For LadyJ My Next Attempt to support myself.
Having been traumatised by my foray into the world of Children`s Entertaining it was almost winter before I landed my next job.
On some wasteland near my local shops a little mini cab business opened up. I got chatting to the very nice guy who was absolutely shattered trying to set this up while working so we came to an agreement. I would run the office and be in control of his six cabs during hours to suit me. Wow! What could go wrong? I had a baby sitter for evenings when son was in bed.....perfect. :-)
I can`t recall how long I worked there but don`t remember doing many shifts. Three or four weeks I suppose....until the snow came....I do remember that!
I was having a whale of a time. I loved the words....Charlie,Echo, Bravo, Over and Out and so on. My favourite was MAYDAY! MAYDAY! The drivers made me stop that because it scared the pants of fares when I shouted, "MAYDAY! MAYDAY! A pick up at the Co-0p.
The end came when the snow and freezing temperatures arrived. I had a phone call for a cab to pick up a fare at a pub half way down the steepest hill in the county. A bend half way down and castle walls on one side didn`t help.
I sent Peter, using the shiny radio gadget thing and doing my dramatic over and outs.
Peter didn`t make the bend but he did make the castle wall, in a spectacular fashion. Shaken but alive he contacted me on the shiny radio for help...fool.
I should have phoned the nice owner but what did I do? I sent Ken to rescue Peter and pick up the fare. Ken didn`t make the bend either but did miss the castle wall. Peter`s cab was in the way. One cab wrecked back and front and one cab wrecked front.
Surely she didn`t send another cab you ask? Of course I did. I sent Charlie.
Charlie was slower and made the bend, waving as he went by...missed the pub because he couldn`t stop and ended up at the bottom of the hill in a drift.
The remaining drivers refused to enter into the game so I had to find a phone box (my phone only accepted incoming calls...stupid idea) and tell nice owner who soon became not so nice owner.
"God Almighty!" he shouted. "I only gave you the job because I fancied you! How stupid was I. Three cabs....half my business!"
I hung up, plodded my way back to the office, locked the door, keys under the step and went home.
Peter told me later that not so nice man had to pay for B&B for three drivers at the pub and I suppose the insurance claim was interesting but I was job hunting again....didn`t ask for references though.
And yes I found another job! Two weeks and only one car involved this time so things were looking up. :-)
How are you LadyJ? Gx