8:45am and we've arrived.
Up at 5, out at ten past seven, straight into the car park no hassle at all (unlike last two F1 GP's we've attended here), so that's a huge improvement. Could have stayed in bed a bit longer!
It'll get warmer later, so they say, but it's quite cool at the mo'.
So, Vicky:
Layers? Check.
Umbrella? Check.
Cameras? Check.
Tickets? Check.
Car Park Pass on windscreen? Check.
Dosh? Check.
Noted where we have parked? Check.
OK, let's go!
9:15-ish:
Arrived at Luffield after a short queue to get in and a baggage check and it's time for the first cup of tea of the day in time to wander over to the nearest grandstand to find some seats.
10:05-ish and the F1 cars are on track for the first practice session of the day.
Sebastien Vettel (Ferrari) demonstrates the new-fangled safety-hoop-thingy.
Lewis is on track!
Everyone in the grandstands and on the terraces go loopy.
Lewis waves.
Everyone waves back (except those taking photos, that is).
It's a veritable love-in.
The wonderful thing about Luffield is that you can get photos of cars going left to right - every other corner is right to left.
Ocon (Haas) & Massa (Williams) are the drivers providing some welcome diversity.
Talking of diversity, a group of 'Grid Girls' have arrived to cheer everyone up.
We've never heard so many wolf-whistles.
11:30-ish and the session draws to a close.
Lewis is fastest and, look, he's still waving to all and sundry. He hasn't stopped all session.
Imagine how fast he could go if he kept both hands on the wheel.
11:40-ish.
Getting warmer now.
I need a tea, Vic!
12:10-ish.
Life-size Tonka Toy at Luffield as GP2's come out for their Practice Session.
12:15-ish.
Walking along the Luffield Terracing as GP2 driver Mitch Evans (NZ) negotiates the corner.
12:30-ish.
We've wandered up the outside of The Wellington Straight hoping to get some high-speed panning shots of the GP2's but we are thwarted by dint of it being used as a Truck Park.
Vicky loves her trucks so at least one of us is happy.
12:40-ish.
Eventually, the trucks thin out and we can take some panning shots.
This is GP2 driver Pierre Gasly (FRA).
He'll be popular when he gets back to the Pits.
Luca Ghiotto (ITA) went straight on at Village and now waits shame-faced for the arrival of the break down truck and a lift back to civilisation.
1:30-ish.
Having had another cuppa tea, and a pastie shared between us, we've now made our way to Silverstone's newest grandstand overlooking Abbey: The View.
This is the view from…ahem…The View.
The temperature has now risen to 23 degrees and we are roasting nicely.
1:50-ish:
No matter what yer driving, Abbey has to be taken flat out.
What's the betting the driver of the track cleaning truck is making 'neeee-ooww' noises?
2:05-ish:
Proper people with 'big b*lls' taking Abbey flat out.
Vicky says Vettel looks really fast through here but actually isn't,
whilst Lewis doesn't look so fast but actually is.
Vicky says Vettel looks really fast through here but actually isn't,
whilst Lewis doesn't look so fast but actually is.
2:30-ish:
Sparks will fly:
Daniel Ricciardo in the Red Bull twixt Abbey and Farm.
2:45-ish:
Left the View Grandstand now to take some shots at ground level.
This is Pascal Wehrlein (GER) in a Manor Racing MRT.
2:55-ish:
We've found a new pond at Silverstone, behind the Farm Grandstand.
It's full of water lilies and killer-coi-carp (oh yes).
3:10-ish:
Slowly heading back towards the exit now.
Still time for a shot of Max Verstappen (NED) in his Red Bull on The Wellington Straight.
3:20-ish:
An out-of-sequence shot taken earlier to show that we had our last cuppa tea at Brooklands before heading back to the car park to beat the rush after the end of the afternoon F1 session.
3:30-ish:
Walking over the bridge back to the car park.
We have had a fantastic day but it is time to leave now 'cos we are knackered.
According to my Fit Bit, we have done almost 10,000 steps and walked 4.25 miles. We have paced ourselves today and that's not as far as we usually walk here.
According to my Fit Bit, we have done almost 10,000 steps and walked 4.25 miles. We have paced ourselves today and that's not as far as we usually walk here.
The drive home takes a lot longer than the one to get here: about 1hr 45 mins.
Vicky says it is no worse than any other Friday drive home on the M40, M42, and the M5.
Well, she should know!
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