I recently got back into reading; things had got a bit hectic and I required some time out. I then found the bookworm in myself and started devouring words at a huge rate of knots. Having a good book to read is such a huge winter comfort, like a hot water bottle in bed, and it’s something you can take with you on your daily travels.

63,000 miles on a Triumph Tiger 100

I just finished a re-read of the paperback version of Ted Simon’s book ‘Jupiter’s Travels’. In the late 1970s, Ted rode 63,000 miles on a Triumph Tiger 100, over the space of four years, through fifty-four countries, in a journey that took him around the world. He encountered breakdowns, prison (after being mistaken for a spy), war, revolutions, disaster and a Californian commune.

It was Ted’s journey that inspired Charley Boorman and Ewan McGregor to undertake their ‘Long Way Round’ adventure and it’s truly one of the best travel books I have ever read. Ted Simon has a superb way with words and knows how to purvey his deeper emotions, anxiety, feelings and draw the reader in.

I have just ordered the follow up ‘Dreaming of Jupiter’ where Ted retraced his journey in 2001 at the age of 69. I am also looking at purchasing ‘Lone Rider’ by Elspeth Beard.

‘A Biker’s Life: Misadventures on (and off) Two Wheels’, is the new book by Henry Cole, the Cotswolds based motorcycle and travel presenter, about his colourful life as a biker and will no doubt be a riveting read. He has a fantastic writing style and is a journalist through and through.

I recently picked up the paperback of Michael Palin’s ‘Sahara’, which got me hooked again on Palin’s travel writing; his books feature some stunning exhibition standard colour photos by Basil Pao. ‘Blowing the Bloody Doors Off: And Other Lessons in Life’ by Michael Caine, should have some interesting background from the actor who starred in a Christmas classic for all motoring fans, ‘The Italian Job’.

Revealing the side of Kimi that few have ever known

For fans of Formula One, the recently published book ‘The Unknown Kimi Raikkonen’ by Kari Hotakainen is very revealing. This is an auth-orised portrait of Räikkönen, somewhat an enigma, and writer Hotakainen gets to reveal the side of Kimi that few beyond his close family and friends have ever known.

If you are into the legends of Formula One, a recent favourite read of mine was the paperback version of ‘James Hunt – The Biography’ by Gerald Donaldson; a fun comprehensive work, in which Donaldson spoke to the key people in Hunt’s life, really bringing out the character behind the man. I had the pleasure of meeting Freddie Hunt at Goodwood Festival a couple of years ago; he was a true gentleman too.

Whatever you are up to at this festive time of year, be it relaxing with a good book, eating far too many mince pies or planning the year ahead, have a warm and comfortable Christmas and best wishes to you all for 2019.