No, I'm not about to moan about poor taxi driving etc. I've just had 4 rides in taxis over the last couple of days due to the requirements of work. I'm one of these people that, although it would be nice to sit quietly in the back and watch the world go by, I always seem to end up in conversation.
The first driver (private hire)was a decent enough chap who was keen to tell me about his holidays and the fact that he was going to be flying off on Friday to Tenerife. We also got onto the subject of me cycling to work etc. He was quite interested in this and certainly agreed that no driver/cyclist etc on the road is perfect, even himself.
The second driver (black cab) was a believer in conspiracies. Apparently, all of the private taxi firms in Glasgow have now been taken over by criminals and are used to launder drug money. He told me a story of a company owner who was forced to sell up, after he had initially refused, by said criminals placing a shotgun on the table in front of him. Shocking indeed. We mentioned cycling and he did ask if I run red lights...
The third driver (private hire) actually got onto the subject of cycling as he does a bit himself. He enjoys taking his bike for rides along the canal paths for a wee dander. He hadn't heard of anyone having a shotgun placed on their table...
The last driver (black cab) was very much an east Glasgow chap, with plenty of character. He described how his daughter has bought a house (moving up in the world) and needed plenty of work done on the house. He used to have a trade so he and his mates who also had trades got together and have done a lot of work on the house for beer. He'd do the same for them. He is concerned with the credit crunch as taxi drivers are finding it harder as people are going out less, especially on the weekends leading up to pay day.
I forgot how taking taxis can be a fascinating peek into other peoples lives and how the drivers are more often than not keen to share their life stories.
They all seemed nice chaps, although one came across as a little paranoid! All very different, although they did have one thing in common.....
They all tailgated!
(it was only a little moan at the end!)
The first driver (private hire)was a decent enough chap who was keen to tell me about his holidays and the fact that he was going to be flying off on Friday to Tenerife. We also got onto the subject of me cycling to work etc. He was quite interested in this and certainly agreed that no driver/cyclist etc on the road is perfect, even himself.
The second driver (black cab) was a believer in conspiracies. Apparently, all of the private taxi firms in Glasgow have now been taken over by criminals and are used to launder drug money. He told me a story of a company owner who was forced to sell up, after he had initially refused, by said criminals placing a shotgun on the table in front of him. Shocking indeed. We mentioned cycling and he did ask if I run red lights...
The third driver (private hire) actually got onto the subject of cycling as he does a bit himself. He enjoys taking his bike for rides along the canal paths for a wee dander. He hadn't heard of anyone having a shotgun placed on their table...
The last driver (black cab) was very much an east Glasgow chap, with plenty of character. He described how his daughter has bought a house (moving up in the world) and needed plenty of work done on the house. He used to have a trade so he and his mates who also had trades got together and have done a lot of work on the house for beer. He'd do the same for them. He is concerned with the credit crunch as taxi drivers are finding it harder as people are going out less, especially on the weekends leading up to pay day.
I forgot how taking taxis can be a fascinating peek into other peoples lives and how the drivers are more often than not keen to share their life stories.
They all seemed nice chaps, although one came across as a little paranoid! All very different, although they did have one thing in common.....
They all tailgated!
(it was only a little moan at the end!)
