28th April 25. A brief visit to Cambridge.

Having lived in Cambridge for a few years previously from 2003 to 2016. It held many good and bad memories

Today was just the one job to collect a car from Bury St Edmunds to go to the independent car dealer in Aylesbury.

This was my first time back and actually my first time back in Drive Vauxhall in Bury. Let me explain.

I was here a few years ago now for an interview for the sales manager job. I didn't need to change jobs but someone asked me if I was interested so I thought an interview can't hurt. The interview went well and I believe the head of business wanted me to commit there and then. Thankfully I didn't as when I walked out of her office. Sitting at one of the sales executives desks was a character I had employed previously at my current job at Land Rover. Who I had to do something I haven't done before or since. Instant dismissal.

He had been selling customers portable satellite navigation systems really cheap ones. God knows where he bought them. And selling them on the sly to his Land Rover customers. Back then, we sold a lot of Freelanders and most of them came without the central media screen. There was just a storage space. He was selling these fitted and what a mess he made of customers dashboards. Obviously the stupid man didn't think that once they went wrong.. customers would come back and complain. They did in their dozens. So, in those days it was quick "Come and have a walk round the forecourt" where he was told to go back in pack his stuff and hand his demo keys over and leave. He even asked for a lift home!!

He was told to take the big red Daimler that comes past a few times a day (the bus)

So when I saw him sitting there. I went straight back into the head of business's office and said in no way would I work in the same place as him.

Interview over.

The train today goes through Cambridge Station and I had some waiting time so decided to have a walk outside the station.

Wow. What a transformation of the area outside. The millions of bicycles that used to be outside have gone. Hotels shops restaurants and cafes opened and the whole road system changed. Looks amazing

Cambridge Station

Back onto the train to Bury St Edmunds and Drive Vauxhall is a 10 minutes walk. So again I took advantage of the beautiful sunshine and enjoyed that 15 minutes. I walked slowly.

The car today was a 2016 Vauxhall Corsa . Very basic, very cheap and should be a good seller

Appraisal done and headed out of Bury St Edmunds to the A14 and headed west.

I passed Cambridge section of the A14 and headed towards Bedford on A428 . Going past the huge amount of road works around St Neots and down to the Black Cat roundabout. How this whole area has changed since our time there. I do like Cambridge and would live in the city again. However some of the surrounding areas are now unrecognisable due to the massive changes to the road network there.

Onwards to Aylesbury. Via Bedford, Milton Keynes (again) and to Aston Clinton.. dropped off the car and headed for the bus stop.

Another day finished

But greatly enjoyed because of the weather.

Amazing sunshine and warm for the time of year. Two months of this now.