Bad day form start to finish, one of those days where I am left with the feeling that it would have been better if I had stayed in bed, you know the type of day perhaps. For a start I was loaded for Kirkbymoorside store the night before. As I have mentioned before the stores don't open until eight, so I didn't get a good start to the day. Ok I was unloaded quickly and back to base with no hassle but it was half past nine before I was loaded again and on the road. The load would have had a total weight of thirteen and a half tonnes if I had loaded everything on my tickets but I gave up at ten tonnes as I'm supposed to. I had to leave off the stock for Carlton store and go with what I could get on. First drop, a farm drop, the farmer wasn't in, the gate was locked. When I rang the customer he said he wouldn't be back for an hour but it would be OK if I came back later so I went to my next drop. About half a mile short of my second drop, on a single track road with no way of passing, I came across another truck parked in the road delivering goods to a house, the driver was unable to back into the drive so he had no choice. I was able to give him the good news that he would be able to turn round about half a mile up the road, he seemed very relieved. I suspect he hated driving in the countryside as much as I hate driving in cities. Next drop a small drop to a farm at Fenwick, easy enough except for a tight gateway but I missed the ditch by a few inches so OK there. Stopped in the yard as my driving time was up and called my next drop to give estimated arrival time. Next drop, another farm drop and one of my regulars, there was a coffee waiting as soon as I had opened the sheet. I like this delivery. A bit of motorway next M18 to M62 to Newport and back about three miles to Gilberdyke for a mill drop, four tonnes in half tonne bags stacked two to a pallet. These things are very slippery and need strapping well to stay upright, I managed it and they all came off quickly. Once over the weigh bridge I called my next stop a collection of drainage pipe at Howden, it was just after four by now. They said I should be OK, trouble was when I got there our office hadn't informed them what I was supposed to collect, since it would have taken over an hour to gather up and I suspect they were ready for home they offered to run the goods to our store so I was away quickly enough. So on to my last drop, which would have been my first drop. Wasn't able to contact the customer on his mobile and his house phone was engaged so all I could do was turn up and hope. He was in and it was a forklift tip so the last tonne came off easily but it was half past five by then. Back to base, all other drivers were away by then so I parked nose up to the gate to the loading area, at least I'm first in the queue tomorrow. It wasn't that any particular part of the day was very bad but as a whole it was irritating. To cap it all I suspect the letter waiting for me is the speeding fine from the second of Jan, great. But I've had enough of the day and I refuse to open it until tomorrow, at least it won't irritate me all night.
See you tomorrow.
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