A pretty uneventful week workwise. Has been quite busy, with the heat meaning less people wanting to take the tube and more drivers either staying at home or working nights to avoid it. Wimbledon has been on as well, which means more tourists over here. On Thursday I had only 1 British passenger in the first 3 hours. £50 notes have been the currency of choice this week.
Picked up a young Italian girl on Exhibition Road, wanting Harvey Nichols on Knightsbridge. A few minutes later we arrive, and she hands me a £50 note for a £6 fare. What do these people think we are, cash machines? This was the third £50 note of the day, so I didnt have enough change to give her. I told her the law is that if we dont have enough change we are only obliged to post the remainder to the customer. She said she does not live in England, and accused me of stealing tourists money.
I was getting the hump now, so just shrugged and told her that that was the law and theres nothing more I can do. She then had the bright idea of changing the ridiculous note in a nearby shop, and handing me a reasonable sized note for her tiny fare. Maybe next time she will keep some smaller denomination notes in her purse.
Went to see Blur's comeback gig at Hyde Park on Thursday. They were truly amazing, had the 50,000 strong crowd pogo-ing all night long! They played all their biggest hits and some of their lesser known numbers. I dropped a couple of blokes from Hull to the second gig on Friday. They had come all the way down especially to see Blur. They must have appreciated my waxing lyrical about how great they were, as I got a £4 tip!
Until next time....
Saturday, 4 July 2009
Monday, 29 June 2009
Off to a flyer
A flyer is to a cabbie what the holy grail was to Indiana Jones. Its what we call a job out to an airport, something which seems to be an endangered species these days. Most hotel doormen chat up customers at their hotel and book either a taxi or minicab driver that they know to do the job, trousering around a tenner for their trouble. This has caused such a lack of airport trips that i cant remember the last time i got one. Until Saturday that is.
Id given my business card to a lady during the week, and on Friday evening i got a call from her asking me to take her to Stanstead Airport on Saturday morning. At 4.45am! Im no early bird, but this was too good to miss. So i accept and get an early night.
On arrival at Stanstead it turns out they want the private jet terminals, Harrods Aviation no less. It is costing £15,000 an hour apparantly. Made me wish i hadnt done them a decent deal on the fare. And not even a £1 tip for the driver. Pah!
Decided to head back into town after, and two jobs later ranked up at Victoria Station. When i was on point a girl with a trolley full of very large luggage comes to the window - 'Heathrow Airport, Terminal 5 please'. The angels must have been smiling on me.
Be lucky.
Id given my business card to a lady during the week, and on Friday evening i got a call from her asking me to take her to Stanstead Airport on Saturday morning. At 4.45am! Im no early bird, but this was too good to miss. So i accept and get an early night.
On arrival at Stanstead it turns out they want the private jet terminals, Harrods Aviation no less. It is costing £15,000 an hour apparantly. Made me wish i hadnt done them a decent deal on the fare. And not even a £1 tip for the driver. Pah!
Decided to head back into town after, and two jobs later ranked up at Victoria Station. When i was on point a girl with a trolley full of very large luggage comes to the window - 'Heathrow Airport, Terminal 5 please'. The angels must have been smiling on me.
Be lucky.
Tuesday, 23 June 2009
Psychic cabbies
Everyone knows that London cabbies have an encyclopeadic knowledge of the streets of London. We've all spent years learning every nook and cranny this fair city of ours has to offer and the public generally appreciate it. What I didnt know however was that I was supposed to have psychic powers as well.
I was working a bit later than usual yesterday when I get hailed on Tooley Street, near London Bridge. There are three of them and after hailing me they say their goodbyes. Two of them jump in, but instead of then telling me where they want to go, they continue their conversation as if nothing has changed.
Not knowing quite what to do I listen to their conversation for a while, slightly in awe at their confidence in me. I know im good but im not THAT good. You need to at least give me some idea of where we are going.
After what seems like an age I plucked up the courage to interrupt their conversation, and I get off to the Hilton Hotel Kensington.
Yanks, eh. Im sure they'll go home saying 'You know Hank, those London cabbies arent all they're cracked up to be'.
I was working a bit later than usual yesterday when I get hailed on Tooley Street, near London Bridge. There are three of them and after hailing me they say their goodbyes. Two of them jump in, but instead of then telling me where they want to go, they continue their conversation as if nothing has changed.
Not knowing quite what to do I listen to their conversation for a while, slightly in awe at their confidence in me. I know im good but im not THAT good. You need to at least give me some idea of where we are going.
After what seems like an age I plucked up the courage to interrupt their conversation, and I get off to the Hilton Hotel Kensington.
Yanks, eh. Im sure they'll go home saying 'You know Hank, those London cabbies arent all they're cracked up to be'.
Sunday, 21 June 2009
Please sign this petiton
This is the biggest problem facing the Licensed Taxi trade in Londay today. Please take 30 seconds to sign it in support of all of Londons black cab drivers. Thanks.
http://petitions.number10.gov.uk/minicabs/
http://petitions.number10.gov.uk/minicabs/
Saturday, 20 June 2009
Hi and bye
Just a quicky. Work is still going pretty well, its there if you go to the right places! Some of the ranks are enormous, especially getting into the major stations, but they move pretty quickly. Police were waving us into Waterloo station from York Road the other day, as there had to be around 100 cabs trying to get in there for a job!
On the subject of the Police, I heard they have started giving out tickets for 'over ranking' at Liverpool Street station, as the cabs have to stop around the corner on Bishopsgate to get on the end of the queue. I hope that doesnt set a precedent, if it does we'll all be on the road driving around in circles!
Had a funny job the other day. I got hailed by an American guy on Jamaica Road in Bermondsey, who showed me a Parcelforce receipt which had an address in Greenwich and a map showing where it was. On the way he explained he needed to collect a package from back home and would need me to take him back to Bermondsey when he picked it up. Nice little job.
On arrival in Greenwich it turned out that he had read the receipt wrong and he actually needed to pick it up from Southwark Park Rd, which is off Jamaica Road. Suffice to say he was gutted. Must say he was a good bloke though and took it on the chin. At least he got to see Greenwich.
One of my old mates from my Knowledge of London days got his badge a few weeks ago, and is having the worst luck possible when it comes to dodgy passengers! On his second day he was asked for a quote to Wanstead in East London and quite understandably got it slightly wrong. The guy then refused to pay any more than he had quoted, leaving him £15 short.
Last night he picked up a young girl who turned out to be absolutely hammered. All he knew was she wanted to go to Greenwich. On arrival she fell out of the cab, was sick all over herself and didnt know who she was or where she lived. Luckily two PCSO's (police community support officers) were passing, but they turned out to be about as useful as a chocolate teapot. They arent allowed to actually stop people, so all they could do was follow her staggering down the road. In the end he cut his losses and left, £24 out of pocket. Hope his luck changes soon.
On the subject of the Police, I heard they have started giving out tickets for 'over ranking' at Liverpool Street station, as the cabs have to stop around the corner on Bishopsgate to get on the end of the queue. I hope that doesnt set a precedent, if it does we'll all be on the road driving around in circles!
Had a funny job the other day. I got hailed by an American guy on Jamaica Road in Bermondsey, who showed me a Parcelforce receipt which had an address in Greenwich and a map showing where it was. On the way he explained he needed to collect a package from back home and would need me to take him back to Bermondsey when he picked it up. Nice little job.
On arrival in Greenwich it turned out that he had read the receipt wrong and he actually needed to pick it up from Southwark Park Rd, which is off Jamaica Road. Suffice to say he was gutted. Must say he was a good bloke though and took it on the chin. At least he got to see Greenwich.
One of my old mates from my Knowledge of London days got his badge a few weeks ago, and is having the worst luck possible when it comes to dodgy passengers! On his second day he was asked for a quote to Wanstead in East London and quite understandably got it slightly wrong. The guy then refused to pay any more than he had quoted, leaving him £15 short.
Last night he picked up a young girl who turned out to be absolutely hammered. All he knew was she wanted to go to Greenwich. On arrival she fell out of the cab, was sick all over herself and didnt know who she was or where she lived. Luckily two PCSO's (police community support officers) were passing, but they turned out to be about as useful as a chocolate teapot. They arent allowed to actually stop people, so all they could do was follow her staggering down the road. In the end he cut his losses and left, £24 out of pocket. Hope his luck changes soon.
Wednesday, 17 June 2009
Days in the sun
Well ive finally done it, i am officially a day man. Up at the crack of dawn as the cock crows and out in the taxi to see what the day will bring! For the last three days at least, lets see how long it continues!
I didnt find much left in the back of the sherbert when i was doing evenings/nights - the odd phone, a purse and a few bags of sweaty gym gear was about my lot. But in the last three days ive found a phone and a heaving wallet! Maybe people arent expecting to forget things when they are sober so dont check as much.
The phone belonged to a man who was down for the day from Monmouth, so i agreed to post it back to him. The wallet was keft by a Spanish fella i had taken from Euston station over to Harbour Exchange in the Isle of Dogs. I noticed it as i was leaving the sqaure, so i whipped round and returned it to him. He was very grateful, but not grateful enough to chuck me a few quid! Never mind, i reckon thats my good deeds for the week sorted.
The work front has been surprisingly decent, much better than a few weeks back. I hope it is a turning point and not just a flash in the pan.
I had been getting involved with the 'Reclaim the work' campaign whenever ive worked nights recently. For anyone not in the cab trade - black cab drivers have been ranking up outside major nightspots in direct competition with minicabs working from the venues in an attempt to give the public a choice, and they usually choose us, obviously! I enjoyed taking work from these drivers who seem to think that a £300 sticker in the back of a Corolla entitles them to the same status as us. So not to be left out now im working days i decided to have a little go at the Hurlingham Club.
Id read on the Legalled Off blog that minicabs were forming a rank at the club, so when i dropped off there on Tuesday i thought id investigate. I found the said rank, which consisted of two minicabs. There was clearly no pre-booking going on as they were standing by their cars waiting to approach people. Illegal! I pulled up behind and waited. Another minicab then joined behind me. Hold on a minute, was i in a minicab rank!! Im not having this i thought, so i pulled around the scab in front and parked up bang outside the entrance. They clearly werent happy and started having a little conference between themselves! I just ignored them and settled in, it was obvious the first people out would be straight in my cab.
Unfortunately nothing stirred for about 15 minutes, so i cut my losses and headed back onto the road. Bit gutted at not having nicked a job there, but as i got back onto the New Kings Road i picked up going to to Victoria Embankment. That soothed me no end!
Be lucky!
I didnt find much left in the back of the sherbert when i was doing evenings/nights - the odd phone, a purse and a few bags of sweaty gym gear was about my lot. But in the last three days ive found a phone and a heaving wallet! Maybe people arent expecting to forget things when they are sober so dont check as much.
The phone belonged to a man who was down for the day from Monmouth, so i agreed to post it back to him. The wallet was keft by a Spanish fella i had taken from Euston station over to Harbour Exchange in the Isle of Dogs. I noticed it as i was leaving the sqaure, so i whipped round and returned it to him. He was very grateful, but not grateful enough to chuck me a few quid! Never mind, i reckon thats my good deeds for the week sorted.
The work front has been surprisingly decent, much better than a few weeks back. I hope it is a turning point and not just a flash in the pan.
I had been getting involved with the 'Reclaim the work' campaign whenever ive worked nights recently. For anyone not in the cab trade - black cab drivers have been ranking up outside major nightspots in direct competition with minicabs working from the venues in an attempt to give the public a choice, and they usually choose us, obviously! I enjoyed taking work from these drivers who seem to think that a £300 sticker in the back of a Corolla entitles them to the same status as us. So not to be left out now im working days i decided to have a little go at the Hurlingham Club.
Id read on the Legalled Off blog that minicabs were forming a rank at the club, so when i dropped off there on Tuesday i thought id investigate. I found the said rank, which consisted of two minicabs. There was clearly no pre-booking going on as they were standing by their cars waiting to approach people. Illegal! I pulled up behind and waited. Another minicab then joined behind me. Hold on a minute, was i in a minicab rank!! Im not having this i thought, so i pulled around the scab in front and parked up bang outside the entrance. They clearly werent happy and started having a little conference between themselves! I just ignored them and settled in, it was obvious the first people out would be straight in my cab.
Unfortunately nothing stirred for about 15 minutes, so i cut my losses and headed back onto the road. Bit gutted at not having nicked a job there, but as i got back onto the New Kings Road i picked up going to to Victoria Embankment. That soothed me no end!
Be lucky!
Saturday, 13 June 2009
I love Bob Crow
So the RMT union, led by Bob Crow, carried through its threat of a tube strike on Wednesday and Thursday bringing London to a grinding halt and similtaniously lining the pockets of all cabbies! I certainly made the most of a bad situation for most Londoners by putting in decent shifts of both days, and doing pretty well out of it. By the number of cabs on the road it looked like I wasnt the only one! The RMT have a small taxi section - maybe they knew we were having a hard time and thought they'd help us out for a few days!
I literally didnt stop for hours at a time, as one person jumped out another would be in within seconds. First job on Thursday was from London Bridge station, where I spotted a certain Boris Johnson (mayor of London) doing an interview next to a huge taxi queue. Jobs then went: London Bridge station - North Kensington station, from there to Green Park, from there to Euston station, then onto Paddington station etc etc.
Our ex-mayor Ken Livingstone predictably had his say on how he would have prevented the strike. I dont think it has yet registered to him that he is no longer the mayor, as he takes every opportunity to expain how he would have done thing differently. We dont care Ken, we voted you out because we dont want you any more!!
So far I think Boris has done a good job as mayor, but this incident is definately a spot on his record considering one of his pre-election promises was to negotiate a no strike deal with the unions. I saw him get laughed at by Ken on a pre-election TV debate when he put forward this idea. It did seem pretty unlikely to say the least!
When they dont get their way the RMT usually strike again the following week, but so far they havent set a definate date. Come on Bob, what are you waiting for?!!!!
I literally didnt stop for hours at a time, as one person jumped out another would be in within seconds. First job on Thursday was from London Bridge station, where I spotted a certain Boris Johnson (mayor of London) doing an interview next to a huge taxi queue. Jobs then went: London Bridge station - North Kensington station, from there to Green Park, from there to Euston station, then onto Paddington station etc etc.
Our ex-mayor Ken Livingstone predictably had his say on how he would have prevented the strike. I dont think it has yet registered to him that he is no longer the mayor, as he takes every opportunity to expain how he would have done thing differently. We dont care Ken, we voted you out because we dont want you any more!!
So far I think Boris has done a good job as mayor, but this incident is definately a spot on his record considering one of his pre-election promises was to negotiate a no strike deal with the unions. I saw him get laughed at by Ken on a pre-election TV debate when he put forward this idea. It did seem pretty unlikely to say the least!
When they dont get their way the RMT usually strike again the following week, but so far they havent set a definate date. Come on Bob, what are you waiting for?!!!!
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