I left Chez Wheelnut on Monday this week and had a few collections to do, Derby. Somercotes and Coventry in addition to 4 drops I collected on Friday afternoon in Leigh
This week was a run around the suburbs of Paris after doing a milk round in Lens with a shoe box for a private house. I found the street, I also found a policeman blocking the road as there was a street market, I had Lille and Lesquin too and dropped the shoebox off at another customer for them to DHL it on another day. I arrived at my last customer in Paris on Tuesday evening and had missed my dinner.
I went to a local kebab house called Istanbul Kebap where I was spoilt with an extra large assiette emporter.
All this for 8 Euros with a can of beer.
I even got a plus on the chips, as the girl was trying to practice her English while the cook was preparing my meal.
I tipped out early on Wednesday morning in a warehouse right on the banks of the Seine. Left bank right bank, who cares there are so many bridges and tunnels you tend to lose track, especially in a busy rush hour.
A satnav comes in very handy in Paris but you need eyes in your arse too as it can also lead you into lots of trouble.
My first collection was at a small warehouse that took me 2 hours to find, not through incompetence, well not mine anyway. The computer burst into life with a loading message.
“Good Morning Malcolm. please load ASAP at FC2 Rue Pons. Nanterre. 2.5 metres stackable. 2nd load in St Denis”
OK, what is FC2?
A company!
Any other details?
No, just FC2.
I spent the next 2 hours driving round , up the street, down the other side asking anyone who looked intelligent enough to help. I tried in a shop, I tried in a bank. I tried in a pattiserie. No glimpse of recognition when i said FC2, EFF SEA Deux. NON! Eventually a security guard who had become sick of me turning round in his gatehole came out and asked me where I was going, he then used his phone and called someone. NON! moment, svp, he rang another number and then sent me down a very narrow street. He had drawn on a plan.
As this street narrowed I saw an open gate. I drove towards it, here was a sign, saying PL Interdit “no trucks”, 1.5 tonne. Next to this gate was a closed barrier and a bell. I pushed the bell and the barrier just opened. No one to ask, although there was no way I could have reversed back into this narrow street.
I drove down this lane and passed a canopy, no one around, no signs. I continued down and round the corner, it was a very muddy yard with a few skips dumped. I pulled into the corner to attempt to turn round, 5 or 6 shunts later I managed to turn round. I drove back to the barrier, back on the main road and back to the security guy. no joy I explained. He was pointing at the map and where abouts he thought it may be. It must be close to the canopy. I went back but this time ignored the weight limit and tried to get behind this building. It was very narrow but there were tyre tracks from something bigger than a transit van.
I was beginning to think the security guy had sent me wrong but there were several small companies in this yard, what looked like an old chateau in the centre of Paris next to the metro.
Round the back of the house I found a derelict go kart track in a shed and walked inside, there was a portacabin in the corner with a light on. I went in and asked for FC2. another blank look. OK merci. by now I had driven almost 3 hours yet only travelled about 10 kms from the previous delivery. I sent a message, saying that I was parked at a karting track and for the company to come and find me. My planner sent me a message asking what I meant. I said I need either a company name or some better instruction than FC2.
She replied with the name of a company, told me to wait there and someone would come for me.
10 minutes later a van appeared, waved at me to follow him and he took me back to the muddy yard under the canopy. the doors slid open and there were 3 or 4 vans inside with a couple of blokes up ladders on a massive TV screen.
The instruction I should have been given were the company name & address, a telephone number to contact the customer when I was close to the street in Nanterre. The planner forgot to mention that bit.
So I loaded these flight cases, my next collection was a single pallet marked fragile all over and wrapped in black plastic. The man told me it was very expensive equipment and to be careful if securing the pallet with straps. I then collected 21 pallets from a customer in St Quentin.
I was headed back to the port but stayed overnight in one of our depots near Lens for secure parking and fuel. the next day I shipped over to my first drop in Kent.
This was the fragile pallet.
This was the bloke who dropped it off the side of the lorry where it had travelled safely from Le Bourget airport.
I even had to fight off the customs explaining that it was expensive medical equipment and asked them to be careful with it.
I also dropped another couple of the 21 pallets here and then headed up towards Hatfield to get rid of my video wall.
. Nice one mate, keep them coming. When is it you’re you up for a new wagon again, this year or next ? You’ve told me before, but a canny be arsed searchin for it.