Friday, March 28, 2008

My first few hours as a taxi driver

I saw notice in newspaper, that taxi company (Yellow taxi) is looking for a driver. As headquarter is only 2 streets away from me and, as they asked that driver must speak english, I decided to ask there. By phone we arranged meeting next day. "What should I say, how it should be ... ?" , was in my mind. "Well, you have nothing to loose if you ask!" , I was almost angry with me. "Do you have any expiriance as taxi driver?" , "No, not at all!" I said. "But I like to drive , I like to talk with people and I speak englis ..." - we were talking more than 1 hour. Next day I got email to come there so she (YES, she is my boss) could introduce me in company and my work. After about 1 hour (all the time phones of clients were ringing) she said : "So, you would like to try?". "Yes, of cause", I said. She gave me keys of car and said "Let's try this car. Have you already drive automatic?" . I had to think and I remeber, that many years ago i was driving SAAB99 of my uncle - for about 1 hour. We were going to drive (about 15 minutes), she was explaining me everythink about car (in those 15 minutes), about radio station, about taxi meter. And, all the time phone or radio calls. I noticed that my adrenalin level is higher. We came back in office. She put contract and paper with rules on table, saying "Please, read and sign!".
While I was signing, she made coffe for us. After 10 minute she said : "OK, let's go!". I entered the car and waiting, that she should go with me and continueing with teaching me. But, she gave me paper with address and said : "Go to pick up this customer. And, turn on radio station so we shall be in contact ..... ".
"UF! She means it!" I was thinking. So, I was going to pick up my firast customer. It was claudy, rainy and windy day, about 5 degrees (C). In car entered well dressed young woman and told me, that we are in hurry as she is going to a congress XY. We started, I pushed (by accident) one of 'hundreds" buttons on the door. At once my window was opened. I tried to close that window, pushing buttons one by one - all windows were at once opened. "I am sorry", i said, "it seems I am litle confused as I just began to work". "Oh, it is red light , you can stop and try to close wondows". I was pushing buttons. At once she said "Yes, I closed my windows back. Just push this and this button back and we shall amake it." I pushed button and - all doors were locked! I was already worried how we shall manage this situation. After few minutes windows were closed, she brushed her hair as it was very windy in car for last few kilometers. Finaly we came to that congress place. She paid , saying "I am in hurry, I do not need bill, just , please, open those doors." And again those dammed buttons - at once doors opened. I suppose we both were happy as windows were closed and doors opened. "Have a nice day", she said. "I am so sorry ... " I was telling, but she said "Do not worry, you will learn how to close windows and open doors. Everything is OK. We came here in time. Thank you and have a nice day."

PyraBang has eyes on your media!

Thursday, March 27, 2008

Don't eat chocolate while you are with taxi

When i drive at night, I buy me some food and drink and 1 soft chocholad (Mars). When I do not have clients, I can stop in taxi place and eat something or just go out of car. I am getting used that Murphy is confirming with taxists. I can be free for one hour, but when I decide to go out, to take coffe or eat chocolate , phone will ring I must pick up client as soon as possible. I was just taking a piece of that soft chocholad, when (of cause) phone ringed. I seated in car and trying to put that chocholade in my pocked, with other hand i was already writing address where to go. I started and in few minutes I picked up my client. As he had some bags I had to go aout of car to help him. I felt somoething on my seat as I should be gluesd. OK, I helped custumer , I seated back and we reached our address in about 15 minutes. All the time i was feeling strange 'on down site' of my a...
When cklient left, I found out, what was that 'glue'. It was my much more softer chocolate on my seat - lol. It seems that I missed my pocked puting chocholad there. Lucky it was night and next half an hour no clients so I could clean in peace seat and myself.

Tuesday, March 25, 2008

Taxi Story No. 1

At about 5,50 in the morning, when I was supposed to go home, they called me from a hotel that they have two clients (very urgent) to take them to airport. OK, I picked up them (2 black, not thin girls, I suppose from England). They were not in good mood as they were late. I was driving faster to come in time (!?). We came in time and, when I told them how much to pay (26,5 EU by taximeter), they were complaining that they should pay only 16 EU (?!) . Well, they paid me 26 (- 0,50EU) and were running to catch their plain - forgetting to say 'thank you' or something like that. On my way home  I saw 2 plastic bags on back seats. Uf!? - what if they forgot their documents ... I opened bags and - there were 2 reach breakfasts from the hotel.
I ate one breakfast and I can tell you, that I didin't not feel guilty. They were punished - hi hi.
I told this to my boss. I worried a little as our taxi company (Rumeni Taxi, Ljubljana) is known as very honest. If somebody forget something in car, we always try to find owner. But, boss began to laugh saying : "HE punished them , do not worry! Do you still have some of that breakfast - for me?" - of cause she was joking.