What am I writing? On 18 Dec'06, I wrote "Nothing really interesting to write this time round but I do want to bring out an interesting incident on 12 Dec'06." If it's not interesting why did I post it on the blog. Actually, it should have been penned as, "Nothing really interesting to write this time round but I do want to bring out an incident on 12 Dec'06." Okay, now that I have corrected my statement I will move on to a new topic.
It's been raining cats & dogs over the past few days non-stop. Of particular concern is the road safety. The roads all over Singapore are wet and some areas were flooded. On 19 Dec'06 I was on my way to the airport at about 6.30am from Hillview Avenue. Along the way on the PIE near Bedok, the visibility was so bad at only up to 35 to 50m that I was reduced to driving at 50 to 60km/h. When I returned on 19 Dec'06 night to sleep for the next day's duty, my wife told me that news of taxi bookings and fare takings (according to a cab driver interviewed) had gone up by 20% and 10% respectively. I can agree with the first statement on the bookings but totally disagree with the second statement. Either the cab driver is lucky to have not been caught in the many slow traffic or he's just plain looking for attention (if that's the case, he deserved a fat lip). If I had been interviewed, it would be a different story. I was caught in many slow moving traffics and traffic jams that the actual fare takings were reduced. More bookings yes, more income, no.
Some cab drivers are really getting to the nerves of their fellow cabbies. On 18 Dec'06 I received an advance booking for a pick up to the airport at Swettenham Road. I arrived at the pick up point about 10 minutes early. The booking was for 2 taxis. One normal, one Maxicab. The Maxicab arrived 5 minutes after I did. From the sight of the bungalow and the many luxury cars in the garage in that District 9, this is a very rich family. However, my fellow cab driver wasn't that happy. Because it's raining non-stop? Because they have many luggages, 4 bigs ones and 4 small ones? Well, the instruction was to load all the big ones in the Maxicab and small ones to mine. He sure wasn't happy to pick up this family. They were on their way to Europe for a family hoilday. I envied them but not jealous. I wish I could afford it. One day, just one day I may be able to afford it. I will start saving now, it's not too late.
He kept on mumbling aloud that they are rich and uttered (+-*/ASTD)obsene words aloud which are quite audible (I am not sure if the maids and owner overheard it because it's within hearing dstance) and asked me to start the meter now since they are rich and won't mind the few cents. He had already started the meter when he arrived. Hey, that's not the way to earn extra few cents and I don't want to be pressured into something that's ethically not right. I also don't want to end up having coffee with LTA over the few cents. We are supposed to start the meter only when the passenger/s is on board and have told us the destination. So they may be rich, but that doen't mean that we can do what we want. Where is the integrity? Sheez, this behaviour can only further tarnish cab drivers' reputation which already in not in favour from the public. We may have some black sheep amongst us, but I do belief this one takes the cake.
Well, I am taking a rest for the time being and will be back soon to continue on my daily adventure.
Thursday, 21 December 2006
Monday, 18 December 2006
Fred On The Move
Wow, didn't realise I have not written anything since 5 Dec'06. That's a long time. Guess I am pretty busy with my other personal things or I am just plain tired because of the coming festive season.
Nothing really interesting to write this time round but I do want to bring out an interesting incident on 12 Dec'06. I received an advance booking on 11 Dec'06 to pick up a passenger at Raffles Town Club (RTC) on 12 Dec'06 at 7.15am. I set off early at about 6.30am from home hoping to pick up a fare before the appointed time. As I drove along Bt Batok Ave 6 towards Jln Jurong Kechil, Anak Bukit and Bt Timah Road, my hopes started to fade as I near my appointed place RTC. Okay, I am a bit early at 6:45am. I did the next best thing and that is to take a rest as I have only 4 1/2 hours sleep the night before. I tried but couldn't sleep in the cab. Oh well, might as well do some stretching exercises to loosen up the muscles.
When the appointed time is due, a lady is waiting somewhere near the door entrance for her, presumably husband to check out at the counter. Actually, I didn't realise that RTC has guest rooms until the doorman told me there are 40 rooms. So embarrassing. Cab driver and yet don't know.
What made me record this is that not more that 15 words were exchanged between me and the couple throughout the journey. As the man approach my cab, I greeted him as usual. The following are the excerpts.
Me: "Morning Sir"
Man: Nodded his head and said "ehmm"
I then help him to load his 2 luggage bags. At that moment, the lady also approach my cab and boarded from the left. The man didn't realise she had boarded on the left and also proceeded to board on the left but soon realised his wife is already inside. He then proceed to board on the right.
Me: "Which Terminal Sir"
Man: "Terminal 2"
As we moved off, throughout the entire 25 minutes journey, there was this deafening sound of silence. I dared not speak a word from the body language I observed of the couple. The couple were not even speakng to each other. Fortunately, I have my trusty radio to accompany me and equalise the environment, if not it would be a torture.
We reached Terminal 2 at about 7:45am. The man asked, "how much?" "$21.30", I said. "Receipt please", he said. "Sure", I said and I proceeded to print it.
Boy, such was the mood of some people. So serious early in the morning. Understandably, most people tend to be more serious in the early morning rush hour. The afternoons tend to be more relaxed as I have observed. Possibly because it's after work and the stress level has gone down.
Well, I got to log off for now as the time approaches for me to prepare for my next shift work coming up at 12noon. I still make a quick run to the barber at about this time.
I'LL BE BACK!!!
Cheers.
Nothing really interesting to write this time round but I do want to bring out an interesting incident on 12 Dec'06. I received an advance booking on 11 Dec'06 to pick up a passenger at Raffles Town Club (RTC) on 12 Dec'06 at 7.15am. I set off early at about 6.30am from home hoping to pick up a fare before the appointed time. As I drove along Bt Batok Ave 6 towards Jln Jurong Kechil, Anak Bukit and Bt Timah Road, my hopes started to fade as I near my appointed place RTC. Okay, I am a bit early at 6:45am. I did the next best thing and that is to take a rest as I have only 4 1/2 hours sleep the night before. I tried but couldn't sleep in the cab. Oh well, might as well do some stretching exercises to loosen up the muscles.
When the appointed time is due, a lady is waiting somewhere near the door entrance for her, presumably husband to check out at the counter. Actually, I didn't realise that RTC has guest rooms until the doorman told me there are 40 rooms. So embarrassing. Cab driver and yet don't know.
What made me record this is that not more that 15 words were exchanged between me and the couple throughout the journey. As the man approach my cab, I greeted him as usual. The following are the excerpts.
Me: "Morning Sir"
Man: Nodded his head and said "ehmm"
I then help him to load his 2 luggage bags. At that moment, the lady also approach my cab and boarded from the left. The man didn't realise she had boarded on the left and also proceeded to board on the left but soon realised his wife is already inside. He then proceed to board on the right.
Me: "Which Terminal Sir"
Man: "Terminal 2"
As we moved off, throughout the entire 25 minutes journey, there was this deafening sound of silence. I dared not speak a word from the body language I observed of the couple. The couple were not even speakng to each other. Fortunately, I have my trusty radio to accompany me and equalise the environment, if not it would be a torture.
We reached Terminal 2 at about 7:45am. The man asked, "how much?" "$21.30", I said. "Receipt please", he said. "Sure", I said and I proceeded to print it.
Boy, such was the mood of some people. So serious early in the morning. Understandably, most people tend to be more serious in the early morning rush hour. The afternoons tend to be more relaxed as I have observed. Possibly because it's after work and the stress level has gone down.
Well, I got to log off for now as the time approaches for me to prepare for my next shift work coming up at 12noon. I still make a quick run to the barber at about this time.
I'LL BE BACK!!!
Cheers.
Tuesday, 5 December 2006
Fred On The Move
Sunday night on 3 Dec'06 was a night to remember. I pick a passenger (guy) from Terminal 2 around 11pm and was asked to go to Brooke Road. I scratched my head and asked him foolishly if he could guide me there. He was very kind and told me to drive along Marine Parade Road and it's near Paramount Hotel. Ok. I know where Paramount is. Along the way we chatted about as usual how cab driving is and as usual I told him I only started cab driving a month ago and is unable to know where all these small roads are. We also touch on the impending Christmas which is just round the corner and that this year it seems the celebration had started earlier with the Orchard Road decorations up well in advance. Possibly about 1.5 months ahead. Told him many cab drivers will try to avoid Orchard Road because of the heavy traffic. Can't blame us. We are just doing what normal humans do. And that is to make a decent living. If we are caught in the jam, our earnings would drop drastically. I have been fortunate that so far, all the passengers I picked are kind and helpful. But this is not the part to remember. The story below is.
After dropping him at this place, I pick a quite good looking young lady waiting outside his condominium gate for a cab. For a while, I thought she was a Chinese national. She boarded my cab and wants to go to Choa Chu Kang Avenue 5. Okay, she's not a Chinese national from her accent. Then she dropped a bomb as I started to drive. "Uncle, are you married?" It was like, Huh!!!. I remained calm and told her, "Yes, I am married with 2 beautiful daughters (both in NUS) and have a wonderful wife." "How do you and your wife talk to each other and do you ever quarrel?" Wah, asked so personal questions. Then it dawn on me that she is probably facing some personal problems in her life. I told her in marriage, both spouses have to learn to give and take, be tolerant, patient and forgiving. In my case, I told her I am the one who always give way to my wife because she has a temper. However, after her cancer treatment, she has cooled down considerably. I briefly told her my marriage history and asked her to give in to her husband if possible because he could be facing some personal problems that he didn't want to confide to her.
She said has been married for only 10 months and cracks are beginning to appear because of her husband's jealousy. She work in a local bank, UOB and her husband in an engineering company and he is an ITE graduate. She complained about her husband's lack of understanding and jealousy, often queried her why she come back from work so late at between 7 to 8pm and suspects that she is having an affair outside (starts to sob). "Hello", she said, "I worked at Raffles Place and stayed in Choa Chu Kang and he expects me to be back by 6.30pm. I finish work at 6pm if I am lucky, if not sometimes would finish work at about 8pm. The train ride alone takes about an hour plus not forgetting she also has to take a feeder bus home from CCK MRT station." I agreed with her that the hourney home from Raffles Place to CCK will require at least 1.5 hours.
She complained about her husband's lack of support for her and always listens to his mother. Generally, she has no freedom of speech. At one time during a quarrel, she asked her husband why he married her if he so detest her now after only 10 months of marriage. At this point, I suggested that she and her husband seek a marriage counseller to see how best to salvage their marriage. She mentioned they have already done so but her husband give a smirk remark that the marriage counsellers always support the woman. She also mentioned her husband recently bought a car, this despite his insufficient capability to support the car, not to mention the family. He also owns a motorbike. I told her it's probably he needs the car for his work but she said no because he rides the motorbike to work and only drive the car during the weekends. Just last week, her husband wanted to change the car's tyre. She asked him why and he simply says the new tyres looked better. "God, such a waste of money despite the fact that he is incapable of supporting both the bike and car and I had to chip in", she said. It was then at this point that she mentioned her husband is a Malay. And she had already converted to become a Muslim. She can't fall back on her family for support as her family has all along disapprove of her marriage to a Malay. There was a time, as she mentioned her husband said something about her having no one to turn to as her family is not even on talking terms with her. So if he sometimes don't talk to her, who will?
She says her marriage is already at a point of no return as she discovered and was at one point in time comtemplating suicide. Told her that it is a foolish thought and that we have to face life head-on and not avoid it. Not that I am trying to encourge her to separate, short of divorce, I suggest she moved out and allow a cooling down period of say 3 to 6 months to decide whether to carry on with the marriage or part ways. As she is only 23 (her husband is 10 years older), I personally belief she has a much better future ahead than she think. She mentioned she is beyond that capability (financially because of the housing and others loans) and now regrets not carrying on the friendship with her former boyfriend (local Chinese)who loves her a lot. I told her ultimately, she has to make a decision for herself and should not be under any influence. She has to think things over carefully and try to have a calm and serious face to face talk with her husband. I wish I could help but I know I can't.
I am not qualified to be a marriage counseller but I belief what I suggested to her (the staying apart trial period) is generally correct and that she has to face her future head-on. She has to plan her path from now on and make her own decision wisely. She mentioned maybe she is not that good looking. When we reached her place, she paid me the fare and as I returned her the changes, I turned to look at her and told her, "You are not bad looking, so be confident about yourself, goodnight and don't think too much." She smiled and thanked me for listening to her problems and closed the door.
As I drove off, my thoughts of her problems still fill my mind and even until this moment as I penned her sad story. In life, sometimes it is a gamble in whatever things we do, but I think the biggest gamble is with marriage. I always thought it would be good to study the family background of your loved ones before committing to a marriage. Of course sometimes it is not necessarily true that your loved ones will behave like their family. But it is only a guide and I often told my daughters to open their eyes wide before committing to a relationship. Because during courtship, many couples tend to tolerate each other because they are in love. It is good, I think, to encourage your partner to be open with whatever problems or issues they are uncomfortable with and be frank about it rather than sweeping it under the carpet. We never know what lies in the future but we will know what lies under the carpet if we don't plan for it and discover to our horror all the sickening things under it. I think life can be better if partners are forthcoming about issues at hand. Being honest with each other would strengthen the marriage and bonding of each other.
Until then, my clock has just chimed and telling me it's time for bed. I will continue with some other stories if I find it newsworthy.
Goodnight!
fred
After dropping him at this place, I pick a quite good looking young lady waiting outside his condominium gate for a cab. For a while, I thought she was a Chinese national. She boarded my cab and wants to go to Choa Chu Kang Avenue 5. Okay, she's not a Chinese national from her accent. Then she dropped a bomb as I started to drive. "Uncle, are you married?" It was like, Huh!!!. I remained calm and told her, "Yes, I am married with 2 beautiful daughters (both in NUS) and have a wonderful wife." "How do you and your wife talk to each other and do you ever quarrel?" Wah, asked so personal questions. Then it dawn on me that she is probably facing some personal problems in her life. I told her in marriage, both spouses have to learn to give and take, be tolerant, patient and forgiving. In my case, I told her I am the one who always give way to my wife because she has a temper. However, after her cancer treatment, she has cooled down considerably. I briefly told her my marriage history and asked her to give in to her husband if possible because he could be facing some personal problems that he didn't want to confide to her.
She said has been married for only 10 months and cracks are beginning to appear because of her husband's jealousy. She work in a local bank, UOB and her husband in an engineering company and he is an ITE graduate. She complained about her husband's lack of understanding and jealousy, often queried her why she come back from work so late at between 7 to 8pm and suspects that she is having an affair outside (starts to sob). "Hello", she said, "I worked at Raffles Place and stayed in Choa Chu Kang and he expects me to be back by 6.30pm. I finish work at 6pm if I am lucky, if not sometimes would finish work at about 8pm. The train ride alone takes about an hour plus not forgetting she also has to take a feeder bus home from CCK MRT station." I agreed with her that the hourney home from Raffles Place to CCK will require at least 1.5 hours.
She complained about her husband's lack of support for her and always listens to his mother. Generally, she has no freedom of speech. At one time during a quarrel, she asked her husband why he married her if he so detest her now after only 10 months of marriage. At this point, I suggested that she and her husband seek a marriage counseller to see how best to salvage their marriage. She mentioned they have already done so but her husband give a smirk remark that the marriage counsellers always support the woman. She also mentioned her husband recently bought a car, this despite his insufficient capability to support the car, not to mention the family. He also owns a motorbike. I told her it's probably he needs the car for his work but she said no because he rides the motorbike to work and only drive the car during the weekends. Just last week, her husband wanted to change the car's tyre. She asked him why and he simply says the new tyres looked better. "God, such a waste of money despite the fact that he is incapable of supporting both the bike and car and I had to chip in", she said. It was then at this point that she mentioned her husband is a Malay. And she had already converted to become a Muslim. She can't fall back on her family for support as her family has all along disapprove of her marriage to a Malay. There was a time, as she mentioned her husband said something about her having no one to turn to as her family is not even on talking terms with her. So if he sometimes don't talk to her, who will?
She says her marriage is already at a point of no return as she discovered and was at one point in time comtemplating suicide. Told her that it is a foolish thought and that we have to face life head-on and not avoid it. Not that I am trying to encourge her to separate, short of divorce, I suggest she moved out and allow a cooling down period of say 3 to 6 months to decide whether to carry on with the marriage or part ways. As she is only 23 (her husband is 10 years older), I personally belief she has a much better future ahead than she think. She mentioned she is beyond that capability (financially because of the housing and others loans) and now regrets not carrying on the friendship with her former boyfriend (local Chinese)who loves her a lot. I told her ultimately, she has to make a decision for herself and should not be under any influence. She has to think things over carefully and try to have a calm and serious face to face talk with her husband. I wish I could help but I know I can't.
I am not qualified to be a marriage counseller but I belief what I suggested to her (the staying apart trial period) is generally correct and that she has to face her future head-on. She has to plan her path from now on and make her own decision wisely. She mentioned maybe she is not that good looking. When we reached her place, she paid me the fare and as I returned her the changes, I turned to look at her and told her, "You are not bad looking, so be confident about yourself, goodnight and don't think too much." She smiled and thanked me for listening to her problems and closed the door.
As I drove off, my thoughts of her problems still fill my mind and even until this moment as I penned her sad story. In life, sometimes it is a gamble in whatever things we do, but I think the biggest gamble is with marriage. I always thought it would be good to study the family background of your loved ones before committing to a marriage. Of course sometimes it is not necessarily true that your loved ones will behave like their family. But it is only a guide and I often told my daughters to open their eyes wide before committing to a relationship. Because during courtship, many couples tend to tolerate each other because they are in love. It is good, I think, to encourage your partner to be open with whatever problems or issues they are uncomfortable with and be frank about it rather than sweeping it under the carpet. We never know what lies in the future but we will know what lies under the carpet if we don't plan for it and discover to our horror all the sickening things under it. I think life can be better if partners are forthcoming about issues at hand. Being honest with each other would strengthen the marriage and bonding of each other.
Until then, my clock has just chimed and telling me it's time for bed. I will continue with some other stories if I find it newsworthy.
Goodnight!
fred
Friday, 1 December 2006
Fred On The Move
Ok. I was resting yesterday for half a day from 1pm but I wasn't resting today as I have some personal errands to do from 11am to 3pm. Then I did some exercise on my Oto machine follow by shower. By the time I finish my personal hygene, it was already close to 5pm. I settled down in my trusty steamer chair and napped for something like an hour 20 minutes. That's enough to charge up my body for my next storytelling.
Last Tuesday (28 Nov'06) was quite interesting when I picked up 3 people (2 caucasians - a lady and a man and a local chinese lady. All of them in the 30's) from The Concourse at about 1.20pm. They mentioned this must be their lucky day. Usually they can't find a cab waiting at the taxi stand. Along the way they were all pretty excited about the coming Christmas, seeing that they bought lots of Christmas stuff and decorations. The caucasians were the more chatty of the 3. The poor local chinese lady couldn't join in the chat as she knows nothing about all the singers mentioned. They were all talking about singers in the 70's and 80's. Then they talked about the BeeGees and mentioned Barry & Robin Gibb and Andy Gibb (the youngest of the 4 brothers who died from drug overdose in the late 80's or early 90's) but they couldn't recall the name of the other brother. I knew it was Maurice Gibbs but just kept it to myself as I don't want to be viewed as a busybody. Most of the time, I would try to strike up a conversation with the passengers but this time round, I concentrated on my driving seeing the excitment and noise created by the caucasians. On reaching their destination and after the fare was paid, I simply told the caucasian lady that the missing person they are looking for in the BeeGees is Maurice. She was as usual, excited and quickly told her male counterpart that the taxi uncle says it's Maurice that they have forgotten and laughs. Hey, this taxi uncle knows a bit of oldies you know. LOL.
Some passengers are just being either naive or greedy. I picked up an elderly Malay mother and daughter from IMM to Teban Gardens at about 10pm. Along the way, I conversed with them in Malay and they were surprised that I am quite good at the language. Told them I studied Malay during my primary school days and passed but flopped my chinese. All of us just LOL. When we reach the destination. The elderly lady asked if she can keep one of the magazines at the back of the seat pocket. Feeling bad, I told her to go ahead. My partner and I provides magazines (not new ones of course) for passengers' reading pleasure. On another occasion, I have reason to belief one of the passengers either my partner or me picked up in the night took 2 of my magazines which is Oct'06 issue with Nicholas Tse and another with a beautiful lady (can't remember the magazine's name). Some people are just plain inconsiderate. They should at least ask if they can keep it though the answer may possibly be no as it is for other passengers' reading pleasure.
Then later in the night at about 10.20pm, I received a current booking to pick somebody from PSB Annexe Building Lobby. I went in through PSB's main entrance and waited foolishly at the lobby without looking at the building's name. Three minutes into the wait, I decided to step out to stretch my legs and arms and happen to glance up at the signage and realised that I am at the wrong place. I quickly drove out and proceeded to drive forward to the next building but found the road leading to it blocked. I drove out again to the main road and found the gentleman waiting at the lobby. Phew! Luckily I wasn't late and just made it in time. This gentleman wants to go to Keypoint at Jalan Sultan. On reaching there, he realised that he did not have enough money and asked me to wait for him while he go to the ATM to withdraw some money. At the same time, there's a lady waiting at the roadside for him to alight. I told the lady to wait if she can as this gentleman is just going to withdraw some money for the cab fare. She looks a bit tipsy and not feeling well. The gentleman returned to say the ATM is down and suggested I sent him to Crawford Road to withdraw the money. As the shortage is about $2.80 (he only have $10), which to cabby's standard is considered quite a lot of money, I decided to forgo the $2.80. He kept saying it's not right but I told him it's ok. I only realised that I should have asked him to pay by nets instead (Comfort cabs can accept nets and credit card, corporate cards and cab vouchers).
The only reason I chose to forgo the $2.80 is purely because I want to make sure of the safety of the tipsy lady that she may meet some people who may possibly take advantage of her in her present state of condition (she is quite good looking and young, maybe about 22 to 24 years and most vulnerable). Along the way to AMK Ave 5, she felt nauseous and asked for a plastic bag. I passed the bag to her and she vomitted not long after. I asked her if she is alright after vomitting and she say yes, much better. It's actually quite a relief to note that I have sent her home safe and sound. I also have two daughters and sure wouldn't want anything to happen to them, not in the state of condition this lady is experiencing.
Well, I have to call it a night for now as I have to prepare myself for tomorrow's call of duty.
Cheers.
fred
Last Tuesday (28 Nov'06) was quite interesting when I picked up 3 people (2 caucasians - a lady and a man and a local chinese lady. All of them in the 30's) from The Concourse at about 1.20pm. They mentioned this must be their lucky day. Usually they can't find a cab waiting at the taxi stand. Along the way they were all pretty excited about the coming Christmas, seeing that they bought lots of Christmas stuff and decorations. The caucasians were the more chatty of the 3. The poor local chinese lady couldn't join in the chat as she knows nothing about all the singers mentioned. They were all talking about singers in the 70's and 80's. Then they talked about the BeeGees and mentioned Barry & Robin Gibb and Andy Gibb (the youngest of the 4 brothers who died from drug overdose in the late 80's or early 90's) but they couldn't recall the name of the other brother. I knew it was Maurice Gibbs but just kept it to myself as I don't want to be viewed as a busybody. Most of the time, I would try to strike up a conversation with the passengers but this time round, I concentrated on my driving seeing the excitment and noise created by the caucasians. On reaching their destination and after the fare was paid, I simply told the caucasian lady that the missing person they are looking for in the BeeGees is Maurice. She was as usual, excited and quickly told her male counterpart that the taxi uncle says it's Maurice that they have forgotten and laughs. Hey, this taxi uncle knows a bit of oldies you know. LOL.
Some passengers are just being either naive or greedy. I picked up an elderly Malay mother and daughter from IMM to Teban Gardens at about 10pm. Along the way, I conversed with them in Malay and they were surprised that I am quite good at the language. Told them I studied Malay during my primary school days and passed but flopped my chinese. All of us just LOL. When we reach the destination. The elderly lady asked if she can keep one of the magazines at the back of the seat pocket. Feeling bad, I told her to go ahead. My partner and I provides magazines (not new ones of course) for passengers' reading pleasure. On another occasion, I have reason to belief one of the passengers either my partner or me picked up in the night took 2 of my magazines which is Oct'06 issue with Nicholas Tse and another with a beautiful lady (can't remember the magazine's name). Some people are just plain inconsiderate. They should at least ask if they can keep it though the answer may possibly be no as it is for other passengers' reading pleasure.
Then later in the night at about 10.20pm, I received a current booking to pick somebody from PSB Annexe Building Lobby. I went in through PSB's main entrance and waited foolishly at the lobby without looking at the building's name. Three minutes into the wait, I decided to step out to stretch my legs and arms and happen to glance up at the signage and realised that I am at the wrong place. I quickly drove out and proceeded to drive forward to the next building but found the road leading to it blocked. I drove out again to the main road and found the gentleman waiting at the lobby. Phew! Luckily I wasn't late and just made it in time. This gentleman wants to go to Keypoint at Jalan Sultan. On reaching there, he realised that he did not have enough money and asked me to wait for him while he go to the ATM to withdraw some money. At the same time, there's a lady waiting at the roadside for him to alight. I told the lady to wait if she can as this gentleman is just going to withdraw some money for the cab fare. She looks a bit tipsy and not feeling well. The gentleman returned to say the ATM is down and suggested I sent him to Crawford Road to withdraw the money. As the shortage is about $2.80 (he only have $10), which to cabby's standard is considered quite a lot of money, I decided to forgo the $2.80. He kept saying it's not right but I told him it's ok. I only realised that I should have asked him to pay by nets instead (Comfort cabs can accept nets and credit card, corporate cards and cab vouchers).
The only reason I chose to forgo the $2.80 is purely because I want to make sure of the safety of the tipsy lady that she may meet some people who may possibly take advantage of her in her present state of condition (she is quite good looking and young, maybe about 22 to 24 years and most vulnerable). Along the way to AMK Ave 5, she felt nauseous and asked for a plastic bag. I passed the bag to her and she vomitted not long after. I asked her if she is alright after vomitting and she say yes, much better. It's actually quite a relief to note that I have sent her home safe and sound. I also have two daughters and sure wouldn't want anything to happen to them, not in the state of condition this lady is experiencing.
Well, I have to call it a night for now as I have to prepare myself for tomorrow's call of duty.
Cheers.
fred
Monday, 27 November 2006
Hey, I am back again. Just finished my shift duty today (26 Nov'06) at noon.
One thing about driving along Orchard Road towards the direction of Suntec City and also from ECP towards Suntec City at night. Avoid it at all cost. I lost nearly 2 hours of potential income in the heavy traffic. Now I understand why other cab drivers complained about traffic jam. Imagine being stuck in a jam for about 30 minutes for each trip. Although the fare meter still record a 10 cents jump for every 25 seconds, the extra cost is only $7.70 to the passenger, but to the cab driver it could be a potential income of $15 to $20 over that period of time. I really felt miserable about it but I guess this is part and parcel of cab driving.
Anyway, cab drivers shouldn't complain in the presence of the passengers and rightly so as the traffic conditions is not created by them but rather because Christmas is near. Funny that it seems nearer than it actually was this time round. We are still a month away from it and look at the crowd, God.
Yesterday night (25 Nov'06), the traffic was crawling along Scotts Road when I received a current booking to pick up a passenger at Far East Plaza. Though I was only about 2 minutes away, I declined to take the booking because I am not sure if I can reach the pick up point within 12 minutes due to the jam. I was issued a warning for not taking the booking. In our GP4 system, we can choose to respond to the booking to arrive in 5, 7, 10 & 12 minutes. It's ok for me as I don't want to receive a complaint from the passenger for showing up late and I am actually heading towards that direction. I simply wasn't confident of reaching the place in the above stipulated time frames due to the traffic condition.
I later sent a sms to my good friend, my hirer (I am not suppose to disclose his name without his permission. Some of you may know him but I will still keep his name anonymous), about the traffic condition and to avoid it at all cost, particularly, along Orchard Road and Rochor Road leading to Suntec City and especially on Friday and Saturday nights.
Oh yes, there is something I want to update before calling it a night. I was driving along Orchard Boulevard on Saturday night when I decided to stop along the roadside just behind Wheelock's Place to record the last fare in my little book when a Malay couple came and board my cab. Wow, the lady was wearing quite a low cut dress as I can see her before she board my cab. Once in my cab, I was told to go to 2 places, Tanglin Halt and Ang Mo Kio Ave 5 by the guy. It was only when the couple started talking that I realised that the lady was in fact a transvestite. And the guy was calling "her" kakak (elder sister in Malay). But they are nice people to talk with and not at all snobbish. In fact, they are quite well mannered when they talk to me about my works in general, like what time I start and finish work.
They were shock to hear I am on 48 hours shift rotation and ask how I can manage to stay awake for 48 hours. Of course, we don't literally drive 48 hours. Normally, I would finish my night driving at about 11.30pm on weekdays and about 1.30am on Friday and Saturday nights. Wake up time is about 6.00am and start driving at about 6.45am everyday unless I have advance booking the night before. I have learnt an important lesson, and that is not to take bookings early in the morning, like I did last Saturday night for a Sunday pick up at 2.45am near Choa Chu Kang for the airport. That night, I dared not go back home to sleep because of the comfort at home. So I did the next best thing many cab drivers do, sleep in the cab. After the trip, I picked another passenger from the airport but not after waiting for 2 hours at Terminal 2.
Another lesson I learnt from fellow cab drivers. Never queue at Terminal 2 between 1.30am to 5.15am. There are no flights coming in at this unearthly hours. Terminal 1 should be the place to go. Okay, lesson learnt.
Well, it's now 2am and I am not suppose to stay up this late at home. I should be resting and sleeping and that's what I am going to do.
Goodnight & cheers.
fred
One thing about driving along Orchard Road towards the direction of Suntec City and also from ECP towards Suntec City at night. Avoid it at all cost. I lost nearly 2 hours of potential income in the heavy traffic. Now I understand why other cab drivers complained about traffic jam. Imagine being stuck in a jam for about 30 minutes for each trip. Although the fare meter still record a 10 cents jump for every 25 seconds, the extra cost is only $7.70 to the passenger, but to the cab driver it could be a potential income of $15 to $20 over that period of time. I really felt miserable about it but I guess this is part and parcel of cab driving.
Anyway, cab drivers shouldn't complain in the presence of the passengers and rightly so as the traffic conditions is not created by them but rather because Christmas is near. Funny that it seems nearer than it actually was this time round. We are still a month away from it and look at the crowd, God.
Yesterday night (25 Nov'06), the traffic was crawling along Scotts Road when I received a current booking to pick up a passenger at Far East Plaza. Though I was only about 2 minutes away, I declined to take the booking because I am not sure if I can reach the pick up point within 12 minutes due to the jam. I was issued a warning for not taking the booking. In our GP4 system, we can choose to respond to the booking to arrive in 5, 7, 10 & 12 minutes. It's ok for me as I don't want to receive a complaint from the passenger for showing up late and I am actually heading towards that direction. I simply wasn't confident of reaching the place in the above stipulated time frames due to the traffic condition.
I later sent a sms to my good friend, my hirer (I am not suppose to disclose his name without his permission. Some of you may know him but I will still keep his name anonymous), about the traffic condition and to avoid it at all cost, particularly, along Orchard Road and Rochor Road leading to Suntec City and especially on Friday and Saturday nights.
Oh yes, there is something I want to update before calling it a night. I was driving along Orchard Boulevard on Saturday night when I decided to stop along the roadside just behind Wheelock's Place to record the last fare in my little book when a Malay couple came and board my cab. Wow, the lady was wearing quite a low cut dress as I can see her before she board my cab. Once in my cab, I was told to go to 2 places, Tanglin Halt and Ang Mo Kio Ave 5 by the guy. It was only when the couple started talking that I realised that the lady was in fact a transvestite. And the guy was calling "her" kakak (elder sister in Malay). But they are nice people to talk with and not at all snobbish. In fact, they are quite well mannered when they talk to me about my works in general, like what time I start and finish work.
They were shock to hear I am on 48 hours shift rotation and ask how I can manage to stay awake for 48 hours. Of course, we don't literally drive 48 hours. Normally, I would finish my night driving at about 11.30pm on weekdays and about 1.30am on Friday and Saturday nights. Wake up time is about 6.00am and start driving at about 6.45am everyday unless I have advance booking the night before. I have learnt an important lesson, and that is not to take bookings early in the morning, like I did last Saturday night for a Sunday pick up at 2.45am near Choa Chu Kang for the airport. That night, I dared not go back home to sleep because of the comfort at home. So I did the next best thing many cab drivers do, sleep in the cab. After the trip, I picked another passenger from the airport but not after waiting for 2 hours at Terminal 2.
Another lesson I learnt from fellow cab drivers. Never queue at Terminal 2 between 1.30am to 5.15am. There are no flights coming in at this unearthly hours. Terminal 1 should be the place to go. Okay, lesson learnt.
Well, it's now 2am and I am not suppose to stay up this late at home. I should be resting and sleeping and that's what I am going to do.
Goodnight & cheers.
fred
Thursday, 23 November 2006
Fred On The Move
Phew! Finally I got started with the blog. I am no computer wizard. To put it simply and honestly, I am a bit phobic with computers though I have been at it for the past 15 years. I promise my dear daughter Yihui I will start a blog as soon as I can find the time to do it.
I have just change profession from a Project Manager to a, whadayaknow, cab driver and have been at it for the past 3 weeks. Yeah, it's taxing physically, especially on the knees (always in bent position), eyes (tendency to lose focus, especially at night as I have a bit of astimism but still managable), constantly looking to answer nature's call (particularly at night due to the cooler weather. For this reason I tend to drink less water. If not I would be sending myself to the washroom more often than sending my passenger to their destination), hunger (luckily wife always pack an apple and light snacks as standby).
So tired today as dear wife is sick. Lucky today is my off-day if not I don't know what will happen to her. Brought her to a neighbourhood doctor in the morning, Surprising medical fees is $34, well below my expectation of around $80 because there is an injection as well as 3 medicines. She has been sleeping since morning 11.30am. She needed the rest as she would wake up every time I come back from work to help me count the daily takings and record the account.
I need a rest now and will follow up with more postings, probably later in the night when I am refreshed.
Cheers
I have just change profession from a Project Manager to a, whadayaknow, cab driver and have been at it for the past 3 weeks. Yeah, it's taxing physically, especially on the knees (always in bent position), eyes (tendency to lose focus, especially at night as I have a bit of astimism but still managable), constantly looking to answer nature's call (particularly at night due to the cooler weather. For this reason I tend to drink less water. If not I would be sending myself to the washroom more often than sending my passenger to their destination), hunger (luckily wife always pack an apple and light snacks as standby).
So tired today as dear wife is sick. Lucky today is my off-day if not I don't know what will happen to her. Brought her to a neighbourhood doctor in the morning, Surprising medical fees is $34, well below my expectation of around $80 because there is an injection as well as 3 medicines. She has been sleeping since morning 11.30am. She needed the rest as she would wake up every time I come back from work to help me count the daily takings and record the account.
I need a rest now and will follow up with more postings, probably later in the night when I am refreshed.
Cheers
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