Hi folks
I left my house around 8 yesterday hopefull that I'd make some money. As I ventured towards Paddington Station I felt it would be ok. The bridge was empty and I did the left onto the ramp which is fast becoming known to us Twitterers as PPH or Piss Pot Hill due to the fact that it stinks of piss. After a short wait I got off the mark with a job to south London. As I exited the station the guy informed me that he only had £22 on him and would that be enough to get him to Streatham. Now depending on which part he wanted it would definitely be more than £22 and probably nearer to £30. He said to stop when it hit £22 and he would walk the rest of the way. I couldn't help thinking he did this regularly and hoped the drivers goodwill would see him all the way home. I call it " being mugged off" and knew there was no way he was going a penny further than the money he had. All the way down there he was asking if I thought the £22 would get him home and I was answering we'll see. The meter hit £22 at Stockwell, a good few miles from his destination. Am I a charitable institution? Am I a soft touch? Was I in a giving vein this day? It was also raining quite profusely as I applied the handbrake and announced this was as far as I was going. He hesitated for a moment, thought about saying something then thought better of it and handed over the £22. he had a long walk in the rain ahead of him. He should've taken the bus as it would've been way cheaper and got him all the way home. Am I a miserable old git? I felt pangs of guilt but the thought that he regularly tried this on brushed that guilt away.
The rest of the shift panned out ok and apart from almost getting knocked (unpaid) by 2 drunk girls I made my money and was home and tucked up next to my partner by 3am. Oh the joys of being back on nights.
Take Care
LC
- Posted using BlogPress from my iPhone
5 comments:
Argh - you miserable git!! No not really - I think you re right he probably is a serial mugger. Well perhaps he will think better of it soon and stop taking advantage of the normally good natured cabbies.
Hi I recently start reading your blog and found up you are diabetic and actually i have few questions to you. my bf, cab driver as well is insulin dependent and he really shits himself thinking that Pco will take his license for good so i would appreciate any advices or infoin this subject if you dont mind. btw great blog.
my email buczakanna@gmail.com
Hello. I've been reading your blog. I'm from the suburbs and London town seems busy at night.
The real mugger would just say "Thats all I have mate" and go.
But it is a hard one to call, wwe all have been that soldier
Hi
I'm a Licensed Black London Cab Driver and run a London Cabbie related
site and also write regularly for the Evening Standard.
I've started a page entitled Taxi Tales - I know it's not original but
please bear with me on this one.
Do you have any tales (tall or otherwise) or anecdotes that I might
include? If so you can contact mevia e-mail or from the CabbieBlog
site.
Thanks in anticipation.
David
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