I had heard about this from a selection of Taxi Drivers:

In Glasgow, some kind of unpublicised work idea for asylum seekers ( EDIT: actually Katie pointed out they are immigrants, asylum seekers are not allowed to work.. ), Glasgow City Council are offering non English speakers the chance to become private hire drivers with the freebie of SatNav and a translator sitting in the passenger seat.

Im all for a multi cultural society, but this is not right. Regardless of colour or creed, I wouldnt feel comfortable being in a taxi with two men, one who is behind the wheel and cant speak English. How could he read and understand our roadsigns? Surely it would be more logical for a would be taxi driver immigrant to undertake some sort of English course?

A lot of women certainly would not go into a car with two strange men.. Racist taxi drivers are having a field day with this absolute nugget from Glasgow City Council and I have to listen to thier filth on some mornings..

UPDATE: I have been informed that this may not be exactly a Council idea...

Taxi Drivers. Curious people..

Stephen: Busy tonight?

Taxi Driver: Aye, well.. naw. No really. Well, when a say no really, its been raining and its been causing a bit of floods so naw. No really busy big man.

Stephen: Okay. One of them nights then?

Taxi Driver: Aye. Workin the night then?

Stephen: Yes, my liver. Working it overtime with fine red wine.

Taxi Driver: Yer no fae Edinburgh are ye?

—- ( This is the point where I now try to become cold and slient ) ————-

Stephen: No. Ive been always here. Forever here. Today, yesterday and tommorow.

Taxi Driver: Fair doos.

—— ( I have shut him up ) —————–

Taxi Driver: A wis reading aboot the Blair wan saying we are all doomed. Like in oor lifetime.

Stephen ( Becoming interested ) Oh yeah. Its old news that. 20 years too old.

Taxi Driver: Aye. We is gonna see disasters. Flooding. Dae ye know what that means big man?

Stephen: No?

Taxi Driver: Mere fuckin immigrants!

——————

Oh god, another racist taxi driver. I love Taxi Drivers. Yes I do. The non racist ones.

——————–

The conversation became rather one sided and I shut off until the following:

Taxi Driver: Its awright fur Bush n company. They have special spaceships in which they can escape intae space if sumthing bad happens tae the climate. There is space stations fill of plants tae make oxygen so they can live long.

—————————-

I usually travel around these days by taxi, especially in the evenings as the current operators of the dear green place’s buses are unreliable.

However, after my final hospital visit, I did not have enough money on me for the return journey home, so I walked along Alexandra Parade to find the nearest ATM. Unfortunately it was out of order which forced me to go on a pilgrimage to Duke Street where there are ATMs a plenty.

Duke Street these days is not the same place where I spent my school lunchtimes. Now its infested with youths who just wish to cause trouble with anyone who walks by them on their street corner or bus shelter. It no longer has any soul, and it made me feel a bit uneasy.

As I waited for a taxi, I realised I couldn’t be bothered with waiting, especially as I saw the bus which could get me home ready to stop at the bus stop. So I decided to get the bus home.

The bus was empty for most of the journey and as it neared my destination, the bus ground to a sudden stop and the bus driver came out of his cabin and looked rather worried and upset.

The good curious Samaritan in me asked him if anything was wrong. In a Polish accent he replied ‘ I am so sorry, I do not know where I am going. ‘

If your a passenger on a bus, and the driver mentions he doesn’t know where he is going, then I guess like me, you would be rather concerned and a tad annoyed at the revelation above. First Bus are recruiting foreign drivers ( especially from Poland ) which is a nice idea and rather refreshing from the usual grumpy Glaswegian drivers one has to put up with these days.

Anyway. The driver was a young chap, and he seemed to be distressed. I told him to calm down and to give me his route timetable. I had a quick glance over it and told him that he was 10 mins early so I could easily show him the way to the terminus without rushing.

He was thankful for this and I wished him well in his job after we arrived at the terminus.

I thought that First Bus would immerse their foreign drivers in Glasgow routes before being allowed on the roads. I dread to think what would have happened during rush hour. More than likely, that poor driver would have been abused either verbally or physically.

Now, I remember the halcyon days of the GPTE and the Corporation. Beautiful dressed buses in splendid colours, always clean and tidy. More importantly, the were usually on time.

Why do some things have to change?

It was a strange day travelling around Glasgow using public transport. Firstly, the bus was on time this morning for the first time ever. ( You just know its going to be one of those days when that happens.. )

Secondly: waiting for the bus this evening, I encountered a twenty something non educated delinquent wannabe standing next to me at the bus stop, slurping out of a two pint milk carton.

I think he wanted to drink the hard stuff before the kids drink that was the four cans of Miller snug in his shopping bag. Anyway, back to the transport link. A number 38 bus comes by and almost fails to stop due to his lateness in sticking his hand out.

The bus grinded to a halt, the man child walks past me and mutters ‘ If that bus didnae stoap ah wid hiv knoacked fuck oot eh ye! ‘

I did not flinch, nor did I speak. I gave him the evil eye and he quickly went on the bus.

Whenever I see men like him, I wish they brought back National Service.

The third strange thing happened on the bus I get home. As the bus kept stopping to let off passengers, 1 out of 2 passengers tapped me on the shoulder and said ‘ Does that one penny piece belong to you? ‘

There was a 1p sitting next to me on the bus. It did not come from my wallet. I denied everything to the caring passengers who worried for my financial wellfare.

I’m too damn honest. I never picked that 1p and kept it. It is still lying on the bus no doubt. Sad, lonely and cold for Xmas.

Perhaps one day, I shall look back on my life and wonder what life would have been like if I lied and grabbed the penny. I shall also look back on that journey as I will remember it as at journey’s end I was greeted by my mother who had a big smile on her face as she came home to us with a fish supper.

The smile on her face removed any feelings of worry or emotional
tiredness Ive had recently.

I never thought that would have happened.

All good things must come to an end. It is the price we all pay in the progress of life.

How true the above was when one of the icons of modern day culture and life has now disappeared into the history books and will make trips that will never end in the minds of the people who loved them.

Well, I’m talking about the demise of London’s famous red Routemaster buses. More info here

A sad day for transport enthusiasts around the world.

Am I a sad bus enthusiast? Kind of.. kind of. I don’t stand about on busy streets taking pictures of buses or take notes of their routes and timetables. I admire the design of buses. The sound of their hard working engines, and the interiors. Ever since I was a child Ive been strangely fascinated by buses. (more…)