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It was 728pm. The radio crackled. "Control Control. This is Bravo 129 responding to your last message when you said that any of us who wanted to go on a training/familiarisation drive around the venues were welcome to do so. This is my fourth duty. I haven't had a single passenger in all that time. But I've already spent hours driving around a city I live in and know well simply because there's nothing better to do and I've had enough. May I respectfully decline your last offer to waste yet more of my time and ask if I can go home now please?". Believe me, this was a cry from the heart. No idea who it was who said it. No idea what Control Control replied. And no idea if he ever made it to the other side. There's been mutterings but he's the first one to put it into words.
Change of shift and change of place today. Worked 2pm-12am and was sent to Glasgow airport to help with the flood of visitors that were expected. Didn't even amount to a trickle. I was still there when the breakout incident happened but had just been moved down from the top floor of the car park to the pick-up point. My turn soon!
I was driving a Ford Torneo seven-seater today and my only customers were a jolly bunch of people from the Cayman Islands including the President of their Commonwealth Games board. He thought it was a hoot that I'd never driven in Glasgow before this and ribbed me every time I missed a turning. But we eventually made it to the Glasgow Hilton and we did a lot of high-fives as they left. Thank goodness he didn't ask me if I knew where the Cayman Islands are …..
So job done, I radioed in to ask Control Control what they wanted me to do next. "You can go back to the airport to wait for more clients. Or you can go on a driving/familiarisation ride around the Glasgow venues. It's up to you. Just let us know". I think that's radio-speak for "Don't care". For a fleeting moment I was tempted to ask "What happened to Bravo 129?" but I bottled it.
So I spent the next couple of hours tootling around Glasgow calling in at various venues like Ibrox, Hampden Park and the Emirates Arena. It was a lovely Scottish evening when I started with a brilliant sun in a blue sky. It had started to set by the time I got to the last place: Cathkin Braes where they're going to hold the mountain bike events. I though it was quite isolated and it seemed pretty deserted by the time I got there. Just a few security men dotted around. I got chatting to one of them and they seem to have quite a harsh life. There's nowhere for them to take shelter when it rains as it had the previous evening. And he said when the mists descend it gets really nippy despite it being the middle of summer. What's more, the security company they work for don't provide them with any protective waterproof gear - they have to provide their own. He said he'd be there until 7am tomorrow. I asked him how he spent his time. He pointed and said "I walk there. And then there. Then there. Then I come back here and sit down for a while. And then I do it all over again.
I reckon he'd have taken your arm off if you offered him a job like we have. Swanning around in a posh car in the warm and dry. Might mention it to Bravo 129 if I ever find out who he is. I know the security guy's getting paid and we're volunteers but it makes you think doesn't it?
Night all …. back tomorrow
- comments
Michael Where are the picture of your clients of the venues? Did you get the autographs of the Cayman Islanders? It was a different calculation this time - almost threw me!
pat Even though you not are not busy ,,,,,,,,you still find plenty to say in your blog which I look forward to reading ,,,,,,, all the best for your next duty
Rita Very interesting reading on someone who is doing nothing !!! Rita