scrubby

Hi all!

Good to be back.

I’ve been driving Limo’s for a few months now and boy! I can’t wait to pick up my next client.

Remember in my past posts, about me not having an “Airport Pass”, not having one, I shouldn’t pick up passengers at Melbourne Airport?

Well I have been picking up passengers at the airport.

It’s great the days when I would get a job to the airport, as all I have to do is drive up the freeway. Some passengers will talk to me, some read my newspaper, others just switch off. I do as my passenger. It’s easy, it’s automatic. I talk to the talkative ones, (get some gossip sometimes, on other clients), I don’t read the paper though, and with the switch off people, yeh, I switch to “save power” mode.

If I get a job from the Airport soon after I drop my original passenger, time to buy a Tatts ticket. But I do get them. Passenger I mean.

Going into the terminal, with my little sign which has got the passengers name on it, after having parked the Limo in the Prestige parking area, I feel kind of like I left my pants off, without the “Airport Authority” around my neck. Even when a co-driver leaves me he’s, I still feel like a shop-lifter.

One day, a few weeks ago, as I did every week or so, I went in to security, near the old Virgin terminal, go the counter and ask if the ban to issue new drivers an “Airport Authority” has been lifter? “No” has been my usual reply.

I’d leave the car in the Taxi holding area and walk about a couple of k’s to the Security building, then back to the car. It uses up some time while I’m waiting for my next job. Well on this day, I was walking back to the car when my boss rings up to tell me I have another booking later that day, so in the middle of the car park I take down the booking details. “And by the way, Boss” (not his real name), “The airport security still won’t issue me with an “Airport Security” pass.”

“Oh yah”, pause, “see what I can do for ya” he said, finishing the call.

When I got back to the car, about ten minutes later, the phone rings.

“Yes Boss”

“OK, go in to security, take all ya papers with ya, see a Mr. Xxxxxx and tell him to issue you with an “Airport Security” pass. If he asks, tell him to refer to a Mr. Yyyyyyy from the airport management. Got that?”

I didn’t feel like walking back again so I asked “do you reckon I can park somewhere there?”

“I reckon you could park outside the building, long as ya park off the road, otherwise ya get booked!” he replied.

So I drove back to the Security building, found a way to park next to the building, in parking bays off the main road. It took some manoeuvring around some bollards, but a pro driver, no problem.

The limo looked a bit out of place next to the luggage tugs and vans with the yellow lights on them. But the boss said it was ok.

I gather all my papers, lock the limo, have a look around and I am parked head on with a sign in the window “Authorised Vehicles Only”.

In side, the receptionist who earlier said “No” to me, had to have two looks at me with a disappointing face.

“I would like to see Mr. Xxxxxx.”

Mr. Xxxxxx came from a cubical behind the counter, I said “I am here to apply for an “Airport Authority” pass.” “Have you filled out the forms?” “No”, “On the far wall”.

Filled out the forms, license number, etc, signed and back to the counter. Mr. Xxxxxx came again, “where’s your old pass?” I replied “No, Mr. Yyyyyyy said you should supply me with a new one.” “Oh he did, did he, we’ll see about that!” retreating to his cubical.

Five minutes later, he came out, not so high and mighty, “Go in there”, I entered, got my foto taken, (in a room, it says sit here, the TV shows what my photo will look like, then it says hold expression for ten seconds, then the door opens automatically).

Five minutes and twenty five dollars later, I got my “Airport Authority” pass.

As soon as I got out of the building I phoned my boss “Got it!!!”

The boss came back with “What, you got the whole lot? You were only supposed to put in the application  form. Oh well, that saves a bit of time”.

When I go in to fetch my passenger now, I feel like one of the boys.

Till next time.

Scrubby

Hi All 

Back again. The novelty of working is wearing me down again, so it’s time to write, keeps the TV away. 

Firstly, thanks for all your encouraging replies. No kidding, they did help. 

Lets get one thing straight from the start. The position of Limo driver is one of trust and discretion. I’ve had a few jobs now and I am getting to know some of my clients pretty well. I know they wouldn’t want me to make public their identities or conversations. So as much as I can, I will generalise. Also, some of the trips I will write about were done weeks or months ago. But, I will be as truthful as I can be. This really did happen! 

Ok, remember our old friend “the Melbourne Airport Authority Card”? (Past post “Getting my first job in years Part 13”) And my boss saying “I’ll try ‘nd keep ya way from the Airport!” That lasted the first day. 

My second day on the job, the night before, “Pick up Mr ?????? on Qantas flight XXX due in at (lets say 08:00PM), and take him to ?????? (a well known hotel in the city)” 

“But boss, I haven’t got the Authority Card!”. “Do ya want the bloody job or not? And when you drop him off, go to Endeavour Hills, (name and address given) pick up at (09:30PM) and take him back to the Airport.” 

So, next night I drove out to the Airport and wait in the “Limo holding area” in Melrose Drive, where all the taxis wait. There is a toilet, small shop, a place you can exchange credit carddockets, a prayer room and TV screens showing the arrival times of the aircraft. Look up Qantas flight XXX, and it’s on time. I feel like going to the prayer room, cause I feel like a thief, without my airport authority card. 

Back in the Limo, had to wait here about half an hour, might as well look up the address in Endeavour Hills. “Christ!!” it’s like a rabbit warren. How the hell am I going to find me way round there. If you look in the Melways, the streets go all over the place, and the address I am to pick up from is right in the middle of it. 

Just before I drive off to the “Prestige Parking Area” near the arrivals terminals, a few minutes before arrival time, I have a quick rummage through the glove box. Guess what I found? The co-drivers “Airport Authority Card.” He’s got a beard, grey hair, not a bit like me. Perfect.(well almost). 

The “Prestige Parking Area”, when you park there, you need a parking card, (like a credit card), which I brought a couple of weeks ago for $60.00, ($25.00 for the card and $35.00 credit for parking). You are supposed to show the card to the “In-Machine” which gives you the time and spits out a cardboard card, which you are supposed to put on the drivers dash so a parking office can read it from outside the car. I got all this by going slowly and watching what the other Limo drivers do. Before going to the arrivals, I clipped my co-drivers Airport Authority card on my suit and nervously walked in. It was right on eight. 

The boss told me to meet my passenger at the “Chauffer Meeting Point” which is sign posted in the arrivals hall. There was a line of about twenty suited guys (Limo Drivers) and all were holding a little sign with a name on it. “Is that what those plastic things and the white-board markers in the glove box are for” I thought. Well, I forgot mine. 

Too late to go back to the car for it now, I’ll take my chances out here. Just look for a passenger who’s lost and ask him for his name. 

At 08:20 my phone in the top pocket starts vibrating. “Hello, Scrubby (not my real name)” I answered. 

“Have you found Mr ?????? yet.” It was the boss, “Did you use the little sign?” “He can’t find you, are you sure you are in the right place?” 

I looked every-where. Couldn’t find a lost soul, or one using a mobile phone. There must have been a couple of hundred people around though. 

So I ‘fessed up to the boss. “No boss, I forgot my little sign” (Should have heard the swearing on the other end). 

When he settled down, he said, “look around the coffee shop, he’ll be waiting there”. 

I walked the 20 meters to the coffee shop, asking all the single men, with a whimper “Mr ??????”. Still couldn’t find him. Then I looked in a quiet, dark area where there were seats. There standing with an impatient face, I walked up “Mr ???????” “Yes” “Hi, my name is Scrubby, sorry about the mix up.” I said. He replied “I couldn’t see my name with all them Limo drivers”. “Yeh, there is a lot of them” I replied, “any luggage?” 

So off to the car we go. Now, at the “Prestige Parking Area”, I put my passenger in the car, picked up the parking card. Now what I gather is, put the card back into the “Out-Machine” flash my parking card and the machine should show an amount. Instead, the machine just kept saying “insert card”. A couple of minutes later, I got sick of playing games with the machines and turned my attention to the passenger in the car, no light, waiting patiently. Better get a move on. Time is 08:40PM. 

Down the freeway and arrive at the hotel. Drop off the passenger, 09:05. Christ, how am I going to make Endeavour Hills by 09:30. and to make matters worse, the phone starts vibrating as soon as I left the Hotels driveway. (The boss must have eyes every-where). “Dropped off Mr ??????? yet” “Yes boss”, “Going to make Endeavour Hills?” he asked. “Well I might be a couple of minutes late” I replied. To which he said “I’ll call you in ten to see how your going” 

Down the Monash, I thought, better not get caught for speeding, that’s all I need tonight, so I set the car’s cruise control to 100KMH. It seemed to take forever, but when the boss rang back exactly ten minutes later, I was around Warrigull Rd, and luckily, earlier at the airport, before the debacle, when I had time, I wrote on a pad the streets to use to get to the address. So I told the boss “If I am late, I’ll only be about five minutes late”. He said “I’ll ring them and tell them you’ll be ten minutes late”. 

To cut a long story short, at exactly 09:30 I pulled up at the address. But, to my horror, the house was completely in darkness. Not a light coming through the widows or any-thing. All houses next door, across the road, you can see a light. Not the one I was going to. Got the phone out, called the boss again. “You sure you gave me the right address??” While the boss was on the phone, I got out of the car, walked to the front door, knocked and about a minute later, (the boss still in my ear) the door opened, “Thought you’ coming late?” 

Hope you all like the story? 

The next one will come soon. 

Till then 

Scrubby 

Hi all Well, a very busy few weeks. IT’S FINALY HAPPENED!!! The bloke at the Limo Company, who wouldn’t give me a job because I couldn’t get an “Airport Authority Card”? Well he rang up on a few days later. “Still want that job?” he asked. “I’ll try ‘nd keep ya way from the airport” he said. OK, so he gave me the details for the day. Saturday morning I am to start. The usual driver will drop off the car at six on Friday night. Pick up a couple of ladies and take them to the races. Then come back to Dromana and take some people to a wedding in Mornington, then go back to the races (in Melbourne) and bring the ladies back home. So on Friday night, the Limo came, a very clean Fairlane with a sun roof. Quickly drove it round the block, adjusting the seats, mirrors and all that stuff. Played ‘round with the sun roof so I was sure I can work it when needed. All electric. Nice car. Woke on Saturday morning early, showered, breakfasted and suited. I’m not used to the tie and stuff. My wife says, “You look like a real estate agent”. So at twenty past eight, drove out to the address I was given. The two ladies were waiting for me as I pulled up in their driveway at eight thirty. I bolted out the door as the car pulled up, ran round to the other side of the car, opened the back door and said “Good morning ladies, my name is Srubby, (I used my real name), I’ll be your driver to and from the races today.” After planning the trip all last night, on the way out of the driveway, I told them which route I was going to use. “No, where used to going the other way, it might be slower but we don’t have to be there till twelve, gives us time to listen to the scratchings. Be a good man, put the radio on to the racing channel?” “Certainly madam.” Jeez, I’ve got to pick the next lot up at one. Got to the races on the other side of the city, dropped the ladies off, “We will be out about an hour after the last race, and we will come out of this exit” one said. “OK”, and I bolted towards Dromana. Lucky, being Saturday before noon, the footy traffic wasn’t in full swing yet. I made full use of the Toll ways. A kilometre shy of my next pick up, in Dromana, stopped, inspected the car for cleanliness, got ride of the fingerprints on the windows, the dust stains on the carpets, etc. Adjusted my tie and jacket, boosted up the aircon, and gave a couple of squirts of the de-oderiser I found in the glove box. Five to one? Already. “We ordered a STRETCHED LIMO. Not a—a Ford.” The next guy said on my arrival. “Sorry sir, I didn’t take the booking, but I’m it today.” They didn’t complain again. It was an interesting day. I have to be carefull now, that’s why the delay, a couple of months, cause it would be very unprofessional to get id’d. Hope to send more posts over the months Till then Scrubby

Hi all
Sorry for not writing, and yes, it’s been over a week.

Remember last time, not getting a drive and all that?
Well, in the local paper the next day, a Peninsula Cabs had an add in the paper, looking for drivers.
In the peninsula, classed as a “country zone” the driver doesn’t need all the qualifications you need in the city.
Remember I had to go to taxi school for a couple of weeks, in the country you just go to the local Vic Roads office, fill out the form, do the medical and get the police checks done and walla, you got a drivers certificate. (not supposed to drive city cabs with it though.)
So, as I already have a drivers certificate, I telephoned the guy mentioned in the add.
“Come in on Tuesday evening at eight and we’ll teach ya how to work the radio”
So Tuesday night I front up to their office at ten to eight. A scruffy bloke out front with a worn out uniform shirt and the epaulets washed out unreadable, smoking like there is no tomorrow, “Hi, I’m xxxxxx, you must be here for the new drivers course, I’m the bloke running it”
After introductions, “Had ‘bout thirty calls, ‘ope day don’t all turn up tonight, haven’t ‘nough chairs”, dragging on another smoke.
At eight precisely, about half of them came from all around.
In an old room out the back of the depot, we sat and listened to xxxxxx, telling first timers about how to get a DC (drivers certificate).
Then he tried teaching us all how to use the dispatch system, the kinds of credit cards and their limits, then in an actual taxi, groups of us went down the main street of Hastings taking turns in the front seat, passenger side, to get a better understanding of how to go about getting a dispatch job. We finished about 11:00. It was an interesting night.
The course should go for another 2 weeks, and it is designed to get more new drivers in the area. It takes about that for the police checks to come in.
So, till next time.
Scrubby

Hi all

I hope my past post’s are wetting your appetite to becoming a taxi driver. No?

Well in the past few weeks, after all this Taxi Driver training and armed with a “Taxi Driver Certificate” and my new knowledge, I can’t wait to press the buttons of a “Raywood Dispatch Consol”

OK, I have my PIN for logging on to the system from one of the well known taxi companies in Melbourne, my next task is to get a uniform. The fine for not wearing a proper uniform I believe is $200.00, (well that’s what a rep from the taxi company told me). So to the taxi company I go again. I need a blue shirt that has those funny buttoned straps on the top of the shoulders, so I can show off my new taxi company epaulettes. I am a well proportioned person, so I asked for the largest size shirt they had. “This one should fit” the receptionist said.

As well as the shirt, I brought a coin dispenser. All up, the epaulettes, shirt and coin dispenser cost $28.00. Don’t forget, I still haven’t  earned any money yet. So that is $28.00 I eat less tonight. (might lose a kilo or 2 hey). Also, at the taxi company, I asked if there was any-one interested in putting on a new driver.

“What days do you want to drive?” they asked. Giving me a list of the big cab companies around.

Since I am still hopeful of my Limo driving job, I replied “casual part time.”

You see, I live about forty five minutes drive away, (50 Km) from the nearest big taxi depot and I already have a small part time job early in the week. For my first drive of a taxi, I would prefer in the day time also.

“We will give yo a ring if we can match you with a car” they said.

So I get home and the first thing I do is try on the shirt I brought earlier. Took it out of the packet, un-buttoned it and tried it on, it was about 3 sizes to small. Well I’m not driving back 50 km just to change a shirt.

Go down to my nearest shopping centre, “No, we don’t stock that kind of shirt.” That was a wasted trip.

Back at home, “Who would sell that kind of shirt”. I ended up going to a uniform shop.

Might as well buy 2 shirts, just in case one gets dirty. “What! Twenty five bucks each! Your kidding”.

A couple of days later, the taxi company which didn’t telephone me, probably because they couldn’t match me with a car, I thought I’d take matters into my own hands and go and look for a cab.

Dressed in Taxi Drivers Uniform, went to a big fleet of managed cars that are in the same company that I’ve got a PIN for, “The manager doesn’t come in till after ten”.

After ten, “What shift do you want to drive?”, “No, we only have Friday and Saturday nights available.” “And besides, we’ll take twenty bucks a shift off you extra for excess on insurance, till you’ve paid $750.00. Just in case you have an accident”

Got the same in most other places on the list as well. I tell you, when I got home, without a drive, I felt pretty low.

Time for a big re-think about what I am doing and how I am going to go about it.

I hope I can be more positive in my next post.

Scrubby

Hi again

Now the proud owner of a new Taxi Drivers Certificate, which I needed to get a job I applied for before Christmas. It is now after Easter and I still haven’t  got that job. “What job is it?” you ask. Well, I applied for a job as a Limo Driver.

The reason I applied for a Limo Driving job is that it is safer, (at least my boss who books the jobs, knows the passengers), I only have to do a few jobs per day, and I know I’ll get paid at the end of the job, (no runners).

Now in my past posts, I mentioned I out-laid quiet a sum of  money which put my reserves well into the red.

There was:

The shirt for the interview                        $20.00

Petrol to get there                                   $10.00

Training passport                                     free

Petrol to get there                                   $20.00

Police Check                                          $30.00

Medical                                                  $88.00

Taxi Drivers Course                              $125.00

Melways street directory                         $34.00

Petrol while on the course (approx)       $150.00

Packs of Tic Tacs (I gave to some

fellow students for my comfort)                 $5.00

Cheese Cake (Used to bribe the

teacher and assessors on the course)       $24.00

Taxi Drivers Certificate                           $24.00

E Tag                                                     $50.00

Airport Parking Card                              $60.00

New Black shoes                                  $120.00

Suit, tie and more shirts.                        $380.00

Other incidentals (City Link Daypass,

parking meters, etc)                                $50.00

 
See, that’s over a grand. Sure, if I did the course with a taxi company, the cost would have been closer to 2 grand, so the government sponsoring the course saved me heaps, but delayed the time by 3 months where I could be earning the money back. Other wise it is greed by the governments and corporations in getting as much out of potential cab drivers as possible.

OK, so when I have the new drivers certificate, suit, airport parking card etc, I ring up my new potential boss, who says, “That’s good, BUT, have you got an airport authority Card?”. “What’s an Airport Authority Card?” I enquire.

Turns out that as a security precaution, I need a card, with my name and photo on it to stand at a “Chauffer Point” at the airport, yah, holding a piece of paper with my next customers name on it.

So the next day, I jump into my little car and drive the 100km to the airport. Truddle on down to security where the sign says “Form a Que and wait to be called” when there was only me and the receptionist in the building. Waited the prescribed 3 minutes when the receptionist gets off the phone and says “next!”

After telling the receptionist what I had come down for today, her response: “No, we’re not issuing them any more, management told us not to.”

So off I truddle to Management, “We have issued too many already. See, there are only about 500 hire cars in Victoria and we have issued over 2,500 cards, that’s about five drivers for each car.”

“But I won’t get the job if I can’t pick up at the airport”, “Not our problem. Tell your boss to employ people who have already got the card.”

I tried reasoning with them further, (I was surprised though, they kept talking to me until I gave up, not the other way round), it’s like banging my head against a brick wall. They just keep talking round and round, like a dog chasing it’s tail. “No, you can’t pick up at the airport, but you can drop off”.

Back to my car, paid the $9.00 parking ticket.

Rang my boss when I got home. “Oh, sorry” he said.

So, no job yet, well in the red, financially, but I will keep trying.

Till next time!

Scrubby

PS This is a true story

Last day (9) at Taxi School

OK, today it was hand shaking day for those that passed. The ones that failed, most of the students from India / Pakistan, could go for a second try today at passing the driving assessment, at a cost of $97. (Pays to pass the first time at those prices).

The rest of us that passed went in a couple of cars, not mine this time, to the Taxi Directorate in North Melbourne. The drivers certificate costs $24 for 3 years. You get your photo taken, which comes as an ID about a week later. (Funny, Vic Roads, which is the company name the receipt is made out from, can give a photo license out on the spot).

Back at Taxi School, the trainer taught more on the Work Dispatch System and last in the course we were invited to go to have a look around the “booking area” of one of the two big taxi companies in Victoria. We were told that we could get a free PIN to log on to the system (if you’ve been in a taxi, the screen and keyboard on the right side of the drivers dashboard). This turned out to cost us $20.00 each for processing charges to the cab company. (Apparently, the other company charges $100 for the same.)

Now back to my original reason for having to get a “Taxi Drivers Certificate”, which I am now the proud owner of.

Remember in my past posts, I stated “I don’t want to drive a Taxi”, but I need a Taxi Drivers Certificate to get the job I’m after.

So in my next “Post”, I’ll give you a revue of what, how and when.

scrubby

Day 8 at Taxi School

Hi all, getting close to work day.

Today is the day when all our homework is corrected and we go for a driving test.

You know, it must come with age, but I don’t feel a bit nervous today. In fact I’m looking forward for the test. First the trainer corrects every-bodies homework in front of them. If we got one wrong, he would ask us to explain how we come by that answer, because on a lot of questions, there could be a number of correct answers, just as there is in every-day life. If you didn’t finish something, or got it completely, hopelessly wrong, then it had to be done correctly before you could participate any further. A good system if you ask me.

After a while, three students at a time went for the driving test. We were individually given a starting place and a finishing place. I was number two, so I sat in the back seat. The guy that drove was an Aussie Indian, (He has been living in Ozz for a while and is a permanent resident or citizen). He drove ok, except a couple of corners away from his destination, the examiner in the front left hand seat caught him reading the directions off the palm of his hand. FAIL #1.

Now it’s my turn. Sit in the drivers seat, adjust mirrors, in gear, head check and away we go. I had to go to some retirement home about five clicks away. I started a conversation with the examiner, about restaurants of all things. It kept him busy and when there was a lull in the conversation, he remarked, “Oh this way, that’s a good way to get there, I haven’t been this way for a while”.

Pulled up at the kerb outside the destination, “Well, you have got no problems, congratulations”. PASS #1

Changed seats with one of the students from Pakistan, the third and last contender for this car load of future taxi drivers.

Last time I was a car with one of these driving, oh me god, I got scared. Ok, so he started by pulling out, that was no problems. He was supposed to turn right at the next intersection, it is as busy a hell, even I would have had trouble there. But he started making a left turn instead. I was shocked, surly he couldn’t muck up the first intersection already. The examiner was stone face, you could see the rage building, but he didn’t say a word. Shortly after accelerating away at the intersection, The Pakistani student indicated right and drifted the car to the right lane, then the right turn lane, did a “U” turn and was passing the original intersection where he was supposed to turn right. The cars that were there about the same time as us were still waiting to make a very dangerous turn.

Not bad I thought, and the examiners face lightened up with a smile also.

Driving along, he was supposed to go to a school about seven clicks away. He drove very well, as professionally as anyone I’ve ever been with. But then he lost his way when he couldn’t find the street he was looking for. So he stopped the car on the left kerb, opened his Melway’s which he was allowed to do, and found the street. He indicated, sped up and joined the traffic and when it was time, indicated for a right hand turn. Trouble was in the other street he turned in to the oncoming lanes of a divided road, and a car was coming straight for us. He just kept going. Nearly a head on. The enraged examiner talked him through a break in the divide, let him stop on the left kerb. I was shaking. FAIL #2

Only one day left in Taxi School, tomorrow.

scrubby

Day 7 at Taxi School Hi All, here we go again. Today we go to a new class room on the other side of town. Only the one’s with small cars can drive, (Cheaper petrol costs). They are the ones that have to pick all the others up at their homes. Then go over the West Gate Bridge. You’re supposed to get to the class at 08:00 am (that’s morning time), in the traffic. And it has to be one of the biggest traffic day’s of the year. Well we made it with 5 minutes to spare. A new trainer, we actually learned something about taxi’s, however we already did that topic on the first day in our homework. After 10:00, when the freeway lightened up traffic wise, the trainer let us loose on a witch hunt looking for things of interest. We were provided with a camera and we had to prove we found the places, as we had to take a picture of them. We had to wear those fluro safety vests, and some photos, we had to be in them. So we start at the Eureka Towers in Southbank, ok, 3 guys out of the car while the driver sites, illegally parked, photo taken, back in the car with some strange looks from passers-by. Next, Myer Music Bowl, park the car, a quick walk through the park, click, back to the car and away, followed by Rod Laver Arena, etc, etc, etc. You get the picture! Then all three cars were supposed to be at Taxi Staffing in Murphy Street so the manager there could give us a lecture of why we should drive for him when we finished the course. Trouble is the car with the young Asian students got lost. So only the two car loads got the lecture. Took each individual photo od one of us with the sign, “Taxi Staffing”, we jumped back into our respective cars and we found the MCG, State Library, Southern Cross Station, etc, etc, etc. Back in the classroom, we uploaded the photo’s onto a computer, analysed and labelled them with the trainer, got printed copies and the poor guy who was driving, belted across town to drop each individual home again. A long day. Most of us got home by 05:00 pm, having started out at 06:00 in the morning. Tomorrow we get our homework corrected, (auto fail if you didn’t do it) and we go on our final driving assessment which should be perfect. scrubby

Day 6 at Taxi School

Hi all again. Hope you’re keeping up to-date with getting a taxi license.

OK. Today we get to show our driving skills again. In our group of four we had a different assessor. I was first to drive. Made a few little errors at the round-a-bout by not giving way, (well doesn’t every taxi driver), going over the speed limit coming into a school zone, (only a little bit over), but at the end I found the place I was supposed to go to and stopped.

Change over drivers. The next guy, another snow flake, nearly a head on turning right in a small suburban street, speeding through a school zone, (“ohh, is it still only quarter past nine”), Stopped, hitting the kerb.

The one to put us all to shame was one of the Indian guy’s. wow, if I would have gone that close to the truck he was over-taking, I would have hit it. At least lost the side mirrors of the car. The Indian guy that was driving didn’t even raise a sweat. When he lost his way, he just stopped and looked up the Melways, made a “U” turn and kept going. When he got to his destination, he just stopped in the middle of the road. The trainer was as white as a ghost.

At the end of the day, both car and drivers went home without a scratch. Just like real taxi drivers. Thank Christ we had the week-end to recover.

Look forward to the next day of Taxi School. Not long to finish, most of us will be let loose in real cabs, can’t wait.

scrubby