23rd June 25. Bad Start, Great Ending.

Not sure how today ended so well. Starting early to get to Warrington for the collection of a Kia Sportage to go to my customer in Oxford. I took the much cheaper planned route from Aylesbury to the north west via Princess Risborough, Leamington Spa, Coventry and then Warrington. Starting at 05.37am Rather than going into London and back out from Euston station. A lot more expensive than way.

At this time of the morning there is no staff at the station. So I didn't have to look at my ticket. And fortunately didn't have to until I got closer to Warrington.

The ticket inspector then asked for tickets and some reason. When I actually bought online yesterday. I had bought for the 28th. Next Saturday!!!

I had been looking at tickets for this Saturday for another reason and had forgotten to change back. Stupid schoolboy error.

The inspector was brilliant. He understood my mistake and actually just wrote on my ticket to allow me out at Warrington. No need anyway as the ticket barriers were open. Expensive disaster averted.

Warrington Bank Quay station.

The weather was still sunny with a few clouds to remind me exactly where I was. It was warm but not the baking heat of the south. So a walk from the station to the dealership to collect the 2022 Kia Sportage was pleasant enough.

On the walk there was a few interesting historic buildings well, historic for Warrington to see. The one below was from 1814 and a soap factory. The 25 minutes walk went very quickly

Joseph Crosfield & Sons Ex Soap factory dated from 1814.

I arrived at the dealership and the manager was very helpful. He was the only person available. Found the car and keys for me and I did my appraisal noted the damage and called the buyer to confirm ok.

Then heading out the A57 to the M6 and south to Birmingham. Then the M42 to the M40 and Bicester to pick up the A34 to Oxford

Warrington to Oxford

My potential cost disaster with the train tickets earlier. Seems to have spurred the gods in my favour. Tomorrow I have a job from Barnsley to Aylesbury. When I stopped for fuel just outside Warrington I saw a job on a portal from Oxford to Worksop I accepted the fixed price as it saved me a train journey and cost. As I only need the short ticket between Barnsley and Worksop, so the job confirmed I had the journey from Warrington feeling very smug.

It was around 3 hours to Oxford after stopping for a break. But I had plenty of time to drop the car off on Iffley Road and walk the half mile to the Peugeot dealer for collection of the car for tomorrow.

And instead of the nice, bus into Oxford then the horrible bus from Oxford to Aylesbury. I had a rather nice very low mileage 2020 Ford Kuga to take home and leave early tomorrow to go north without a long train, into and back out of London really early tomorrow .

The day really ended well.