Neil,
Yet another good story and good pics,you do make it all seem so easy but I know it can be as easy as you make it,more so I think if you work for yourself.Keep them coming and thanks for your time and effort.
regards derek
Derek, I’ll let you into a little secret, it is easy these days. 
Thanks for the kind words.
Another great read, Coffee, well done
Once again Neil, a thoroughly enjoyable read.
I look forward to these diaries each week as they contain interesting information about the areas you are passing through/delivering to coupled with great pictures, along with a fascinating insight into the life of a euro driver.
Keep 'em coming mate!
Paul.
Neil is right it is easy these days 
These days you don´t have to worry about being at the border before it closed for night.
Or worry which customs officer is on duty and if its the ne with the moustache its going to cost 100 frances instead of 50 francs to get this diesel through.
No more standing on the steps at Dover for hours on end to get the paperwork stamped.
No more worrying at every border hoping that some penibel little sod doesn´t find something on the TIR Carnet that the issuing bod has got wrong (yes it happens).
Happy days eh Vasco?
Mind you some good friendships could be formed and a few laughs had on the stairs in Dover and the only entertainment to be had at borders these days is at the Swiss ones.
Lovely article Coffee coupled with some fab pictures…look forward to next one.
The XL looks nice clean, new and comfy too 
then again it is a Volvo
P.S. So I wasn’t the only one stuck on the M26/M25 all morning due to that fire then LOL…for the first time in ages I pulled into Clacket lane and it was appealing 
i pulled into Clacket Lane as well Liam, must have missed each other. 
The truck isn’t new it’s 21 months old, but as you say it’s a Volvo.
Good interesting diary, nice to see Betz on pics in Dover A20!!
on last sunday i have not see you in Dover Port ? I am there in last roundabout ( interchange A2 slip with BP petrol with Ferry entrance area)
maybe i have miss it)
Ben
i didn’t get to Dover until about 17:30 so maybe you had gone by then, I did look to see if you were there.
thanks Coffeeholic great reading as usual ,like everyone has said you make it look easy ,the driving +writing i dont know how you find the time ,writing that would take me all week
Thanks wtog. It’s all written by hand on an iPAQ using the stylus pen and handwriting recognition software and I just do it during breaks, while being loaded, on the ferry or in the evening rather than all at once so it doesn’t take long. Then it’s just a matter of copying the files to the PC and sorting and uploading the pics. when you enjoy doing something it’s never a chore.
neil,was your "coffee break " at novara services 
if so i was two days behind you 
got some pictures of the st gottard and grand st bernard passes which i will put on the photos forum when i have some spare time in the next couple of days
ps did you notice the diesel was cheaper at the shell pumps than the total pumps at novara.
those overtaking bans on the a4 were causing massive q`s 
for the wagons,how long have they been up
jon
Hi Jon
Wasn’t Novarra it was the one near Ivrea, Didn’t notice the diesel prices. The roadworks have been on the A4 for a good while now.
Looking forward to seeing your pictures.
Coffeeholic:
The roadworks have been on the A4 for a good while now.
.
no neil i didnt mean the roadworks between turin and milan
i meant the no overtaking bans on the a4 between milan and mestre
they were`nt there two years ago(my last visit down there)
not many brit trucks down there only saw 4 em rogers motors
is cariso truckstop right next to the autostrada
jon
sorry Jon, not sure how long they have been there.
Yes Carisio is right next to the autostrada on the left as you head for Milan, 3 or 4 storey building with parking all round it.
many thanks coffee,another excellent read
I’ve just started on my battle to reach the counter when the door opens and a gorgeous, dark haired, leggy woman, wearing the shortest of skirts enters. Her arrival distracts several of the patrons and taking advantage of their lapse in concentration I’m able to nip in and stake a place at the counter and get my coffee. Gorgeous women are one thing but nothing distracts me from a double espresso.
Showing your age now Coffee
I take it steady despite the French truck hard behind me urging me to go faster, he eventually looses patience and comes hurtling past, still in the no overtaking section, narrowly missing my cab as he does and gesticulating wildly. I respond with the traditional two fingered sign made popular at the Battle of Agincourt.
I’d expect no less!
Not only another enjoyable travelog but a history lesson included,good work Neil.
Q.Why the wide range of peage charges,some are next to nothing while some are hundreds of euros?
Simply that some of the Peage charges can be for several hundred kilometres, from Geneva to Reims for instance and others can be a matter of just a few kilometres