AS gale-force winds strive to blow away the last vestiges of winter outside my front window, it's comforting to cast my mind back to calmer, balmier days.
I'm driving the latest version of the Fiesta, Ford's legendary little car which first became an item in that famously long, hot summer of 1976.
It was the year in which the average wage was around £70 a week, inflation was soaring at 17 per cent, punk rock was all the rage with the younger generation and, on television, William Shatner was commanding the Star Ship Enterprise as Captain James T Kirk in Star Trek as opposed to extolling the virtues of breakfast cereal for the inner man or woman in today's TV adverts.
In the summer of '76, the Fiesta - in 1.0 and 1.1-litre Ghia form - became Ford's very first front wheel drive car and, with an entry level model price of £1,856, this car instantly satisfied the nation's desire for affordable, fun motoring.
A passion that has continued for three decades and 3.2 million sales in the UK alone.
Thirty years on, the Fiesta remains the UK's most popular choice among private retail customers in the supermini sector, posting annual sales of around 84,000, and, in order to maintain this, the Ford Fiesta three or five-door hatchback of 2006 is readily available.
In a range of Studio, Style, Zetec, Zetec Climate, Ghia, S and ST variants, buyers can choose from 1.25-litre, 1.4-litre, 1.6-litre and two-litre petrol power plus 1.4-litre and 1.6-litre diesels.
I'm driving the Ford Fiesta 1.25-litre petrol version boasting Zetec Climate trim which comes with a quite decent standard kit level including remote central double locking, climate control, electric front windows with driver's one-shot lowering, electrically operated and heated door mirrors, Quickclear heated front windscreen, four-speaker sound system with CD, driver's and front passenger's airbags, front fogs and ABS braking with electronic brakeforce distribution.
The current Fiesta's predecessor was not recognised for its interior spaciousness but Ford's designers have addressed that deficiency here with a useful increase in space providing sufficient head and legroom to cater comfortably for four adults.
But, while the luggage bay shapes up well and a 60/40 split folding rear seat extends its carrying capacity, boot space, with all seats taken could, perhaps, have still done with being a little more generous.
Although the steering wheel adjusts only for tilt, the driver's seat adjusts for height to help provide a fine driving position from which all-round vision is good. Rear parking sensors are a £250 extra.
The dash has been modernised with a quite stylish-looking dashboard and more expensive looking, softer touch plastics.
Recognisable by its new bumpers, revised grille and fresh lighting set-ups front and rear, the latest Fiesta looks good.
Although the 0-62mph time is a somewhat conservative 13.6 seconds, the performance does not feel at all sluggish and, while the 1.4, 1.6 and two-litre options or the two diesel engines will obviously provide greater pulling power when on the motorway.
Always up there with the leading pack in the driving quality stakes, the new Fiesta has lost none of its ability.
However, the pay-off from the firmed-up chassis is a rather firmish ride in town and a little road noise.
Overall the latest Fiesta is a well put together supermini and, with Ford's new-found build quality adding further weight to its qualities, it's on course to remain a top seller.
FAST FACTS
Ford Fiesta Zetec Climate 1.25 5dr
Price: £10,795
Mechanical: 75bhp, 1,242cc, 4cyl petrol engine driving front wheels via 5spd manual gearbox
Max speed: 101mph
0-62mph: 13.6 secs
Combined mpg: 47.1
Insurance group: 4
CO2 emissions: 142g/km
BiK rating: 15%
Warranty: 3yrs/ 60,000 miles; 3yrs paint; 12yrs anti-rust