16th February 26. Hastings to Corby.
- 3 days ago
- 3 min read
By collecting the Ford EcoSport the other day from the prep centre in Leighton Buzzard. I sort of painted myself into a corner. I had a job to collect a van from BCA Corby. Today. This is actually an expensive train journey for an hour and a half drive from Corby to Aylesbury.
Believe it or not. The train from Hastings to Corby was half the price of the ticket from Aylesbury to Corby. I cannot understand why. But it meant I could deliver the Ford to Hastings. And get the train into London bridge station and back out to Corby, via the underground from London Bridge to St Pancras where a direct train to Corby awaits.
I arrived at the Ford dealer in Hastings around 8.30 and there is usually a keen, early starting sales exec who gets landed with the job of checking them in..
I did my appraisal, clicked an Uber and went in to find that sales exec. Having offloaded the car on the poor unwitting exec. The Uber was a few minutes away.
Battle station is closer than Hastings and direct to London Bridge. I got to the station with 10 minutes to spare and relaxed on the 9.03am to London
As you can see I arrived in Corby at 12.24.
Called an Uber to the BCA auction site. Which is always a little expensive for some reason.
But before that as I travelled between London Bridge and St Pancras on the underground . An interesting experience today was the two kids sitting on the very busy underground train with people around them looking for seating. As you can see below.
Both with the obligatory hoodies and feet on the seats in front of them.
The annoyed elderly gentleman behind stood up and asked them to take their feet off the seats so others could sit. Of course that just started them abusing the poor guy.
So I held up my phone as if filming them. This they found hilarious. Telling me they would simply take my phone off me and I would never see it again, "like innit". And I'd get a "slappin brov" whatever that is.
I continued to hold my phone up, informing them I was not filming them as such, but said to them "say hello on Facebook live". I wasn't obviously as I don't even have Facebook. But they, obviously panicked pulled thier hoodies over their faces and fucked off at the next station. I should play poker!!
My only thoughts after they had gone was to remind myself of the time amount of knife crime in London and to never try that again. The old guy thanked me though.
Anyway. I went a stop too many and had to double back from Blackfriars Bridge
I arrived eventually and Uber'd my way to BCA Corby to collect the Ford Courier van going back to Aylesbury.
The process at Corby is not as simple as Other places. You wait in a cramped area to speak to the staff there, who are great by the way.
Through a open hatch that's way too low for anyone over 5'2" being 6'0" it's just stupid. You give them the registration number and release code. They take your ID, driving licence in this case. Copy that license onto two forms. Give you a third form and a brief idea where your vehicle is. You find it and bring it to the lane for exit. Where someone checks it, what for I don't know.
I do my appraisal at the same time. Fill in their third form and then when they are ready. Take that firm to a separate window. Add your details and sign the two forms they attached a copy of your driving licence to. And give me a release form.
I go back to the van. Go to Border control (The exit) actually it's a lot more difficult to leave here than get into this country. Which is a worry.
They wave you through barrier one. Into what is obviously no mans land. Take your papers and then the sirens go off when the exit gate slides to let you out. Only when the barrier is raised. And your free!!!
It is actually easier to get into the country at Border Control.
Not sure this job is worth all the effort. Corby is not the easiest place to get to. And only 59 miles from Aylesbury. But takes far too long to drive. Bloody awkward actually.
I'll try and avoid if possible.
Job done. Van delivered
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