14th April 25 Aylesbury to Grantham, then Sheffield to Waltham Cross and home

Two jobs today. An early start should see them done quite easily. but I never like saying that before I start.

Used Google maps to tell me when to leave home to arrive in Grantham for 9.00am opening time. The Peugeot Grifter thing. Collected in Dumfries on Saturday was going to the Honda dealer in Grantham. Once I arrived I did my appraisal and found the buying manager. I asked why he had bought it and suggested that as it was something different he just took a chance. Being a Vertu dealer. I know this is not true. You can only buy based on the Vertu " Insights" algorithm. If it doesn't add up. You will very quickly get a phone call asking why you bought it. One of the reasons I am no longer in this business.

As this dealer is on the long road to the A1 into Grantham. I decided to have a walk to the station as it was just over a mile away. Another beautiful sunny day always helps that decision. So did the McDonald's , halfway there. So a cappuccino was bought for the remainder of the walk. Ticket already bought for the journey to Sheffield to collect a Toyota RAV4 from Vertu Toyota Sheffield going to Vauxhall Waltham Cross. My last place of work in the motor trade.

Sightseeing in Grantham

The train from Grantham to Sheffield is a direct service taking around 90 minutes. So Arrived in Sheffield ready for a quick Uber to the Toyota dealership. As always in these parts the cost of Uber travel is a fraction of London costs. So £3.50 later I was there collecting the car. Doing my appraisal and ready for the drive south.

The first appraisal is always the most important. Finding any damage now is much more important than when you deliver the car

These details are just one of the things I learnt by joining this program to learn this job. This is the part you need to understand as it can sabe you so much trouble going forward.

Sheffield station

Winding my way through Sheffield to the M1 South was quick enough and I was on track to arrive in Waltham Cross way before they close.

The four hour journey was made easier by an audio book. Called Scouse Republic by David Swift. It gives a sort of history of everything to do with Liverpool and how it rose from abject poverty in the 17-1800s to wealth due to the docks. and back to poverty again in the 80s. Brilliant listen. Highly recommend it.

Sheffield

It was good to say hello to ex colleagues at Vauxhall Waltham Cross. And left the car with them and made the short walk to the station to get the train to Liverpool Street. Then tubed to Marylebone station, via the central line to Oxford Circus then Bakerloo line north.

Baker Street station

Found the first train to Aylesbury. Using the trick to go through the barriers as there's a screen with the platform numbers . To get a quick walk to beat the Amershan and Rickmansworth commuters to the train.

Another day in paradise finishes.