" wrote:

Seems risky in the extreme. Where does your journey actually commence?
Just wondering whether there is any option of travelling to Reading
(not via London) and picking up your onward connection there at c.
0810?

Starting from Bishopstone on the 05.47, ideally.

I've looked at the Gatwick - Reading hop, which I've done before to
avoid cross-London, but it's not conveniently timed, and not assisted
by being pretty much all stations from Guildford early in the morning
- the standard daytime timetable skips more stops.

Another option is to bale at Gatwick (06.41) onto the GatEx (06.50),
arrive Victoria 07.20. Six minutes later into zone one, and risking a
change - and a Wessie! - but that much nearer to Paddington. Although
GatEx struggles to keep to a 30 minute timing in the peaks, which
unnerves me somewhat.

Still, twenty minutes in a cab should be sufficient for Victoria -
Paddington, especially as I don't mind running from the last set of
traffic lights or wherever. It's a fairly swift jaunt up Park Lane and
Edgware Road, normally. I can pick up my tickets in the +9 connection
at Gatwick

I need to be in Splott, about a mile from Cardiff Central, for 10.30.
The 07.45 gets into Central for 09.48, and the 08.15 for 10.21. The
world wouldn't end if I was ten minutes late - it's not a job
interview - so my thoughts were to aim for the 07.45 (and walk at the
Cardiff end), with the 08.15 (and cab at the Cardiff end) as a back
up. I just have a nagging feeling that if I try this, I'll narrowly
miss the 07.45 (which will run perfectly), whilst the 08.15 will be
cancelled or heavily delayed, as often seems to happen when you're
already cutting it fine.....

There is an alternative, being the 05.11 from Bishopstone, which
(changing at Lewes) hurtles through to Victoria for 06.32.

But I like my under-used bed.

Thanks to all for the suggestions.

Chris