12th January 26. Corby, Again

Today was going to be just the one job to collect a van from BCA Corby. As I did on Friday. For the same customer in Aylesbury.

I do these jobs because it's my biggest customer so I don't like to say no, but the train from Aylesbury to Colby is a bit of a pain.

First job today.

But yesterday a job fell into my lap from Aylesbury to Bedford. So I grabbed it off the system. So now I'm getting paid to go to a place much easier to get to Corby by train. See how this works?

As you see, the journey takes less than 30 minutes.

So I walked the short distance from home and collected a 2020 BMW 116d from Audi Aylesbury.

And drove the 55 minutes to Vauxhall in Bedford. Delivered the car quite quickly and got paid for the privilege.

A quick Uber to Bedford station and there was a train every 25 minutes or so so I only had 5 minutes to wait and jumped on the train to Corby.

From Corby station it's a £5 Uber trip and usually there's one available quickly.

I have and recommend, Uber business, it saves you over time and you often get weekly offers of discounts. Definitely worth having.

At Corby. I usually just go to the window and get started on the process they have.

Today they told me the van I was collecting was good to to go as they now use a booking slot system. And I had booked the slot for today

This is where your attitude and professionalism comes into play. We touched on it on the initial presentation you will see if you join us.

The usual hi-vis brigade. The ones from a recovery truck background. Will stand and argue. The guy before me was swearing at the girl behind the window. He got nothing and walked out. Still swearing. But it was his fault he hadn't booked it.

I was collecting a Ford Ranger today. An ex lease vehicle and in amazing condition, considering the 72,000 miles it's done. Hardly a mark on it.

Ford Ranger ready for inspection

The process of getting a vehicle out of this place is okay once you're used to it. You have to go to a window queueing with other drivers. Give your registration number (making sure your booking day is right.)

They give you a sheet to do a small appraisal. You go and find the vehicle and put it in the lane ready for inspection. Then somebody inspects it. You take your inspection sheet back to the window, sign the paperwork and get a release form.

Waiting for release.

You then go to the Brandenburg gate which is like a double air lock of barriers and then a sliding metal gate with an alarm when it moves. It's seriously more guarded than our borders.

You give your release sheet and your site pass back and you're allowed out into the open world.

It's then a very awkward hour and a half drive back from Corby, which I don't think I've gone the same way twice back to Aylesbury. If you're lucky, you'll find your way to the M1 quickly. Google maps has taken me three different ways. And two of them are not marked on the map below. 😂

I've just been told there's more collections from here next week so I'm getting used to it.