10th January 26. Leeds

After last night's multiple procedural lapses. 😳 I awoke a little later than expected and walked in -3 temperatures to collect the car going to Leeds today. I finally left around 7.30am so not so late.

The early morning walk is something I'm used to. Mostly to the station and on a weekday. This morning I was reminded of the social issues we have. At 6.30 there was very few people or cars around, a lot less than a weekday anyway.

However, on the other side of the road was a character dressed, as they usually are. In dirty baggy tracksuit suit bottoms and a hoodie. This one though had bare feet in flip flops. In minus three temperatures. He was speaking loudly on the phone to someone. My experience tells me the guy was trying to find more of, what he had been taking the night before.

He wasn't getting what he wanted and the voice was getting louder. He was pacing up and down in about ten metres of pavement. Shouting and coughing very loudly and almost retching. As I walked on quickly past on the opposite side. He started shouting at me. Shouting for me to stop and give him money. I continued to walk. Thankfully a prolonged bout of coughing and retching stopped him. And he gave up. But I thought about those poor people killed in Nottingham on an early morning by some nutter a few years ago.

I started to think how I would actually defend myself against someone like that. My heavy backpack would become a weapon I could swing with force.

Horrible to think about but you just never know. After that Huntington train attack. With the amount of time I spend on trains. Also makes you think.

Anyway. The journey to Leeds started and within two miles from home there was a car in the hedge down a ditch with Police aware tape around it. Hazard lights on. Obviously didn't understand what I've on the road means.

3 hours later and through a snowy motorway around Sheffield. I arrived at Leeds.

Elland Road Leeds

The customer was delighted to get the car and signed my appraisal.

Hyundai Kona delivery

Even though there's no book pack or service history. That's between them and the dealership. Don't get involved. My new motto.

Appraisal done

When the car breaks down and the service history can't be confirmed and it's not covered by warranty that's when the problem starts. Not today.

I then cheaply Uber'd my way to Leeds railway station.

Leeds Station

My train was supposed to be at 13.10

I arrived at 11.40. that train to London Kings Cross was cancelled. The next at 12.10. I jumped on that and found an available sign on a seat and grabbed it.

When the tickets are checked I'll have a good story about canceled trains .

From there it's underground to London Marylebone and the next Aylesbury train home.