The good old M6 toll, just how much money would 1 man (or women) spend, to avoid the hustle and bustle of junctions 12 to 4 on the M6.

Now I am not sure when the M6 toll was introduced, 14th December 2003 (thanks Google), but I do know with friends and family in and around the Essex and Leyton area that I have spent definitely hundreds (not sure it runs into 4 figures) on the toll booths and handing my debit cards into the pay machine.

It comes down to this: option 1) £11.00 on a return journey and sit doing 70MPH with next to no traffic in my way and reduce my journey by 20 minutes for sure or option 2) NO COST, but sit in the M6 fast lane doing approx. 0-10 MPH for up to an hour feeling like Michael Douglas in “Falling Down” –

Option 1 wins 8 days a week in my eyes, as to how much I will pay for this luxury only time will tell, but knowing our government TIME WILL TELL.

I don’t claim to be a hotel connoisseur well maybe a little bit, having travelled the UK playing squash since the age of about 9, I have stayed in my fair share – however a few of my favourites have been found more by luck than judgement.

If you are ever in Chester I recommend staying at The Mill Hotel, ideally located on the edge of the river with the bar leading out and barges passing regularly, there is no better hotel when the weather is nice to sit out and relax with a lager, wine or maybe even the wife.

In London I always stay at the Grange in Tower Hill – look carefully for some great rates for a five star hotel that has it all.

The hotel boasts lovely rooms, great leisure facilities and good bars and restaurants in a great location with some amazing Tower of London views available for selected rooms.

In my eyes cycling has got to be the most therapeutic pastime around. Forgive me I have never got into Fishing which, I suspect, can be relaxing (personally I deem it boring) but there is nothing better than cycling.

Living near Manchester the countryside is not on my doorstep but through Poynton, Goyt Valley and Adlington all provide me with the opportunity to cycle around fields, country lanes and scenery that I don’t think I would appreciate behind the wheel of my Audi A3.

Whether it be early morning, after work, weekends or on my days off waiting for friends and family to arrive from London, I truly find a couple of hours on my bike is the perfect way to start or end a day.