A lot has happened in the world in the last 4 years that no one could have possibly predicted, not even Mystic Meg. One of my favourite covers during this time was January 2020 when Muddy Madam wrote – 2020, The Year To Explore! Hmmm, maybe not! You could say that jinxed the whole year.
Straddling the rut the Renegade’s tyres found plenty of grip, then as I crossed the diagonal rut it lifted a rear wheel – photo op!
| Publication Information |
|---|
| Cover Price: Free |
| Format: Digital (pdf), 106 pages |
| Frequency: Monthly |
| Subject: 4×4, Off-Roading, Green-Laning |
| Publisher: The Mud Life |
| News, Reviews & Adventure |
The Mud Life 4×4 Magazine Issue 44 December 2022
Turner’s Torque
Double celebrations! Not only is this our Christmas issue, but it’s also the magazine’s 4th anniversary!
That’s right, four years ago this month we published the very first issue of the magazine, in fact, we delayed it a month just so we could have the then new Suzuki Jimny on the front cover. Before that The Mud Life was simply a website with pretty much the same content as you’ll find now.
A lot has happened in the world in the last 4 years that no one could have possibly predicted, not even Mystic Meg. One of my favourite covers during this time was January 2020 when Muddy Madam wrote – 2020, The Year To Explore! Hmmm, maybe not! You could say that jinxed the whole year.
Fuelled by coffee and bacon butties throughout the day, and pizza and Guinness in the evenings, with just the two of us at the helm it hasn’t always been plain sailing, but it’s certainly been fun – even at 3am on a Monday morning as I’m furiously typing away in an attempt to get articles over to Muddy Madam before she shouts at me again for being late!
I’ve been very fortunate to be invited to some really cool events, like heading off to Tuscany on a private jet to drive the Kia Picanto – I did question the invite, but they insisted. I also get to test some exceptional products, of which Muddy Madam has asked me to write a ‘best of’ for this issue, which has been really difficult, and those views could change this month as I’ve just been sent a bunch load of Petromax products to review.
More importantly though, it’s the people I’ve met, from press events and green laning, to you guys on our social media channels – it’s a wonderful community and you never fail to make me smile.
On that note I wish you all the very best for Christmas and the New Year, and I’ll see you in January 2023.
Damian, Editor-in-Chief
The Mud Life is all about 4x4s, and enjoying the great British outdoors.
Damian and Karen Lee Turner (A.K.A. The Muddy Madam)
TURNER’S TORQUE 4-5
NEWS 6-16
FIAT 500X SPORT FIREFLY 18-26
WORDS FROM THE WILD 28-33
LOTUS ELETRE 34-39
GOODS & GEAR 40-41
CAMPING LIFE 42-44
ŠKODA KAROQ 46-55
LIVE THE MUD LIFE 56-59
CITROËN AMI 60-62
MOOCH – RENEGADE MASTER 63-68
OUR FAVOURITE THINGS 70-78
OUR GARAGE 80-83
LAST MINUTE PRESENTS 84-86
THE JOYS OF TOYS 88-89
THE TALES OF LILLY 90-93
WOOF STUFF 94-95
CLASSIC CAR SHOW 97-99
READER’S RIDES 100-102
DIRECTORY 103
BACK ISSUES 104-105
End of Year Rant
I want to get the things that are driving me bananas off my chest so I can start the new year with a clean slate.
First up – brake lights
Since the dark nights have closed in every journey seems to involve me having to use the sun visor. I know you are thinking why is the mad woman using her sun visor in the dark?
Well let me tell you. I am not mad, just dazzled by brake lights, you know those really, really bright ones that seem to come with every new car, and that seem to be spaced across the entire back of the car. Now these wouldn’t be so bad if at traffic lights drivers used the handbrake/autobrake instead of the footbrake….or so I thought until we discovered one of the press cars that arrived kept the full brake lights on even with the foot off the brake. WTAF!!
Next – cyclists!
There is a lot I could say about certain cyclists, but I shall keep my views to a timely rant. As mentioned it is now dark at around 4.30pm, and as drivers we put on our lights so we can see where we are going, and be seen in return.
Cyclists are also legally obliged to use lights for the same reasons, but around me (though I expect it is everywhere) they don’t, which makes it downright hazardous just to do a local commute, and we all know who will be to blame if the worst happens, but when did you last see the police pull over a cyclist and give’em a hefty fine? No, me neither.
Oh and don’t get me started on the teenagers doing wheelies on bicycles in the middle of a main road, with no lights, at nearly midnight, wearing dark clothes! I have a bike, so I am not anti-cyclist, just anti-knob cyclists, and that category seems to be growing with the new ‘cyclists are gods of the road’ laws!
Finally never-ending roadworks
There doesn’t seem to be a road or motorway that hasn’t be in a constant state of ‘upgrading’ for the last 5 years, and they never finish them. The moment you think it’s safe to drive, another section is being churned up for a cycle path, traffic junction upgrade or ‘smart’ motorway. I could just about cope if the councils/government also spent money on repairing those car-breaking giant potholes that cover the majority of main thoroughfares, but they don’t because the money is earmarked for these crazy, totally unnecessary, schemes!
Karen Lee
Important information
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Copyright
All images and material on these pages are protected by copyright © Damian Turner. All rights reserved. None of the images or material within this magazine may be reproduced, duplicated, copied, sold, resold or otherwise exploited for any commercial purpose that is not expressly authorised by Damian Turner or Karen Lee Turner.
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