1st May 25. Brighton Heat

Today I'm delivering the Mazda 3 That I collected in Grimsby on Tuesday to West Brighton. Nr Portslade to be exact. It was going to an independent car trader, working obviously from home. He checked the car and seemed happy. Obviously oblivious to the horrendous 5 hours I spent in the thing on Tuesday with no air conditioning. Today's two and a half hours was early morning so not so hot. But as I arrived in Brighton the temperature had risen to around 27 degrees. A beautiful sunny day and I am now going across Brighton to collect the car to go home. A Motability car on a job I picked up simply to get me home. I can deliver this later to it's final destination.

The trader chatted away about the industry for a while and offered to take me to the station.

He had been in various positions in the industry, the same as myself. Senior manager positions and just the same as me. Got fed up of the constant unfair demands on management this industry offers.

He told me that at the train station if I wanted a cheaper alternative. To get the bus outside the station and what bus number to look for.

I found the bus and decided to go to the top floor and enjoy the views of Brighton as the bus passes right through the centre on the road parallel to the coast.

Welcome to Brighton 😁

Plenty of interesting sights and on this sunny day, everything always looks much better.

Brighton Street

The bus goes from Portslade to Mouslecoombe on the East of Brighton. I got off on Eastern Road. And looking for a taxi to go the customers house to collect the Motability return vehicle.

I looked at the weather. My day's timing, and decided to walk the two miles. It was after all a beautiful day.

As I started the walk. The roads started to climb higher and higher. I've started now so never give up.

Each road I turned just seemed steeper and steeper. It was now showing 29 degrees. Thinking, this is just good exercise. Enjoy it.

At the top of one road. Google maps looked like it was getting closer. It looked like a pathway. I say pathway. I mean stairs

Sweating now

The photo above doesn't really show the steepness of this. But you can see the distance.

Having got to be top of these stairs. The road I was looking for was close. But still stretching out upwards before me.

The house I was looking for was at the very top of the hill. (Mountain)

Just after the house, the road actually started to drop. Thanks!!

I knocked on the door. Nothing, rang the bell, nothing. The car I was collecting was outside. But nobody home.

I knocked louder and louder. Nothing. Called the landline number I was given. No answer.

I was not looking forward to walking down that hill in this heat.

The car was on the road. Even from the road itself, it was quite a climb up to the house which sat proudly laughing at me at the top of that climb.

Looking up the top windows were wide open. Someone must be home.

Renault Twingo waiting to go

I called the number again and nothing. I called the company I got the job from and said I was just about to abort. I have been there a while now.

Then the door opened. The woman was just opening the door to let her cat out.

I was heading down the path and she asked me why I was there. Funny...

It turned out. He never answers the phone. Doesn't like it. And they are both quite deaf. And old. bless em. Turns out they can't drive any more..the doctor has told them. Felt sorry for them actually at 65, I am looking ahead and wondering if this is me in a few years. So I explained how the car would go back and any damage noted might come back to them

So I ignored a few scuffs. Knowing the dealership buying the car would fix them and not worry about the cost.

I left feeling bad for them. But good for myself.

Whatever time I have left. I need to enjoy and live it. The walk up the hill, (mountain) had made me feel good about my energy levels.. And, life in general.

I drove the little Renault Twingo to its destination at Manheim Auctions Colchester. Obviously arriving later than planned but not a problem. Not like other auction houses nowadays where you have to actually book a drop off or delivery slot.

Arriving at the auction house brought back many memories of my time at BMW.

We used to dispose of all our trade cars here. And every Thursday night I would go straight from work and stand on the platform with the auctioneer saying yes or no to the highest bidder. Dinner was always on the house and people like me were treated well and had a separate part of the place to sit and work and eat. Food was great. Any free food usually is.

I always loved my time at auctions. Whether buying or selling I had spent a lot of time in these places and saw all the tricks. Like the auctioneer having his favourite, and when they bid and nodded. The hammer fell very quickly. Was the auctioneer on the take. Of course. But nothing can be proved your honour.

I knew the drill here and handed the car over did my appraisal and summoned an Uber to the station . Having put Colchester station clearly into the Uber app. He drove me to Colchester town station for some reason. Telling me it's ok it's only one stop.!!

Having never had to get the train from here as always previously driven. I didn't know where he was going.

So from Colchester town it was one further change to Colchester station then onwards to Liverpool Street and across London to Marylebone. And home still around five. No problem.

Colchester (town) to Aylesbury