178) I'm a name, not a number
Yes, we have badges with our names on now and I always though my name was ‘Oi you’, you live and learn. I have contemplated changing mine, the options being: Darling, The Artist Formally Known As Prince (to long) Mr H Shipman, Xyzyz (A Chinese national hero or Polish Politician - probably) or ‘Yes I’m late – don’t talk to me’
OK, it’s been a while I admit, it just that nothing exciting has happened for ages or am I tempting fate I wonder.
Now there was that incident the other day, lady got off the bus (I did stop, I’m considerate like that) and she wheeled her shopping trolley off the platform to the pavement below, I guess she had a lot of shopping in it as the rim of one of the wheels parted company from the hub, I saw it happen . . . she didn’t and waved me goodbye, I drove off with a smile (and the bus) wondering how she was going to get home on one wheel?
‘You’ve got a trainee with you this morning’ I was informed the other morning by Control . . . they smiled, I smiled back (but mine wasn’t real). Now we all have to start somewhere, I remembered those early days too well. ‘Can he drive’ I asked, this may sound a little strange but it has been known for the odd trainee to have no sense of direction and spend chunks of the day reversing a bus out of people’s driveways as in . . Turn right here . . . no, I meant where that road is not immediately in to someone’s garden . . . bless.
My concerns were unfounded however, he was keen, confident and a lot bigger than me.
I spent the first couple of rounds riding on the platform which is like standing on the deck of a small boat wearing roller skates pretending your in full control of your legs knowing the passengers behind are watching and thinking ‘why are there two drivers, perhaps one’s good at turning left and the other at turning right’. These first trips were uneventful. By trip three I was sitting behind him (not on the same seat I should add) out of sight, it takes a bit of the pressure off him, I did shout out ‘MY GOD WE’RE GOING TO CRASH’ a couple of times but he was unfazed. Trip four found me halfway down the bus enjoying the ride, listening to the old ladies gossip which made me realise why I like it up front, at one point Paul Gadd tried to get on but he told him he wasn’t welcome here
8 comments:
That reminds me of when I was going for my HR licence, what you need in Australia to drive trucks. My instructor got a call on his mobile, something about a bluecard course. The bluecard is what you need here to work on construction sites, it's basically an OH&S qualification. He asked if any of the guys on the course could read. It really put things into perspective, especially when you consider I was a university student learning to drive a truck.
Steve: Doing a quick survey at work I discovered that we have an ex banker, a couple of retired policemen a driving instructor that has a degree in philosophy and I can't imagine what other 'skills' the work force has . . and they drive buses, make me wonder at times.
‘why are there two drivers? I always thought they came in three's!!
Paul - It's like the old cold war joke about Russian police - why do they come in threes? "one can read, one can write, and the other is to watch the two dangerous intellectuals!"
Jimmy - We get "action drives". Yep. Newly minted drivers out of training, and like you, we're like a spare wotsit on the footplate, merely muttering out "turn left here" "Turn right here" "TRAFFIC LIGHTS!!!" etc. the fun starts when they turn the wheel the wrong way, and try to go down one way streets the wrong way, having "misheard" your directions.
Oddly enough I've not had an Action Drive since I got back of sick leave.
Wonder why that is? *evil grin*
Brings to mind an instructor who had a great answer to "Why are there two drivers?" He said "I'm the instructor; he's the student. I drive the outbound leg and then we switch and see if he can find his way back."
Are we all gonna get them name badges? We dont have em as yet up in east midlands
Bloody hell...they're labelling the stuff now!
My other badge says 'If lost return to . . .'
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