29th January 25

A new , and as it turned out, very short lived customer came calling the other day. Renault London West. A place I worked as Sales Manager

for a few years and would still be there probably if it wasn't for the boss asking me to move with him to his next role. For which I appreciated the confidence he placed in me but became after a few years a hell hole of politics from which he left to go back to RRG (Renault Retail Group) to the job he left. By that time there was someone else in my old role. Anyway, it was good to hear from the boys at London West and Reagan wanted a car collected from Cardiff he had sold which was my job for today.

So the train to Cardiff was a multi change job. Aylesbury to Princess Risborough, then towards Oxford. Then on to Reading and swap to a train to Cardiff.

Arriving at the station I decided as it wasn't raining to have a walk to Renault Cardiff which was around a mile or so. Down what looks like a main street that was full of life years ago and large looking town houses in a very wide street. Once you get past the central area over the bridge with a view of the Millennium Stadium.

Memories of Arsenal v Liverpool 2001

Now the Millennium Stadium holds some memories for me. Two FA cup wins. 2001 and 2006. 2001 being the traitor Michael Owens finest moments against a better on the day Arsenal team. And of course that amazing, again lucky to win "Stevie G final" Not many cup finals are actually named after one player. Or they weren't in those days. The "Stanley Matthews Final" being the other. But this was a quite amazing game albeit one we eventually won with goals going in from unlikely players so to see that stadium brought back some good memories. After passing over the bridge the street becomes very worn looking the houses in desperate need of attention and such beautiful properties shouldn't be allowed to get into this state of repair. I guess the ridiculous housing market situation hasn't quite reached out this far yet. These look like rentals that the government or local authorities give to people newly arrived to the UK off some inflatable floating thing they picked up from the English channel. Thanks again to the French. These houses are interspersed with the usual food outlets. You know the ones, huge chunks of fake meat on a pole being roasted by a grill to try and kill whatever bacteria is lurking. To produce with the help of a lot of salad and hot chili sauce or garlic mayonnaise to make an absolutely delicious handful of food when full of alcohol.

So arrived at Renault Cardiff and collected a Renault Capture facing the usual displeasure of the staff as another branch has sold their precious stock .

Renault Captur collection

Now dark the drive home is dreary and long along the M4 from Cardiff to the M25 and round to the A41 to Aylesbury, home leaving the car ready to deliver the next morning

Some might say that stretch of the M4 is the greatest thing to ever come out of Wales. Of course that's harsh and I'm not "some people 🤔😁

Oh. Why was this customer, short lived. Will reveal in a few days.