Tracheotomy

Yesterday I went to the cinema with my brother and one of my brother in-laws. We went to the Watford Vue to watch "The Hitchikers Guide To The Galaxy" and in my humble opinion I thought it was absolute shite. I found it on a par with Monty Python and all the ridiculous things that used to pop up on that.
My Dad remains in hospital and has now had a tracheotomy to aid his breathing. I don't know if it's a good or bad thing but they seem to know what they're doing over there so I have to believe it will all turn out ok in the end.
I popped out to do a few hours work today and ended up doing fares to Heathrow and City Airports and a few jobs in between. The lady I took to Heathrow nearly gave birth to a kitten when I responded to her question of how much it would be. She tried to bullshit me that she'd paid much less previously but I knew it was impossible and told her so. The final fare was £55 which was £5 more than I'd quoted to her so she went off on one again at the airport. They told me about people like that at the Carriage Office and I certainly do pick them up from time to time but I'm always cool calm and collected, well, nearly always, so I don't get much grief.

Isolation

Today is my sister Anna's 40th birthday so many happy returns and congratulations on reaching that nice round figure.
My dad remains in hospital in Spain. He's still breathing through a mask and has now been put into isolation because he's caught some sort of bug but I don't think it's anything as bad as the MRSA we have over here. I'll say one thing, he certainly a fighter. He's had four or five different things wrong with him and he's still in there punching. Go on Dad, we know you can make it all the way home!!!
I just had the cab serviced today. I like the garage that I'm at but the only complaint I have is that they just go ahead and do stuff without telling me they're doing it. One day they're going to do something major and I'm not going to be able to pay.It was just a routine service today which normally costs around £100 but the final bill was £205 because they said I needed suspension bushes and a new tyre. The next big expense will be the annual overhaul which is due on June the 6th.
Work has been ok recently and I'm now more or less back on evenings. As long as there's work out there it's ok and the rides are much longer than daytime rides.
I've had nothing out of the ordinary lately just your Claphams, Tootings, Docklands and stuff withing the six mile limit.
Chelsea are playing Liverpool tonight down at Stamford Bridge so it should get busy at around 10 O'Clock and thenthe rides should go here there and everywhere.Let's hope there's a roader in it for me tonight. Watch this space.

22 Days

It's been 22 days since my Dad was admitted to a little-ish backwater town hospital in southern Spain. He went in after severe stomach pains revealed he had a perforated ulcer. He was operated on immediately. Other problems started developing soon after such as breathing difficulties resulting in the collapse of his right lung, abnormalities in his heart and severely high blood pressure. There's been some worrying times along the road to recovery, but all credit has to go to the Spanish doctors who , basically, saved my Dads life. On the 6th of April I flew out to Spain with my two brothers my sister and her daughter. Dad was out of it for just about all that time and only started slowly coming to on the day before we were due to leave. Todays message from one of my other sisters was quite favourable and it looks like he's slowly but surely on the mend, thank God. It will be a long slow road to recovery but thankfully he'll be with us for a good few years yet.
Did anyone watch the London Marathon on Sunday morning? When I saw Paula Radcliffe crouching down I thought she had cramp. It never occured to be she might be taking a leak. I'll never be able to drive past that spot without thinking of that. I heard on the radio that her wee was already being offered for sale on ebay. Apparently it had been mopped up by someone who just happened to have a Vileda Supercloth in their posession!! Sounds like a load of bollocks to me but you never know.
Since returning from Spain I've been grafting super hard to try and get ahead of myself so that I can go back out there to see my Dad whilst he's recovering. I've been working in two stints and doing OK.
My annual taxi overhaul is coming up in June and I have a 45000 mile service to get done before that so I need bundles of cash for all that. That's all for now.

R.I.P. Pope John Paul

Well it's been a month since my last post. What can happen in a whole month? My son got his first car. My other son got a verbal warning at work for not doing his job properly. My Dad is in hospital in Spain after being operated on for a perforated ulcer. Lee Bowyer and Kieron Dyer got sent off for having a punch up with eachother (they're both on the same team.) And I guess most importantly, The Pope died just yesterday. Throughout all that going on there's little old me grafting my bollocks off to try and earn a crust. I've been doing days for the best part of a month now but the days are starting to get longer and longer as I try and earn the same as nights. I must say though that I have been to Gatwick and Heathrow more times in this last month than the last few years on nights.More good news. Our meters are due for a tarrif increase over this next week so that should help a bit. My taxi license is up for renewal at a cost of £283 and they have included a disclosure form to be filled in where they want to know the minutest details like bank account numbers and how many hairs on my arse and general stuff like that. I think it's a bloody liberty personally but it's that or no license. The weather has finally broken and Spring is in the air. The crumpet is out in force, what joy!!

Grief

So much grief over a poxy blog. Right then, for all those of you who need to know what’s been happening in my world the last month, here goes. (Right Dianne???)
January was absolute crap. So much so that I fell behind with just about every bill I have. The red letters and the bank charges are pouring in by the cart load and I’ve seriously thought about taking a swan dive off of Waterloo Bridge or better still driving the cab with me in it off off Beachy Head. Being too much of a coward I decided it would be better all round if I worked my way out of the hole I’ve got myself in. Luckily February was a half decent month and my head is just about above water as we speak.
I've had a couple of punctures in the last month and repaired one and used the spare for the other. God knows what would have happened if I'd have got another flat out in the sticks somewhere but I got the spare fixed yesterday so I'm all legal again now.
I’ve decided to start working properly on the radio circuit I pay good money every month for and I’m now actually enjoying myself by not having to drive around looking for the work, instead it comes to me. I try and do three or four longish jobs on it per night and make the rest up with street work.I was sitting on Victoria cab rank earlier and I was in second spot. Two obviously very drunk looking guys walked up to the front cab and started telling him where they want to go. One of the blokes reached out for the door handle and started to open the door. Next thing, the cab roars away making the guy jump back startled. I thought to myself “What a wanker, I’m gonna get his job now and any flak that they feel like giving out”. They came over to me and one of them looked ready to chin me. They wanted the Queen’s Hotel in Crystal Palace. Although it’s south of the river it’s still a nice job and I accepted the fare then unlocked the doors. The guy who had looked ready for a fight went straight to sleep and I ended up having a really philosophical conversation with the other bloke who turned out to be Dutch and a thoroughly decent chap. You just can never tell!!

Four Seasons?

It's out there if you want it. That's one of my motto's about this job. Trouble is I can be too lazy for my own good at times. I am always chasing money and putting myself under pressure.
I'm sort of drifting towards day work at the moment. The secret is to get out of the front door and drive away. I picked this guy up yesterday in the Maida Vale area and he wanted to go to an address in Acton. He was on his phone the whole time and I got the impression he was a "Somebody". That's what I call passengers who may well be celebrities but I just don't know who or can't put a name to. He was one of these Italian/American singer types and from all the references he was making, I thought he may have been one of the Four Seasons, Franki Valli's band or similar. Any way I went home later and surfed the net but I'm still none the wiser today. But to go back to day work, I did ok in the four hours I was out, probably better than in the evening. I found I was busier rather than having to do time on the taxi ranks. So, I am off out now and I'll let you know how I get on.

Poor Little Doggy

Poor Dude (My dog). It turns out his leg was fractured and they had to remove the ball from the top of the bone. Apparently they can get about just as well without it and there’s the added thing that they’ll never get arthritis in it. He spent a couple of days at the vets and was also neutered to add insult to injury and all that set me back a cool £1200. Thank God for Pet Plan Insurance. I’ve only made one payment so far and they’re already having to cough up so much, I bet they love me!
Work is gradually getting back to normal after the Christmas and New Year.
I got a letter just before Christmas from the City of London Police informing me that I had been caught by cameras doing 38mph in a 20mph zone on Tower Bridge. They even included 3 photos of my number plate, the cab entering the zone and one that clearly shows me at the wheel. Well it was news to me that there was a 20mph limit on the bridge so I guess you live and learn.

Tsunami

I guess I should start this blog with the Tsunami in The Indian Ocean.Unbelievable, is really all I can say. So much destruction and loss of life. So many children just washed away. Whole villages and communities gone forever. All I can say is if there is One, He sure does work in mysterious ways. Fair play to everyone who's contributed to the various appeals and raised so much money to help these people.
In the taxi trade the New Year if often reffered to as "The Kipper Season", probably because in the old days people had to economise due to the lack of work and feed their families with kippers. It generally doesn't affect me but I have to say that these last few days have been desperate and I may well hit Sainsbury's today for a few packs of the smelly fish for me and the kids!
I have to take my dog to the vet later as he's hurt his leg and is limping really badly. I need that like a hole in the head at the moment.

Christmas Day

Christmas Day went well. There was far too much food as usual and I've had to throw away lots of stuff that won't get eaten. For Boxing Day me and the kids went up to my parents house when the whole clan gathers every year. There was around 26 of us there this year.
I went to work on Monday and did really well but Tuesday turned out to be a damp squib. I blew it out completely tonight and am just pottering around at the moment. Just watched Phil "The Power" Taylor trounce Alex Roy at darts and it's inspired me to come up to the loft to throw a few arrows, but Phil Taylor I ain't!!

Last few days

I've been busy or just couldn't be arsed to update the blog these last few weeks. The work has been plentiful and I've been here there and everywhere. Sunnighill, Camberly, Slough, Princes Risborough, Selsdon, you name it I've done it. The weird thing about doing all those jobs has been the lack of losers out there. I did expect to have been upset by someone at some point but they have all been really nice people.
Any way there's only a couple of days left to earn my Christmas money. I always leave it till the last knockings to buy the presents and the food. This year I'm having Mick, Jan, Dean, Dianne, Mitchell and Stacey over to Christmas dinner. Everyone making something so as to spread the work between us. In all honesty I'm probably the worlds biggest Humbug. I completely hate Christmas and the New Year and love it when January 2nd comes along to signal the end of all the bullshit. But for all you non-humbugs out there:Merry Christmas and a Happy New Year 2005.

Cheques cleared

Well now, the cheque has cleared so I can finally put that one to bed. I thought I was going to get knocked again last night as this guy seemed to be a bit of a headcase. He waited till we were almost at his destination before telling me he needed a cash point and we had to back-track a mile to the nearest one. Surprise surprise it wasn't working. He started cursing and screaming to himself and apologising profusely to me. We ended up driving past his front door and another mile further on (I was at Stoke Newington) when he finally found one, got his cash out, paid me off and gave me £4 tip and opted to walk back home. Strange man!!
No work today!!! I've just taken "Dude" for his final injection at the vets. I couldn't believe it when they only asked me for £1.68. I'd already paid for the three injections in advanced but the vet had to worm him and check him all over but then again they have had £150 from me for the two previous visits.
It's my oldest sisters 45th birthday today and we're going for a meal to some Chinese gaff in West London hence no work today.
It'll still be there for me tomorrow though.

She's paid me

The payment from that lady passenger finally arrived today. The initial fare was £31.60 and she sent me a cheque for £40. All that remains now is to pay it in and hope it's not made of rubber!!
Went out at 9.45pm last night as I had stayed in to watch my beloved Leeds United make complete mugs of themselves and lose to the bottom team, Rotherham United. There's not really a whole lot more I can say on the subect other than "Sebastian Sainsbury, get your bloody finger out son".
I only did a couple of jobs as there wasn't a lot about. The best one was probably Nam Long in Old Brompton road to Victoria station and then on to Flodden Road in Camberwell for £25.
I have to change another headlight on my cab. I'm sure there's something wrong with the electrics as they only seem to last a couple of months at a time and they're about £5 a pop each time I have to replace one. I should also give it a wash as it's absolutely minging. I'll see how I feel later on.

We're PC'd up

There are now four computers in my house. Mine, my two sons' and my daughters'. Up until today we had all been taking turns to share our Broadband Internet connection, which often caused arguments. So much so that one of my sons took out his own subscription to a dial up service. I went up to Tottenham Court Rd today and bought a Sitecom wireless router which came with a USB wireless network adapter, and two extra ones. Total cost: £150. I think it's the best money I've ever spent. The computer nearest to the router connects by wire and the other three recieve the signal via the adapters and hey presto!! Everyones happy.
Still no cheque from that lady who never paid me. I've since sent her yet another email and she's replied by saying she'd only just been paid and she's going to send the cheque out to me. Personally, I think it's all complete and utter bollocks and I've a good mind to stroll into her place of work and show her up in front of all her collegues.
I seem to be getting a lot of jobs out to the docklands which is great because I love going out there. When I did "The Knowledge" to become a cabby, the docklands were hardly developed at all. In 15 years they have changed dramatically and I have to learn everything as I go along.
I went out at 10pm tonight as I had a longer nap than usual. Back in at 2am with a decent nights takings. I was on my way home when 2 men flagged me down. They were both eating kebabs which normally prompts me to drive straight past them, but, as I needed the money, I stopped. They were only going from Chiswick High Rd to just off the North Circular Rd at Ealing Common. They paid me ok and walked away. When I looked round there was the whole contents of one of the kebabs on the floor, and not in the pitta bread. Dirty bastards!! I swept it all out onto the road but it stinks now and I may well have to shampoo the carpet tomorrow. Why do I keep putting myself through all this shite.....I must be a masochist.

Where's my money?

I had to send this lady an email last night when I got in from work.
"Dear Sarah
I don't know if you remember me or not but I picked you up in my cab in Baker street last night and drove you out to Osterly Park View Rd W7.
The fare was £31.60 and you never had any money on you so you gave me your business card and told me to come to your place of work today to collect the money. I explained to you that I am a night driver and do not go anywhere near that part of town till well after 8pm in the evenings but you started crying and were worried that your partner was going to beat you up. I was worried for you but you told me it would be ok. I was just wondering if you were ok and is there any way you could send me a cheque or something?
Hope to hear from you. Best Wishes. C. My Mobile Number is 078........ "
=============================================
This is the sort of thing that happens from time to time. It's not often for that much and more often than not I don't chase it up but £31 is a fair bit. I wouldn't mind but I only went out after the dismal England game at 10.30pm and every penny was needed. Still, I may hear from her otherwise i'll have to go to Farringdon to get it in person.

Went to Coventry

Now then, what's been happening?
I took a day trip up to Coventry last Saturday as my son and his cousins wanted to go and see a wrestling event up there. While they were in there me and my daughter went to see a film with Buffy in it. It was so crap that I can't even remember the name but it took place in Japan and these " Scary " faces kept popping up frightening the life out of all the punters. There was more excitement in the cinema with lot's of people being thrown out for making noises and different groups of girls shouting across the cinema at one another.
Work is picking up now on the run up to Christmas.
I had yet another "Puker" last week. I picked up 2 Oriental type men from Victoria. One of them was rat-arsed drunk. They asked to be taken to Croydon and then onto Sutton. I'm not too familiar with Croydon and the guy who was drunk was no help so I had the A to Z on my lap as I tried to find his road. I was driving over tram lines and expected to be pulled up by the police at any moment. I finally found his road and his wife was waiting on the doorstep. Her and the other guy pulled the drunk one out and carried him indoors. I took the opportunity to get out and look in the back as I'd been hearing some funny noises on the way down. The floor was full of what looked like egg fried rice and as they hadn't been eating anything it must have come out of his mouth. As the Sutton guy returned I exagerated a little and started holding my head and saying how this was going to mess my nights work up. He told me not to worry as he would pay for it. He climbed in over the sick and sat down on some more of it. When we got to his house the meter read £56. He said "and how much extra for the cleaning of the vehicle?" , "That's £40 mate" says me. "Forty pounds!!!" he exclaimed. I got out and showed him the tarriff and he couldn't really argue with that so he rounded it up to £100 in total and asked for a receipt. I still had to get it all cleaned up so I drove all the way home to North West London from Sutton and as it turned out I had it all spic and span in about fifteen minutes but that was the end of my nights work. There'll probably be a few more spewings to report once the Christmas parties start in a couple of weeks so watch this space.

Loft finished

The loft is now finished and my son has installed himself in there. I can now get back to working properly. I went out last night for about 3 hours but spent the bulk of that time sitting on ranks only to get a small job just round the corner. The TV Awards were on in Kensington and I picked up three very drunk people and took them to Victoria Station. After they walked into the station I looked round to see if they'd left anything (you're supposed to do it before they've gone) and saw to my amazement that they'd left all their rubbish for me to clear up. 2 bottles half-filled with Coke, some crisp wrappers and the brochure from the show all slung on the back seat and the floor. There are some dirty slobs about!!

Decorating

For the last four days I have been decorating the loft to make it a bedroom for my son. You don't realise how much work is involved until you start but I am now halfway through my fifth 10 litre pot of brilliant white vinyl silk emulsion and I've used five tubes of painters mate as well. I've finished the painting and now have to add some fixtures and fittings and a carpet but I must say it looks pukka.
I was last out working on Monday. The evening started off really well as I found a tenner on the floor in the petrol station. I did a job out to Billericay in Essex later on that night and got £83 for that. One day last week I picked this guy up from Canary Wharfe and took him to South Kensington. He was well drunk and nodded off almost immediately. When we got there it took him about five minutes to realise he was in a cab and then he got out and walked off without paying, the fare was £30. I jumped out and called after him and he started arguing that it had been an account ride. I assured him it hadn't but he took a bit of convincing. Eventually he searched his pockets for money to find he had none on him. The long and short of it was that we had to go to a cash point and it cost him another four quid for the pleasure.
I've been decorating all day and am really tired but I still need to go to work. It's now 9.35pm. It's not fair!!!

Introducing the Dude

I bought a Jack Russell terrier puppy last week for the family and have spent the whole week trying to house train it. He is a quick learner and already does his business outside but he has to be let out regularly otherwise he will do it in the house. He was named Dude by his previous owners so we're going to keep the name.
Me and my two sons gave the loft a coat of paint today. It's going to be my sons bedroom if we ever get it done. It still needs a couple more coats and a carpet befor he can move in there.
Work was really quiet tonight. I did some major time on all the main ranks tonight but only managed to pull in half of what I normally do. generally Sundays are the best days I don't know if it had anything to do with that anti-war rally in town

Goodbye Yaya

My grandmother died today. She was 94. She suffered a stroke on the 4th of October and had been in hospital ever since. She was a very strong lady and was rarely ill throughout her long life. She'd been living with my parents for the last few years and we all saw her very regularly. She was a very philosophical person and would always share her life's experiences with you and give you good advice, she will be greatly missed. She will be buried in Sueca Cemetary in Valencia, Spain, along with the rest of her family, as soon as her body can be flown over.
Goodbye Yaya, Rest in peace.

All work and no play...

Not much to report just work work and more work.
I've actually blown it out tonight as my brother came round and we pulled out all my old cassettes and and had a major nostalgia session. I've been without an oven for the last six months and I bought and installed one today. We celebrated with a roast pork dinner with all the trimmings and I've just used it again to make these American biscuits from a mix my daughter brought back with her from the States. I made 12 and me and my daughter have just caned them off with out sharing them with her brothers who are actually, as we speak, tucking into a Pizza.
The last few days have seen it reasonably busy out there. I've started doing more account work now and have actually found it more enjoyable than street work. No nutters to report, maybe tomorrow.