13th May 25. South London

My new customer in Maidstone has given me a job I probably dreaded. When my old boss called me a few weeks ago and offered work. And this is my biggest problem in life and something I need to change quickly. Saying No!

However, I agreed to take on the work for them, but Maidstone is completely the opposite side and just as far out of central London as Aylesbury. Where I am based. So to accept a job to take a car from Coulsdon to Maidstone, a 40 min journey, is not time or financially viable. For one thing the train from Aylesbury to Coulsdon South takes two hours. and costs £28 then once the car is delivered to the dealership in Aylesford nr Maidstone. the journey home from the closest station, Barming takes just over three hours and is £22. The idea is to always try and find a job to get there or one to get back and coincide these jobs to make it worthwhile. But today for me to invoice only £75 plus fuel. Its not!

The train takes me to From Aylesbury to Marylebone Station then underground to Baker Street. The oldest underground station in the world. Opening on January 10th 1863 when part of the Metropolitan railway . The station is full of original architecture and signage and never fails to amaze me how many people must have passed through this station. That now has become a very regular passing place for my journeys.

From Baker Street I take a few eastbound stops on the circle or Hammersmith and city line to Kings Cross, St Pancras. turning right when leaving the underground into St Pancras International. Passing the plethora of overpriced, pretentious shops and the area where the Eurostar travellers gather. (why do they always wheel around huge and multiple suitcases and luggage that are actually bigger than they are?) I zig zag past they luggage army's and onto the proper train platform to find the Thameslink south that will stop directly at Coulsdon South Station.

From there is a five minute walk to the dealer. and again the sun is shining and the sky is blue.

This dealership is in a row of huge quite new retail sites selling VW Audi Kia, Jaguar and Land Rover. running alongside the wide A23 between London and Brighton.

The Kia Dealership is huge, I mean high the glass area is massive and you can feel the heat inside even at this early hour.

Kia Coulsdon

This is the second time here and the staff are pleasant enough but obviously don't like losing stock to the sister dealer in Maidstone. The sales people also, don't like doing anything that doesn't end in a sale. People like me coming in with a rucksack and trade plates just means work, they do not think they should be doing. So they all look away and stare at their computers to save eye contact. I'm getting used to this side of the business now.

2023 Kia Sportage

Today's car is a 2023 Kia Sportage . the car is eventually found, photographed and appraised and I head out and south on the A23.

The trip is a quick journey on the A23 to the M25 and heading east to the M26/M20 doesn't take long and 35 minutes later I am in Aylesford and playing the same game with the sales people looking away. Until someone take the car and I can walk the 20 minute to Barming station and the 3 hour journey via Victoria Station. The underground again to Marylebone and then Aylesbury.

Barming Station

A longer day than it should be for that small invoice price. But a day when I actually enjoyed to whole journey beautiful sunshine. going through London always gives me a positive energy. It has done since I first came here in 1974. to living here in 1985. I miss living there. but once I moved out to Aylesbury in 2022 When my old boss asked me to join his company. The property prices haven't risen that much in the two years. But the rents have actually nearly doubled in that time. I don't want to bore you with my thoughts on the UK and especially London property market. but I am an angry man they way it's gone