Mid morning, without a doubt.

I wouldn’t bother, from yours head down to Guildford and the down the A281 to Horsham and then get on the M23 at Crawley, the M23 at that point isn’t too bad, it cuts out the M25 nightmare and will give you some nice scenic views along the way.

You say that but there was this one time when I was coming back from somewhere or other, and the M25 was down to a snails pace in the middle of the night. Think it was road works, but proved even more reason for me to continue to avoid it at all costs lol

The other thing I will be testing out is my PITA/back problem
Hope to be ok but will stop and walk around if I have pain.

I'd like to get out of the journey but this is s trip to pick up the boss.
Public transport looking less than good for her and a taxi around £140 !

Yesterday we drove back from Croydon to Northumberland.
We always try to drive down on Thursday, back on Sunday - less commercial traffic, fewer commuters, less chance of hold ups at the Dart Crossing.
We almost always use the A1/M11/M25 route, except...
Only problem with Sunday is the roadworks tend to be more severe. Yesterday the A1 was completely closed around St Neotts, but no real problem, we just used the M1 for a change.

As agreed the plan was to leave early, say 9.30, 10am latest.

Slight problem as our great boiler service guy and plumber coming at 9.30. Stepson can sort him as I'm off soon.
Boiler guy turns up at 9 so my tea and toast to be before he arrived and I left got well delayed.
Serviced the boiler then looked at the intermittent fault we have and could not find it - yet.
Letting the boss know I'm on my way shortly.
She says won't be ready until 12.30 !

Ok more time so I showed our top man the leak under the kitchen sink plus the loo sometimes constantly running. Fixed !
Great.
As I am now going to be travelling through lunch time I knock up sandwiches and a thermos of tea (tea as *I* like it)
Sort out all remaining plumbing and take the dogs out for a pee.

Late leaving at 11.20am.

Making good time until around Selemeston on the A27 where I am held up with 100s maybe 1000s of others by a Highways Authority or Agency transit, 3 guys having a chat beside it and another on his mobile.
I shout "aresholes" at them on the way past.
Turned my engine my engine off a few times as I could see 100s of yards up the road and traffic still. Guess I was there around an hour.
Bet it was less traffic at my earlier planned time. Maybe that hadn't even got there then.

Get to Eastbourne hospital.
Car park "full". Big queue to get in.
Park in a taxi bay and go looking for the boss, find her.
She is unhappy at waiting so long. I am of course sweetness and light.
Tell her to wait outside and I will bring the car.
As I'm walking off I hear her shout to slow down.
Stay there I shout.
Into car.
Drive right past her as she had continued walking !
Get to where she was, baffled.
Go back into hospital not there.
Look all over.
There she is walking back !
Turn around, pick her up.
We plan a route avoiding Selmeston.
East Grinstead is a traffic shit hole.
Get off the M25 at 4pm.
Skin of the teeth missing the traffic

Early in future trips, always