It doesn't seem to matter what time I have to go to Manchester Airport I always hit some traffic somewhere and then take longer to do the job than anyone else. Well this morning I left home at 6.00am, expecting to hit the rush hour I had allowed 3 hours to get there. But what happened it took me 3 and a half hours!! Typical!! The plane came in early and the customer said she had been waiting an hour. Don't really believe she waited that long as on the board the plane landed at 8.30 and unless it was a miracle I don't think she could of gone through passport control and fetched her baggage that quick. But I didn't argue and just apologised for keeping her waiting and told her about the traffic. Luckily it was a clear run home. She chatted most of the way home about her month long holiday in Barbados, she is hoping to go to America later on in the year. Only one problem she thought she had paid her fare on the way out but she had only given us one way, slight communication problem there as she thought that was the fare for both ways. Anyway she paid me what she owed but I don't think she was very happy. Wonder if she will use us again.

The other day when I was on the rank I took to watching some of the other taxi drivers. One or two of them can get so impatient with each other if they don't move up quickly enough when someone moves off. I thought there was going to be a bit of a punch up at one point but they just decided to shout at each other. One of the problems is that there is a cafe on that road so you have to be very quick running in and getting a cuppa or a sandwich before its time to move up a space or two. It also can get very boring if it is a quiet time which makes it easy to nod off. Some of the drivers have small DVD players or read or just stare into space. I couldn't do it every day, so boring, I ususally just do a few hours on a Saturday now.

It's been a long time but here I am once again. Still driving a taxi and enjoying listening and talking to my customers.

This last week I have taken people to town, to hospital and one person to their son's funeral. That was really sad as she said you don't expect to bury your children. She had her arm in plaster as well apparently she had collapsed and fallen on her arm when she heard the news. It was a long day, not far just to Doncaster, but there was a meal after the funeral which they kindly invited me to as well.

Three pick ups from the rank today. The first elderly gentleman told me he was 96 and had just done the shopping for him and his wife. I asked if he had any relatives to help him but he said sadly no one close, a couple of nephews but they never offered to do the shopping. He had lived in Bridlington all his life, his father had helped on the farm at Sewerby Hall. He also said that when he was a kid and a few of them were fooling around a policeman came along and booted one of them up the backside. They asked why he did that as they hadn't done anything wrong. His answer was that it was for later in case they did. As he got out of my taxi he said he could see it was driven by a woman as it was so clean. Glad I stopped at the car wash this morning!!

Next chap who got in smelt a bit of booze but otherwise seemed OK. Said he had just had his breakfast and was on his way home for a sleep after being on a bender for 3 days!! He had just received a windfall from the taxman and was busy spending it.

Last lady was one of my regulars who seems to spend her days walking into town doing a bit of shopping and then getting a taxi home.

People are so interesting and different and it is amazing what they can tell me in just a few minutes on their way home.