11th February 25 Bedford - Hyde - Manchester - Disaster !!

The day started horribly and finished horribly.

Train to Bedford, via firstly, a bus to Fenny Stratford wasn't a pleasant experience due to the weather. was was followed by a horrible walk in the rain along country roads with no pavements and full of trucks to and from the concrete plant close to BCA Bedford. Our destination. I saw "our" because today I'm accompanied by my other half as a long day ahead. I hate walking along country roads anyway. But dragging my poor wife into that was making it worse. She didn't complain and as always looked out for our safety.

Arriving at BCA breaking my rule of not going to auction houses to collect cars as for some reason now you need an appointment. (The effect of COVID on auctions another time)

We collected the Range Rover Evoque from BCA to drive to Hyde near Manchester. This Range Rover confirmed my view, held since 2011 when the Evoque was launched. Causing much hilarity and comments from my peers at Land Rover, where I was sales manager . That I would never spend £50k plus on this car and would much rather spend sub £20k and get change by buying a new Dacia Duster 4x4 and it be more reliable.

I need to point out that now nearly 25 years later. The motoring press are starting to agree with me.😎

The drive north was horrendous and worrying due to the noises coming from the front of the once £60k Evoque Autobiography. But we got there and were very pleased to get my appraisal signed and get out of there. Taking an Uber to a Manchester main dealer to collect the car to go to my next customer the following morning.

The delay in finding the car at the dealership meant the dark rainy day was getting more and more dark as the time clicked from 16.15 to close to closing. Finally driving into the heavy rain soaked Manchester traffic around 17.15. great!! 😡

The car was a very new Renault Australe. In a mat grey colour. We settled into it and connected the phone and punched home into the satellite navigation system by saying "Hey Google" Renault, being one of the only manufacturers to offer this great service.

We decided to stop for something to eat and travel in less heavy traffic on the drive south.

MISTAKE! No 1 (timing)

Trusting the technology given my praise, should have been a given. I wish I had

MISTAKE no 2 (Direction)

Going south on the M40 towards our usual turn off at Bicester the Sat Nav said to turn off at the A43 Oxford a similar distance but I don't know the road as well as the A41 Bicester to Aylesbury.

Being as I don't particularly like driving in the dark much these days. I decided to take the usual route.

I also nowadays really don't drive quickly. It's not worth it and you don't save time and also business wise you need to save fuel and driving licence points.

I was driving along at around 50 MPH. Decided to put on some music as getting tired. Did that distract me? Never had in 50 years of driving!

Out of nowhere a deer ran straight across the road in front of us. Obviously I braked to avoid it quickly. And it made it across. It's mate didn't, coming from nowhere at my side with me already braking. I hit it, or rather it hit me. Going so slowly, I would estimate around 25-30 MPH. It bounced off the front of the car and slid along the road, looking at us in horror obviously. I drove past it and my cowardly instinct took over. I was terrified to see any animal I had killed or injured. We did stop. The car was working perfectly. Lights on, no dashboard lights and looking at the car as you can see in the photos only the front grille and a small crease in the bonnet. Thank god the deer must have run off too. But we were both shaken and very upset.

The car drove home perfectly headlights pointing in the right direction and nothing in the way of lights on the dashboard. These cars have lights for all faults nowadays so I was pleasantly surprised. Nobody hurt, hopefully the deer recieving no more than a huge fright and the car in one piece. (You will be as shocked as I was looking at this photo when I explain the cost of repair)

Guessing on an email welcome 😁

We arrived home and eventually slept but very difficult night.