Fred On The Move

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.