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Picturesque West Drayton. You would miss this on the M25.

I live in Surrey, a few miles south of Junction 9 of the M25. From time-to-time, I visit our production studios in Kentish Town, and since part of my usual back-doubles route via Hammersmith, Lissom Grove and Elgin Avenue has been absorbed into the London congestion zone, I thought I would try a couple of alternatives.

So when I set off yesterday I headed for the M25, which I followed, via the Dartford Crossing, to Junction 24, and from there, straight down the A1000 to Highgate, where I branched off to Kentish Town. Total journey time: 2 hours, 15 minutes – most of which was spent on the motorway.

For the return leg, I went north to Finchley then west via Wealdstone, Mill Hill, Stanmore, and Northwood to Uxbridge. From there the route home was almost due south via West Drayton, Hatton Cross, Hampton, Sunbury, Walton-on-Thames and Cobham. Total journey time: 1 hour 45 minutes. The route was free-moving with only occasional delays, even though I set off from Kentish Town at 6pm, in what might be called the height of the rush hour.

I am not sure what the latter route proved, other than the fact that satellite navigation is no substitute for knowing your way about. And that switching off your sat-nav and using the stress-free roads of leafy suburbia doesn’t necessarily mean that you will fall off the edge of the earth; although West Drayton…..

Nice one, Rosemary

At what age do we stop wanting to be older and start wanting to be younger? It must be somewhere between 14 and 30, I suppose. So, when I saw a press release about 82-year-old Hugh enjoying the ‘open-air fun of a Daihatsu Copen’, and ‘cruising down to Cambridge’ every week to take his 92-year-old friend Rosemary for a drive, I thought Daihatsu was treading a dangerous line. Because no one over the age of, what – 25? – will want to be associated with this age group. No one under 82 will buy a Copen on the strength of this charming story.

car music

Then I thought again. If, when I’m 95, I still have some bloke turning up once a week to take me out in his open-topped sports car, I’ll feel pretty darn smug.

Right, where’s my nearest Daihatsu dealer…?

"This way out, Mr Brown"

Pressure is mounting on our PM to make another U-turn, but this time (more appropriately) on the issue of the motorist’s hefty tax burden. Fuel costs are spiralling and since the large majority of the price we pay at the pump is duty, it would seem appropriate that the Government lends the motorist a helping hand. Its new road tax plans are going to hit drivers of older cars very hard where it hurts - in the pocket.

The problem is, a second U-turn would seem to add up to a Prime Minister going ’round in circles. Once that happens, it’s surely time for someone to show him the correct exit.