Very similar to John Wood I also hit my 30 years with TR7s.
It was November 1984 when I bought my first TR7 (SRA 279R) in white 5 speed with red Tartan interior. I was an apprentice with the CEGB and was at Burton college, it cost £1500, but having a wage meant I could take out a loan which is the only way I could of bought it.
I got my first DHC in 1986 (GOG 563W), it had had an interior fire, all the interior gutted, glass gone, doors buckled, a mess, but I put it back on the road, it was the only way I could ever afford a DHC! (even though at the time DHC parts were expensive and they weren't being broken for spares)
Since then I have always had a TR7 in my life, in 1989 it went up to 3, but levelled at 2 for years and now I have 5.
I do have the bug and hope it never goes!
Cheers,
Dave