. Luckily there were free shuttle buses that brought us back to the main offices.

Underside of a Ferrari

458 Italia

As usual there were many places in which photography was not allowed, in any case I was so busy chatting away, bumping into people I knew that I basically zapped through everything. Wouldn't recognise an industrial secret even if it should dance naked before me.

Vintage Ferraris

Which is my favourite part of the visit? Besides the shopping I enjoyed sneaking up to take a peep of Hub's office (but he had forgotten his keys so we couldn't admire the decoration) and I liked the new assembly line where we got to see a few finished cars. Engines etc could get a bit boring after a while no matter how powerful they are. I would have liked to taste their canteen food, heard it's eons better than the kids' and much cheaper too. :-)

The hospitality truck that you find at the races

Inside the truck with view of the Fiorano tracks

Oh, I also love the new hospitality truck. The ground floor had a dining area with bar, saw Alonso and Massa's private cabins on the 1st floor and the top floor had a lounge area with an open balcony. They also had publicity on the Ferrari Theme Park in Abu Dhabi. Really cool.