Been a quiet week so far so haven't been very far until today. Had a trip to Manchester Airport with a couple going to their house in Southern Spain. They go there about four times a year for a month, lucky things. We had a good journey straight there and back which took just five hours, no hold ups and not too much traffic on the motorway.
Following on with the weather story the other day, I think I got it slightly wrong as we had some rain yesterday which I didn't think was forecast. Not to worry though as I think the gardeners will be pleased. It was cloudy with a bit of sunshine today, but definitely getting cooler. Have also noticed the leaves on the trees are changing colours, I do like seeing all the different colours of Autumn.
Picked up a young Mum today with her two children, got a little worried when she told her daughter to be careful with the fish. I then realised she was carrying tropical fish in a couple of bags. I was glad when they got out and there had been no mishaps. It would have been a bit difficult explaining to the next customers if there were fish flopping around the floor of the taxi!!!

Kept busy last night, for a change everyone wanted to go out and then as usual all wanted to go home at the same time. Ferried the Rotarians around from hotels to Spa and back again, glad they came to Bridlington this weekend as that boosted our takings.
Why is it everyone who gets into the taxi talks about the weather; It's too hot, too cold, too wet, too windy, too misty! What's the weather going to do tomorrow? Haven't we had a terrible summer or haven't we had a glorious summer. When is it going to rain again? Mind you we are rather obsessed with the weather here in England, but just to remind everyone, I am a taxi driver not a meteorologist. If you do want my opinion though, I think it has been a fair summer, lots more sunshine and definitely warmer than last year but with a few days of rain in July and August. Lovely weather now though which should carry on for a couple more weeks I believe (or so the weatherman says on TV!)
Another question which is asked by 99% of my passengers is; 'Have you been busy' my answer is always 'Fairly'. I don't really know if people are generally interested in our business or perhaps they are just being nosey! They also want to know what time I am finishing or when I started which I always think seems odd but maybe they just think they must start a conversation with something. My husband has made a notice which he sometimes puts up in the taxi which says, 'Yes I have been busy and yes I am on all night/day'

I didn't get to write last night as for a change our Friday night was busier than usual. We had a few minibus loads of people going to the Spa from their hotels and back again. There is a Rotary Convention on so we could be busy most of the weekend, have already taken a couple of bus loads this morning and some more booked for tonight.
Had a trip to Manchester Airport yesterday, good journey for a change, roads were busy but no hold-ups. Took a really nice lady who was off to visit her son in Canada, she told me she goes every 18 months but said she didn't know how much longer she would be able to go as she finds it very tiring. She chatted most of the way, about her life in Scotland and then in Lancashire and now Yorkshire. She was very interested to hear about my husband playing the bagpipes!!
Motorway driving can be such a bore so it is great when someone chats.
Why is it when people get on the motorway they think they will get there quicker if they hog the middle or outside lane. I think all motorways should be 4 lanes, 2 for lorries and 2 for cars, invariably when you get to a 4 lane part there are 3 lanes of lorries. Usually the first lane only has one very slow vehicle in it every now and then, very annoying. Another thing why is it when you get to a hold-up you always seem to be in the wrong lane!!!! The other lanes always seem to move faster!!!
Wonder what the rest of today will bring!!

What a beautiful morning, sun shining and very few clouds so up fairly early and a good walk with Pippa before starting work. Great this time of year as there aren't many other people about.
Number of jobs this morning running people to work and into town, to the hospital and to the doctors. Found out what one young girl has bought for her baby already and she still has two months to go. She said her Mum told her not to take the labels off the baby clothes particularly the one's people give her then she can take them back to the shop and exchange them if she doesn't like them or they are the wrong size!!!
They say Yorkshire people are tight. Well I had someone admit that today. I picked up a man and his elderly mother, he said she was in a wheelchair but she could get out and the chair could go in the boot. She did manage in and out of the car but with great difficulty so while on our journey into town he asked about our other vehicle for wheelchairs, I explained how this worked and that it would cost a bit more with it being the minibus. When he phoned to go home again I mentioned that the minibus was available but he said the car would do as although he now lived in New Zealand (for the last 45 years) he was still a tight Yorkshire man and his mother could manage in the car. You would think that he would spoil his Mother while he was here considering he only sees her every five years!!
This evening I have taken the usual lot to the Club to play their weekly game of Bingo. One of them is really tight as well as she will only go if the others are going so she doesn't have to pay full fare. One lady was telling us how she would be away for a while as she was going to Norfork for a few days and then off to France for a fortnight. Then a chap in the car said 'You are always going away, you are like horse muck, spreading yourself all over the place' (said in a strong west Yorkshire accent) I thought is was a really strange thing to say.
Well thats all for today, my husband can do the late jobs and I can get my beauty sleep ready for Manchester Airport tomorrow.

Another day over but today nothing much happened.
Didn't get the job with the crab but maybe something more interesting will come in tomorrow.
The other day an elderly man got into my taxi a little bit worse for wear, and started chatting away. I battled to understand him for a while what with an Irish accent and a few slurred words!!! At one point he asked me if I was married and on replying yes he then wanted to know if I was happily married. I again answered yes and he said 'Pity I could do with a good woman to have at home!' I did feel a little sorry for him as he then proceeded to tell me all his family had abandoned him because of the 'demon drink' however I was quite pleased to deliver him home. He did take a card though as he said he likes to have a woman driving him around!!!
Wonder who will get in my taxi tomorrow.

What to start with on my very first blog! Perhaps to answer the question why am I doing this? Well I have always wanted to write so what better place to start then on my very own blog.
Why am I called Grandmapippie, well you will have to ask my grandson that, but it is probably because my springer spaniel is called Pippa!!
My day started early with the phone ringing cancelling the 6 o'clock pick up, it was only 5 o'clock but I suppose they thought they were being helpful. ( We run a small taxi business which is not 24 hours!!!)
Today being Monday starts off with banking and admin, in between answering the phone and sending my husband out on jobs. As the day progressed I also had to go out and spent some time on the taxi rank.
I enjoy driving which is a good thing and I also enjoy chatting to the clients.
This evening I ended up giving my life history in a matter of 10 minutes just because someone asked me where I came from. People find it hard to trace my accent because I have literally lived all over the place. (In London, Essex, Hertfordshire, Yorkshire, Tyne and Wear and South Africa.)
We have some strange requests occasionally.
I had a query today as to whether we could transport a crab to someones home about 20 miles away, I presume it will be a dead one and in a box. Will find out tomorrow if we get the job.
Sometimes we are asked to do some shopping, booze and cigarettes are common as well as pizzas and chinese meals.
After a busy day it has been great to relax and watch a bit of TV catching up on the weekends viewing.
I am now going to publish this and see hiow it looks.