Rearview or rearend?

I can't remember the last time I went out on a Saturday night, what with it being a taxi driver's busiest night. But needs must, it was my brothers stag night and as his best man I was tasked with; ensuring that he had a good time (got pissed) and getting him home safely. Anyway if I can say so, I believe that I succeeded on both counts.

What was interesting was getting into a taxi at approx 3am this morning. Instead of looking in horror at the thing (my brother) that was shovelled inside the cab, this time I was doing the shovelling. Does this give me a better insight into how I perceive my night-time customers? Unfortunately not. Why? Because I paid extra; took him home safely through the front door and then asked the driver take me home.

Anyway forgetting all that boring stuff......

Although I have not posted for a while, I have been following Thanet's blogs with interest during the last year and a half. I was disturbed about Micheal's comments http://http//thanetonline.blogspot.com/2010/05/thanet-blogs-and-some-ramsgate-pictures.html regarding the lack of bloggers in Thanet, and I felt the need to dust of my blogger password.

As always though I will be hoping that Chinese planes will be skimming the roof of a new hotel on the old pleasurama site at Ramgate, that the Turner Centre and a re-vamped Dreamland kickstarts the regeneration of Margate. Also that Thanet will offer decent jobs for its working population and cease to become a Londoner's retirement village, where the only jobs available to the locals is wiping OAP's arses.

Bah Humbug

I can't believe that it has already been a month since my last post. I am not going to bore you with the sordid details, but it has been a pretty miserable month.

So I have decided to post this today as a sign of intent for the new year. I am not going to post negative thoughts over the Christmas period, instead I am going to post positive ones in the new year.

So to everyone in blogland, Happy (bah) Christmas!

Beware!

If you read Sods law you will know that I was a little bit poorly, as it turned out Mrs Taxi Driver was wrong (I nearly died). Sorry to disappoint you all, but I'm still here and normal service has resumed.

This weekend; 'broke UK' officially started celebrating Xmas, I picked up the first of the seasonal party animals. Although allegedly having no money, they still managed to find enough to get drunk, spew everywhere, throw insults and try to shag their best mate's partner.

Anyway, try and remember that when you get your cab this Xmas, the driver will be sober (hopefully). He will remember what you say, what you do and what you want to do, maybe just maybe it will end up on the WWW

Sods law!

After three weeks off work, I thought it would be a good idea to make an effort yesterday and show my face. In my defence all the drivers I spoke to have said business was slow, they have described the Thanet town centre's as ghost town's. Before anybody reads to much into this, October is traditionally slow for our trade, hence why I always take some time off.

A very busy day, with plenty of people out day and night. The opening of the new toy store Smyths added a new string to the Westwood Cross bow, trade looked brisk all day, good luck to them. I'm not sure Tesco and Sainsbury will have a similar view, the roundabout between the two was jammed all day. The problem is there is no right turn into Smyths for traffic heading towards Ramsgate, they have to go to the roundabout and do a U-turn.

Last night saw my taxi full of Witches, Zombies, Horny devil's and even a pumpkin. I have a neutral view on Halloween, as it is an American concept that wasn't particularly popular when I grew up. However adults and kids alike seem to spend a great deal of money on their costumes, the results were quite spectacular. One criticism would be parents letting very young children (u8's) roam the streets trick or treating, with no adult supervision. Dark evenings and black costumes on children running between parked cars, is enough to give this taxi driver a premonition of doom.

Sods law- I take three weeks off work and return yesterday. I wake up this morning with Flu. Luckily for me Mrs Taxi driver thinks its only Man Flu!

Then and now

It appears that some of Thanet's blogging community are beginning to show their true colours.

Maciegrace the staunch defender of Margate, has admitted that she finds its population rude and ill mannered.

Rick is getting praise for his Sherlock Holmes impersonation, although there is still passionate pleas for 'brevity' in his chronicles.

Matt of the Thanet Star is not actually a blogger, but a highly paid salesperson for that small corporation Google.

The hypocrite Taxi driver, accusing bloggers of promoting issues like Chinagate above more important issues. Then posting on Chinagate, thus getting more comments than on any other previous post.

ECR our resident Plane spotting, council bashing, defender of the Eastcliff in Ramsgate has spat his dummy out of the pram (if you are prepared to dish it out, be prepared to accept it).


However if you are looking for consistency type 'naked Thanet' or 'aquifer Thanet' into google and our very own Peter and Michael are in the top 5 (varies) results.

A step forward for Thanet.

With the planning application for the China Gateway finally approved, I can't help but think this is a victory for the silent majority against the vocal minority.

All that Thanet needs now is for the Airport's expansion plans to come to fruitation, and hopefully Planet Fanet will not become a retirement village.

Malmesbury, not in India.

In the day and age of poor customer service, I am happy to say that I have found a British company to rave about.

Dyson.

I ordered a spare part off the internet, this promptly arrived after 5 days. As it turned out I had ordered the wrong part, so I phoned the customer helpline. At this point I was sweating and shaking with trepidation at speaking to an Indian call centre and being placed on hold for 30 minutes, then when answered me not understanding the person on the other end and vice versa.

But Linda answers within 3 rings, introduces herself and asks how she can help (I nearly fell off the sofa). Within 5 minutes she has identified the correct part, explained I could have it FOC (5 year guarantee). Gives me a free post address to return the part that I incorrectly ordered, and told me that I would get a full refund. The call centre is open 7am to 10pm, 7 days a week.

All I need now is Dyson to supply my gas, electric, internet, phone, etc etc etc.