Monday, a 05:30 alarm call, leaving home at 06:00, a short journey to pick up a work colleague from his home in Draycott to drive to Reading. A morning in the office before we leave to attend a meeting on the client site just over an hour away before returning to Reading and a night in a hotel. Tuesday morning we breakfast, go to work and then drive back to Derby. And that is becoming a the pattern, with additional days at Reading thrown into the mix which see me using the train on a daily commute basis. Over 400 miles a week behind the wheel of the car and a day or two in the local office means that by the time the weekend arrives I sleep heavily and well.
Now don't get me wrong, I know I am fortunate to have a job,but, and it is a big but, in this age with the technology available to us there should be no need to do this number of miles in either the car or on the train. Voice conference, video conference and file sharing should mean that the work that I do can be done from anywhere, including local office or from home. But every client believes that their data is more sensitive than anybody else's, that face to face is the only way to do meetings, and the sales people allow these conditions to be written into the contract and our bosses always want to see us in the office having a "bums on seats" attitude believing that if bums are on seats then work is being done and results achieved. Just how delusional and out of touch they are. Almost Dickensian. Attitudes like these mean we end up doing inordinate mileage which is totally ridiculous.
Sunday, 16 September 2012
Dieting
Now don't ask me how but all I know is that I've been roped into dieting simply because the rest of the family have decided to diet. Of course these days there has to be an app involved, in this case My Fitness Pal on android is the chosen tool for monitoring calorific consumption and burn. Weigh in last Sunday was overseen by Mark to ensure no cheating and I tipped the scales at 214 pounds. This morning, one week on, the same scales say 211.4 pounds, so weight has been lost. And I have to say that I've not made many adjustments to my daily intake to come in just under my calorific allowance. Suzie has lost 2 pounds in weight (I'll not give her weight) so she too is suitably encouraged to keep going.
Having spent a week using My Fitness Pal I have to say that I find it useful but a bit clunky. It doesn't appear to be intelligent enough to store something you ate for breakfast as something you might also consume as another meal, so you are constantly searching for stuff when you should be able to reselect from the pre-consumed list, which you can do if you previously consumed it for that meal (i.e. toast for breakfast). Usefully it comes with a bar code reader so searching is simplified to some extent, but then you have to be aware of the portion sizes. As a basic guide it is useful but it isn't a "super accurate" tool.
Having spent a week using My Fitness Pal I have to say that I find it useful but a bit clunky. It doesn't appear to be intelligent enough to store something you ate for breakfast as something you might also consume as another meal, so you are constantly searching for stuff when you should be able to reselect from the pre-consumed list, which you can do if you previously consumed it for that meal (i.e. toast for breakfast). Usefully it comes with a bar code reader so searching is simplified to some extent, but then you have to be aware of the portion sizes. As a basic guide it is useful but it isn't a "super accurate" tool.
Wednesday, 12 September 2012
Savour the moment
This past weekend was just one of those moments one has to savour and remember. Mark and Eleanor came up from Staines to spend a few days with us, arriving here with us Friday afternoon in time for us to change and ready for a night out together with us, Andy and Emma. Using my mum's MPV I drove us to Nottingham, stopping off at The Priory for a meal before going on to the Capital FM Area and the Michael McIntyre show.
Saturday we found time for a mini BBQ among the household chores, weekly shop, gardening and everything else that has to be done at the weekends simply because the week is so full of the demands of work and making sure that the "old people" are cared for and OK. Sunday we managed a proper family BBQ and found time to make the weekend one with a family bias, and all the better for being so. All in all it was a weekend to savour. OK, so I didn't get to ride the motorbike, visit a bike shop to get new gloves and helmet needed for the coming winter riding, or a myriad of things I would have liked to have done. But hey, what a substitute, well worth the "sacrifice".
Sunday, 9 September 2012
Weekends
Weekends. Some go to plan, some don't but often the best are spontaneous - as this one has been. After a hectic week at work when the sun was shining bright and the skies were largely cloudless, neatly timed to co-incide with kids going back to school after the summer break. All we'd planned was Mark and Eleanor coming home from Staines to be with us for a family trip to see Michael McIntyre in the Capita FM Area in Nottingham on Friday night.
Eveything went well and with time in hand we had a meal at The Priory on the way into Nottingham. The show was McIntyre at his best and I had the benefit of bumping into an ex-colleague from my FIS days, Colin and his better half.
I kick started Saturday with a grilled breakfast to get everyone going. Sue went off to do the weekly ASDA shop while I did some of the household chores. Mark and I visited my dad and took him out in a wheelchair for a trip round the block to get him out of his room for a while. He was very tired when we got back even though we were only out for about 40 minutes. We also managed to fit a small BBQ into the day somewhere, and Mark and I a visit to see my mother.
Today I spent some time in front of the box watching the Italian FI from Monza and the British Superbikes from just down the road at Donington, and the closing ceremony of the Paralympics is on as I type this up. We have also had a BBQ today and I spent about 3 hours getting tar/stone chips and bugs off Sue's car, giving it a wash and polish.
So a full and enjoyable weekend, which preludes another busy week where I'll be staying away from home Monday night, not out of choice but work dictates (sometimes).
Eveything went well and with time in hand we had a meal at The Priory on the way into Nottingham. The show was McIntyre at his best and I had the benefit of bumping into an ex-colleague from my FIS days, Colin and his better half.
I kick started Saturday with a grilled breakfast to get everyone going. Sue went off to do the weekly ASDA shop while I did some of the household chores. Mark and I visited my dad and took him out in a wheelchair for a trip round the block to get him out of his room for a while. He was very tired when we got back even though we were only out for about 40 minutes. We also managed to fit a small BBQ into the day somewhere, and Mark and I a visit to see my mother.
Today I spent some time in front of the box watching the Italian FI from Monza and the British Superbikes from just down the road at Donington, and the closing ceremony of the Paralympics is on as I type this up. We have also had a BBQ today and I spent about 3 hours getting tar/stone chips and bugs off Sue's car, giving it a wash and polish.
So a full and enjoyable weekend, which preludes another busy week where I'll be staying away from home Monday night, not out of choice but work dictates (sometimes).
Wednesday, 15 August 2012
Worlds apart on the same train
I have recently lambasted train travel simply because I don't see the benefits over using the car other than for specific trips like getting from Folkstone to Calais.
But today I did one of my round trips to Reading, and the short Birmingham to Derby leg of the return trip was made in conversation with a lady who boarded in what can only be described as an harassed state, having experienced delays and missed connections on a return trip from delivering her son to her ex-husband.
This lady was returning to her home in Sheffield virtually penniless, but looking forward to starting a new job - her first with pay above the minimum rate laid down by the government. Good news but tinged with the knowledge that her husband of one year cannot join her in the UK under changes that came into force on 9th July. So she finds herself having to save to afford the flights out to visit him at his home in Jamaica.
Sue and I have holidayed in Jamaica and she has lived there over the years so we had something in common and chatted freely, but in reality our lives are worlds apart. However, her lively chat and openness made that short journey a gem that will be remembered and I wish her every success in her new job and hope she finds a solution to the issues that confront her in her private life.
But today I did one of my round trips to Reading, and the short Birmingham to Derby leg of the return trip was made in conversation with a lady who boarded in what can only be described as an harassed state, having experienced delays and missed connections on a return trip from delivering her son to her ex-husband.
This lady was returning to her home in Sheffield virtually penniless, but looking forward to starting a new job - her first with pay above the minimum rate laid down by the government. Good news but tinged with the knowledge that her husband of one year cannot join her in the UK under changes that came into force on 9th July. So she finds herself having to save to afford the flights out to visit him at his home in Jamaica.
Sue and I have holidayed in Jamaica and she has lived there over the years so we had something in common and chatted freely, but in reality our lives are worlds apart. However, her lively chat and openness made that short journey a gem that will be remembered and I wish her every success in her new job and hope she finds a solution to the issues that confront her in her private life.
Thursday, 9 August 2012
Politicians - more perks
Politicians continue to find more ways of sticking the taxes we pay into their pockets. The latest ruse is to "learn a foreign language". Now when I was preparing for my trip to France in June 2011 I looked at courses available locally, with the price typically working out at around £120. However, due to the pressures on my time I decided on a CD/DVD learning based learning that set me back the grand sum of £18 off eBay (2 courses, one £10 and the other £8). OK, not everyone uses eBay. Not everyone gets on with electronic learning. But our fabulous politicians have claimed sums varying from circa £600 up to £1600 to learn languages including French, Italian and Mandarin.
Now if I have to fund my own learning, and you have to fund your own learning why the hell do we have to fund over paid politicians learning?
Now if I have to fund my own learning, and you have to fund your own learning why the hell do we have to fund over paid politicians learning?
A "Dummies" guide to Banking
A "Dummies" guide to what went wrong in Banking. (Acknowledgements to the unknown author, this is not my work but is truly worthy of further publication)....
Helga is the proprietor of a bar. She realizes that virtually all of her customers are unemployed alcoholics and, as such, can no longer afford to patronize her bar. To solve this problem she comes up with a new marketing plan that allows her customers to drink now, but pay later.
Helga keeps track of the drinks consumed on a ledger (thereby effectively granting her customers' loans). Word soon gets around about Helga's "drink now, pay later" marketing strategy and, as a result, increasing numbers of customers flood into Helga's bar. Soon she has the largest sales volume for any bar in town.
By providing her customer's freedom from immediate payment demands Helga gets no resistance when, at regular intervals, she substantially increases her prices for wine and beer - the most consumed beverages. Consequently, Helga's gross sales volumes and paper profits increase massively.
A young and dynamic Manager at the local bank recognizes that these customer debts constitute valuable future assets and increases Helga's borrowing limit. He sees no reason for any undue concern, since he has the debts of the unemployed alcoholics as collateral. He is rewarded with a six figure bonus.
At the bank's corporate headquarters, expert traders figure a way to make huge commissions by transforming these customer loans into DRINKBONDS. These "securities" are then bundled and traded on international securities markets.
One day, even though the bond prices are still climbing, a risk manager at the original local bank decides that the time has come to demand payment on the debts incurred by the drinkers at Helga's bar. He so informs Helga.
Helga then demands payment from her alcoholic patrons but, being unemployed alcoholics, they cannot pay back their drinking debts. Since Helga cannot fulfil her loan obligations she is forced into bankruptcy. The bar closes and Helga's 11 employees lose their jobs.
The suppliers of Helga's bar had granted her generous payment extensions and had invested their firms' pension funds in the BOND securities. They find they are now faced with having to write off her bad debt and with losing over 90% of the presumed value of the bonds. Her wine supplier also claims bankruptcy, closing the doors on a family business that had endured for three generations; her beer supplier is taken over by a competitor, who immediately closes the local plant and lays off 150 workers.
Fortunately though, the bank, the brokerage houses and their respective executives are saved and bailed out by a multi-billion dollar no-strings attached cash infusion from the government.
They all receive a six figure bonus.
The funds required for this bailout are obtained by new taxes levied on employed, middle-class, non-drinkers who've never been in Helga's bar.
Now do you understand?
Helga is the proprietor of a bar. She realizes that virtually all of her customers are unemployed alcoholics and, as such, can no longer afford to patronize her bar. To solve this problem she comes up with a new marketing plan that allows her customers to drink now, but pay later.
Helga keeps track of the drinks consumed on a ledger (thereby effectively granting her customers' loans). Word soon gets around about Helga's "drink now, pay later" marketing strategy and, as a result, increasing numbers of customers flood into Helga's bar. Soon she has the largest sales volume for any bar in town.
By providing her customer's freedom from immediate payment demands Helga gets no resistance when, at regular intervals, she substantially increases her prices for wine and beer - the most consumed beverages. Consequently, Helga's gross sales volumes and paper profits increase massively.
A young and dynamic Manager at the local bank recognizes that these customer debts constitute valuable future assets and increases Helga's borrowing limit. He sees no reason for any undue concern, since he has the debts of the unemployed alcoholics as collateral. He is rewarded with a six figure bonus.
At the bank's corporate headquarters, expert traders figure a way to make huge commissions by transforming these customer loans into DRINKBONDS. These "securities" are then bundled and traded on international securities markets.
Naive investors don't really understand that the securities being sold to them as "AA Secured Bonds" are really debts of unemployed alcoholics. Nevertheless, the bond prices continuously climb and the securities soon become the hottest-selling items for some of the nation's leading brokerage houses.
The traders all receive a six figure bonus.
One day, even though the bond prices are still climbing, a risk manager at the original local bank decides that the time has come to demand payment on the debts incurred by the drinkers at Helga's bar. He so informs Helga.
Helga then demands payment from her alcoholic patrons but, being unemployed alcoholics, they cannot pay back their drinking debts. Since Helga cannot fulfil her loan obligations she is forced into bankruptcy. The bar closes and Helga's 11 employees lose their jobs.
Overnight, DRINKBOND prices drop by 90%. The collapsed bond asset value destroys the bank's liquidity and prevents it from issuing new loans, thus freezing credit and economic activity in the community.
The suppliers of Helga's bar had granted her generous payment extensions and had invested their firms' pension funds in the BOND securities. They find they are now faced with having to write off her bad debt and with losing over 90% of the presumed value of the bonds. Her wine supplier also claims bankruptcy, closing the doors on a family business that had endured for three generations; her beer supplier is taken over by a competitor, who immediately closes the local plant and lays off 150 workers.
Fortunately though, the bank, the brokerage houses and their respective executives are saved and bailed out by a multi-billion dollar no-strings attached cash infusion from the government.
They all receive a six figure bonus.
The funds required for this bailout are obtained by new taxes levied on employed, middle-class, non-drinkers who've never been in Helga's bar.
Now do you understand?
Monday, 30 July 2012
Using the train - 5
Now it is no secret that I'm not a fan of modern train travel. Yes, I prefer to take the Euro Tunnel train crossing as it is so much simpler and less time consuming than the ferry (and I'm not the world's best sailor). But for most long distance trips I would rather drive.
So it will come as no surprise that the events of last week have left me feeling even less disposed towards using the train. The "new aircraft style" seats fitted to the modern high speed trains are the most uncomfortable items I have ever had the misfortune to park my backside on. Cross Country Trains who run the service between Derby and Reading have the distinction of providing seats so uncomfortable that after last Wednesday's trip to Reading I ended up taking 2 days off work with severe pains in my hips and lower back. My pain was so strong that it took me nearly 20 minutes to get from the bath to our bed on Wednesday night (a distance of 15 - 20 feet). Sue was so concerned that she took me to see our GP before she went to work on Thursday morning. I should have been on another day visit to work in the Reading office but instead I found myself laid out on the lounge floor for a good few hours (as advised by GP).
Today I returned to work. It was an uncomfortable day but I got through it and excused myself from 2 of the 3 days I was expected to be down Reading way this week. Thursday will be a site visit which I will drive as the train route involves at least 2 changes and I know my car is comfortable and that I can tailor the fit of the seat to suit my comfort level.
So it will come as no surprise that the events of last week have left me feeling even less disposed towards using the train. The "new aircraft style" seats fitted to the modern high speed trains are the most uncomfortable items I have ever had the misfortune to park my backside on. Cross Country Trains who run the service between Derby and Reading have the distinction of providing seats so uncomfortable that after last Wednesday's trip to Reading I ended up taking 2 days off work with severe pains in my hips and lower back. My pain was so strong that it took me nearly 20 minutes to get from the bath to our bed on Wednesday night (a distance of 15 - 20 feet). Sue was so concerned that she took me to see our GP before she went to work on Thursday morning. I should have been on another day visit to work in the Reading office but instead I found myself laid out on the lounge floor for a good few hours (as advised by GP).
Today I returned to work. It was an uncomfortable day but I got through it and excused myself from 2 of the 3 days I was expected to be down Reading way this week. Thursday will be a site visit which I will drive as the train route involves at least 2 changes and I know my car is comfortable and that I can tailor the fit of the seat to suit my comfort level.
Tonight I am more comfortable than at any time through the day. I am resisting the temptation to consume pain killers and focusing on my posture. If I can maintain this improvement I should be OK for Thursday. I've an appointment for a massage tomorrow night after work which should help further. Fingers crossed.
My camera lives
While the Nokia died in France my brand new Fujifilm F550EXR camera, specially purchased for the Normandy beaches trip, has survived. On returning home I removed the SD card and battery, left the compartment open, put the camera in the airing cupboard and abandoned it for 4 days. On fetching it out and reloading it the camera happily booted up into life and I quickly set about testing it.
How relieved am I? There is no evidence of moisture in the back of the screen (which was visible when I put it in there to dry out). Everything is as it should be, results are perfect and I'm a happy bunny. Rock on!
How relieved am I? There is no evidence of moisture in the back of the screen (which was visible when I put it in there to dry out). Everything is as it should be, results are perfect and I'm a happy bunny. Rock on!
Nokia is dead, long live Galaxy S2
Saturday 21st was a busy and expensive day. First off I had to be "dad's taxi" to Andy as he's newly acquired BMW 3 series is on a SORN, and with him going off on holiday it will have to wait until he gets back to be tax for the road. I had to call in on mum to sort a few things out for her, then pick Andy up again, only to get a puncture on the way back home - so it's a quick turn about to go get that fixed.
Next up was a trip into town. My Nokia 5800 is dead (see my Normandy beaches posts) and both of our mobiles are out of contract. First we call in on T-Mobile where Adam is happy to spend time with us explaining the various tariffs and phones, but we are heading for Virgin (our current provider) and take our leave. Orange is next but the staff are too busy discussing last night's partying to pay us any attention. O2 is packed out so we cross to Virgin where we are greeted and minimal effort and interest is put into addressing our interest, so I ask for the PAC numbers for our phones so that we can move them. We are given a phone and told which buttons to push for the IVR service. After holding for 10 minutes I get through and get 2 PAC numbers. Sue wants to go to clothes shop so I head back into O2 (it's still packed) then Vodafone where I ask a female advisor about the tariffs on the S2 - £32 (pcm) is openly advertised but their best one is £36 (pcm). I say her logic is screwed up and that T-Mobile only want £26 for the same package that she wants £36 (pcm) for so she suggests I go to back to T-Mobile, and I don't need telling twice.
Sue finds me hanging around outside Vodafone and we walk back to pick up with Adam. We both sign up for The Full Monty 36 at £26 (pcm) and walk out with a black (me) and white (Sue) Galaxy S2 each. Now, ten days on we are both happy with our phones and the package offered - that has fixed our mobile phone expenditure for the next 2 years.
But the day isn't done as Andy wants to visit the local car breakers yard. We are only half a mile from home when a car going the opposite way flicks up a stone and I get a chip on the screen. After scouring the yard for the bits Andy needs with mixed success we return home and I ring my insurer, then Autoglass and an appointment is made for me to drop the car off at their office on Pride Park on Tuesday. That costs me £75 excess as the chip developed into a crack between Saturday and Tuesday. Bugger!
Next up was a trip into town. My Nokia 5800 is dead (see my Normandy beaches posts) and both of our mobiles are out of contract. First we call in on T-Mobile where Adam is happy to spend time with us explaining the various tariffs and phones, but we are heading for Virgin (our current provider) and take our leave. Orange is next but the staff are too busy discussing last night's partying to pay us any attention. O2 is packed out so we cross to Virgin where we are greeted and minimal effort and interest is put into addressing our interest, so I ask for the PAC numbers for our phones so that we can move them. We are given a phone and told which buttons to push for the IVR service. After holding for 10 minutes I get through and get 2 PAC numbers. Sue wants to go to clothes shop so I head back into O2 (it's still packed) then Vodafone where I ask a female advisor about the tariffs on the S2 - £32 (pcm) is openly advertised but their best one is £36 (pcm). I say her logic is screwed up and that T-Mobile only want £26 for the same package that she wants £36 (pcm) for so she suggests I go to back to T-Mobile, and I don't need telling twice.
Sue finds me hanging around outside Vodafone and we walk back to pick up with Adam. We both sign up for The Full Monty 36 at £26 (pcm) and walk out with a black (me) and white (Sue) Galaxy S2 each. Now, ten days on we are both happy with our phones and the package offered - that has fixed our mobile phone expenditure for the next 2 years.
But the day isn't done as Andy wants to visit the local car breakers yard. We are only half a mile from home when a car going the opposite way flicks up a stone and I get a chip on the screen. After scouring the yard for the bits Andy needs with mixed success we return home and I ring my insurer, then Autoglass and an appointment is made for me to drop the car off at their office on Pride Park on Tuesday. That costs me £75 excess as the chip developed into a crack between Saturday and Tuesday. Bugger!
Sunday, 15 July 2012
Normandy Beaches - summary
Was it worth it? Yes, despite the rain.
Low points - the heavy rain at Ypres as we went out for a meal and then on to the Menin Gate for the last post, and, getting bitten to pieces in the night at B&B Hotels on the outskirts of Amiens.
Low points - the heavy rain at Ypres as we went out for a meal and then on to the Menin Gate for the last post, and, getting bitten to pieces in the night at B&B Hotels on the outskirts of Amiens.
High points - the accommodation at the Hortensia in Ypres and several sections of riding, mainly associated with dry roads and glimpses of the sun.
Main disappointment was the standard of food which was basically "chips with everything" and everything was some sort of meat or fish.
I set out wanting to see for myself the D-Day site and how it is being presented to "today's generations". Well, there is information overload. Facts and figures are included in every display, in every automated presentation, in every guided tour. It is impossible to appreciate the extent of "fortress Europe" that the Nazis built until you see the bunkers and gun emplacements in person. Then you see how the bombardment by allied ships ripped into some of those bunkers and hear how some of the Hitler youth manning those positions simply gave up and surrendered - I can't say that I would not have done the same.
So would I do it again - no. I don't need to. I've been there, done that, ticked that box. Now I have to come up with the next "must do" ride. Tour the Alps? Ride to the Nord Kapp? Who knows?
Day8 - Saturday
Breakfast finished, bikes fully loaded and gear donned (including an extra "waterproof layer in the form of walker leggings) we bid our hosts farewell and set off on one of 2 routes Steve has prepared. Loaded in the sat navs we have a "Toll" and "non-Toll" route to Calais and we have selected the non-Toll route which is marginally longer but significantly slower estimated at 5.5 hours. We are expecting to run into heavy rain near Rouen and we are not disappointed, just north of Rouen it is almost heavy enough to have us pondering the scenic route but on reaching the decision point we decide to stick with it and a few miles later we ride out into dry but overcast conditions. So that was 25 miles of heavy rain and then the rest of the ride to Calais is drying out time.
Calais has always been kind to us but the new high security approach being adopted in preparation for the Olympics means that it takes us 35 minutes to get from initial queuing to boarding. Unusually we and the other bikers present are shown on first ahead of the cars. There are 2 BMW R1200GS ahead of us, 2 Harleys, a Ducati ST and a Goldwing trike behind us.
Our arrival at Folkestone is marked by a clap of thunder. We leave the shelter of the carriage and head to the Fuel station just a few hundred yards from the train, but that is enough to get us externally drenched. We fill the bikes and as I pull forward I say a brief goodbye to Steve and gun the Deauville off and away - I've made my mind up, I'm going to do this leg as quickly as possible. I catch up and pass the 2 Harleys as they chug along in the slow lane, then the trike and just before the M25 I pass the 2 BMWs. They catch me up as I wait at the toll for the Dartford crossing but once allowed through the barrier I don'r see them again. Emerging out of the tunnel the rain has gone and I start drying out, but by Toddington services I need a break and take 15 minutes off the bike. When I get back on there are still miles of "average speed cameras" to restrict my progress but once past Milton Keynes I return to high speed cruise mode which is maintained until I go onto reserve just north of Leicester Forest East. This means I have to reduce the cruising revs by 500 if I am to get home on the one tank of juice - I'd intended to fill up at ASDA and that's what I do. Two miles later I'm home, its 17:50, just 30 minutes after the Chunnel crossing we were supposed to take.
Total mileage Day8 = 457 miles.
Total trip mileage = 1,259 miles.
Calais has always been kind to us but the new high security approach being adopted in preparation for the Olympics means that it takes us 35 minutes to get from initial queuing to boarding. Unusually we and the other bikers present are shown on first ahead of the cars. There are 2 BMW R1200GS ahead of us, 2 Harleys, a Ducati ST and a Goldwing trike behind us.
Our arrival at Folkestone is marked by a clap of thunder. We leave the shelter of the carriage and head to the Fuel station just a few hundred yards from the train, but that is enough to get us externally drenched. We fill the bikes and as I pull forward I say a brief goodbye to Steve and gun the Deauville off and away - I've made my mind up, I'm going to do this leg as quickly as possible. I catch up and pass the 2 Harleys as they chug along in the slow lane, then the trike and just before the M25 I pass the 2 BMWs. They catch me up as I wait at the toll for the Dartford crossing but once allowed through the barrier I don'r see them again. Emerging out of the tunnel the rain has gone and I start drying out, but by Toddington services I need a break and take 15 minutes off the bike. When I get back on there are still miles of "average speed cameras" to restrict my progress but once past Milton Keynes I return to high speed cruise mode which is maintained until I go onto reserve just north of Leicester Forest East. This means I have to reduce the cruising revs by 500 if I am to get home on the one tank of juice - I'd intended to fill up at ASDA and that's what I do. Two miles later I'm home, its 17:50, just 30 minutes after the Chunnel crossing we were supposed to take.
Total mileage Day8 = 457 miles.
Total trip mileage = 1,259 miles.
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