9th January 26. Back to Normal

Back to the usual type of work today after my last week, some adjustment is needed to settle back into this.

Today I had to actually deliver the Mitsubishi to its new owner finally. It was going to a big group prep centre in Peterborough. Always an easy drop off as there are people ready for it.

Peterborough Drop off

So appraisal done and signed. I summoned an Uber to the station.

The weather today was potentially going to cause an issue. Quite ironic given the snow I had been in a few days before and no problems there on the roads.

The trains were ok and I was headed to Corby BCA. To collect a van for my customer in Aylesbury.

Going from Peterborough, first to Nottingham then Kettering and on to Corby. Then another Uber to the BCA site not far away.

Here you need patience. Wait at the window for someone to speak to you. The give registration number and release code. Give your ID then they tell you to go find your vehicle. Drive it to the checkout for their appraisal.

However. Today the first thing I was told is my collection hadn't been booked. It wasn't going today!!

After some discussion and persuasion. And waiting. The van was finally released.. but not before standing out in the sub zero temperatures of the day.

It finally arrived and checks done release paper issues for the gate. I was in the van and getting thawed out.

Ford Transit 350L

This van felt like an old friend, being the same, apart from the interior fittings, as the van I drove to Inverness the other day.

I went through the main gate, which has better security than our borders. I'm not joking.

Headed for the next fuel stop and then the hour and a half to Aylesbury.

Not the perfect day. But hopefully nothing further can go wrong.

The drive to Aylesbury was slow. But I only needed to get there before 5.00pm and collect the car for tomorrow.

I stopped in at home, as I was passing for an emergency loo break. Mistake 1

Getting back into the van I put the house keys on the passenger seat. Mistake2

As I drove out and turned left at the top of my street. I heard the clink of keys dropping off the seat. I'll get them when I stop, I thought.

Once I stopped, forty minutes later. I still couldn't locate where the keys had gone

It was getting dark now.

Keys lost, here's the only fortunate thing of the day. I carry a spare set of keys. But I lost my Ceara key ring. Ceara, is a state in Brazil and one of the local football teams in Fortaleza. I went to a game when I was there and was given the key ring by a friend in Brazil. So annoyingly, keys lost, I moved on to collect the car.

I walked up to the used car department to collect a car I was told was actually ready yesterday. So should be a simple appraisal and home.

Nope, the car was parked in a corner with two cars blocking it in.

Going nowhere tonight

It also had no fuel. Appraisal done, I asked the salesman to get the keys for the car in front. Half an hour later still no keys and I was told they were in the vehicle cleaners locked box and he had gone home.

Another fail.

So instead of collecting the car tonight then an early start tomorrow to get to Leeds. I had to walk home. Then walk back tomorrow morning for 7am. Luckily I have the valeters phone number and arranged it with him. So I didn't have to wait until 9.00am opening.

So instead of being home at 2pm I was home by 6pm. It's part of the job and things go wrong. It's how you handle it that's important.

And how I have such a good relationship with my customers.

They told me another large company they occasionally use if I'm busy.

Would have charged them for two days or an abort charge. Hence they try not to use them and use my services. And I am grateful for the business.

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