1st April. Do I Have to Explain the Title?

Three Jobs to Do Today and Not Enough Time Who's the Fool?

Three jobs to do today and not enough time. My planning says it’s possible, but planning in this role is essential. However, you can over-plan.

What do I mean by this? Spending too much time on planning can lessen the risk of things going wrong, but this role depends on several factors. Public transport needs to run on time and not break down. Cars must be ready and functioning. And then there are the people involved.

So, you see, there are many things you can't plan for. Your actual planning should build in some, but not all, contingencies for time wasted. Even then, things can happen, and your day can go south. By over-planning, I mean, you simply can't detail every car journey, train stop, taxi ride, and walking time. It just doesn’t work.

Effective Planning Strategies

If you plan a day starting with a train journey, look at the time of arrival at your destination. Then, check how far it is from the collection point of the day. Find out if Uber operates in that area and factor in the time to wait for the taxi and the car. Allow an hour or more until you actually start to drive back or to your next destination. Use Google Maps and add a bit more time for good measure. We show you all this and in more detail when you join us.

The First Job: Driving to Oxford

Today's first job is to drive the Kia Sportage I collected yesterday to Oxford. I planned the time I wanted to arrive and left home 15 minutes before the start time. I arrived there at 8:50 AM—perfect timing!

Kia Sportage. Oxford

The sales executive signed for the car without even looking at it. Then, I left for Oxford Station. Oxford is easy to navigate, especially with the buses. They are frequent and affordable. The dealership is on Iffley Road, and there’s a bus every few minutes that stops just outside. So I quickly made my way to the centre and arrived at the station.

The Second Job: Collecting in Winchester

The next job today was a collection in Winchester. The journey from Oxford was straightforward. There is a direct train at 10:19, taking just over an hour—perfect!

I arrived in Winchester around 11:25 and summoned an Uber to the dealer for the collection of a 2016 Nissan Qashqai. This vehicle was to be delivered to one of my customers in Aylesbury. The station was a 29-minute walk from the dealer, and I would usually take this opportunity to get some exercise. However, today was too busy. So, I opted for a quick Uber and arrived at the dealer just 10 minutes after reaching the station. A quick appraisal, and I was off to Aylesbury.

It’s about an hour and a half drive away.

I arrived around 1:45 PM, dropped off the Qashqai with the dealer, and took a taxi back to the station for job number three of the day.

The Third Job: Collecting the Vauxhall Mokka

Job three was to collect the Vauxhall Mokka I had saved yesterday from the hands of a fraudster for the dealership in Aylesbury. So, I made my way back to Aylesbury Station for a train back to Dartford via London. This journey involves going to Marylebone Station, then taking the underground to Paddington, and finally catching the Elizabeth Line east to Abbey Wood before heading overground to Dartford. It’s time-consuming, but I managed to get there.

From Dartford Station, I took another Uber to the hotel and collected the car. Then, I joined the massive queue to merge onto the M25 just south of the Dartford northbound crossing, which passes under the river through the Dartford Tunnel. I continued around the northern section of the M25 to the A41, heading onwards to Aylesbury.

Normally, this journey takes about an hour and a half. However, today it took over two and a half hours. But I arrived at the dealer with their Mokka, now safe, just before closing time.

Reflecting on a Busy Day

Today was one of those days when I felt like a busy fool. For some reason, days spent on trains and taxis always feel the same. However, once I had sent out my three invoices for the day, I felt better—tired but better.

In conclusion, effective planning is crucial, but it’s equally important to remain flexible. You can’t predict everything, but with the right strategies, you can manage your time effectively.

---wix---