My first run this morning was to drive the 06:40 Megabus from Bournemouth to Winchester. At the first stop in Bournemouth a couple got on for London and asked if we stopped anywhere else “The Triangle and then Winchester” (no passengers booked from Ringwood this am) I told them. They wanted to buy something to eat on the trip but there are no shops open at the Triangle. I then told them that if they were very quick I’d stop at a service station on the main road. We got to the service station, I said “Be quick, you’ve got two minutes”, and then realised as the guy got off the bus I’d got a problem. He was a fit looking 30 year old but he walked slower than a snail on tranquilisers :-( He ambled to the forecourt shop and then stood looking at the door before slowly entering. Cars arrived, filled up with fuel, the drivers went in and paid and were out again. Still no sign of my passenger. After 10 minutes I was seriously cross and told his girlfriend that she’d better go and get him and that I’d leave without either of them if they were not back in two more minutes adding “Believe me, I mean it”! She got him complete with two shopping bag fulls of stuff and about 5 seconds to spare.

This was the first time I’ve stopped like that and it will be the last.