Author Archives: admin

Pondering


Posted by admin

20112007

Central MK Rail Station

My shift contained a couple of rounds on the 100 this evening. The route has a very slack running time, So you can easily be 8-10 minutes early at Milton Keynes Station.

Tonight I was 4 minutes early, All this sitting about waiting your time has not helped me. A couple of weeks ago I have a iffy looking freckle cut out of my arm, and tomorrow I find out what it was.

It’s being going round and round in my head today about what the result is going to be. I know I can’t do anything about it, But it doesn’t stop you worrying about it does it…

Still at least I’ve got the day off 😀


Almost the end


Posted by admin

Some days I wonder why I do the job I do…

This evening, While driving the last 500 that goes back to Aylesbury from Watford, The bus ran out of diesel at Berkhamstead.

This lady (I use the term VERY loosely) came stomping down the stairs and said..

“Get on the f***ing phone to your f****ing office and tell then I want a Taxi to take me home and they can f***ing pay for it”

After telling her to not speak to me like a piece of shit, I rang the depot who advised that they wouldn’t book the taxi and that she could get one if she liked, Got a receipt and tried to claim it back from ARRIVA.

This was relayed to said lady who then continued to F and blind for a few more seconds. Then her other half asked if I’ve tried to start the bus in gear. This brings a look of puzzlement to my face as I can’t quite see how thats going to change the fact that the bus is out of diesel. I explain that the bus is an automatic, So if it is in gear the ignition won’t work.

The reply “But have you tried it?”

I chose to just ignore him.

Anyway they go off walking towards Berko to find a taxi, and the couple of other passengers wait with me for the engineers from Hemel Hempstead to arrive with fuel.

About 40 minutes later we are back on the road and as I get into Berko Town centre these two are waiting at the bus stop.

I pull up and open the doors and ask “what happened to the Taxi?”

The reply was “Are you some sort of f***ing C*** of summat?! You told us you had run out of diesel”

I tried to explain that we had and that now the engineers had put some more in the bus we could go again.

This was met with “You lying c***. You must have to be a wanker to get this job or summat”

This continued for the rest of the trip, Until the lady got off, Who then walked straight infront of the bus so I had to hit the brakes and then threw a large stone and a number of eggs at my cab window and told me i was “A F***ing knob”.

At Aylesbury her other half got off and told me “I’ll look out for you around town and I’m gonna do ya” and walked off.

After a very unpleasant 40 minutes driving (Well after my proper finish time), and with alot of other stuff (which I may blog about later) going round my mind I shut the doors, and burst into tears on the drive back to the yard. 🙁

Yes I know I’m a big girl, But it really got to me today… Today was the day I nearly gave it all up.


Aylesbury Depot News


Posted by admin

Have just received a couple of pictures of the first repainted bus to arrive back at Aylesbury. Buses on Red Route 9 and Blue Route 2 are being painted different colours (Red and Blue, Obviously). 3485 is the first to return repainted and with new seat covers….

 

101 0864

101 0869

Have also been told that the Wycombe Solo’s might not be coming to Aylesbury after all. Two different rumours are going around. One that they will stay at Wycombe and the other that them will be going to MK Metro.


October already!


Posted by admin

Well again it’s been over a month since my last posting.

I’ve not really had much to write about as work is painfully boring at the moment.

My Psoriasis has gone mad in the last few days, and I spent most of Saturday morning at the Hospital being seen by a specialist. It’s now been decided that I shall take a rather nasty drug called Methotrexate. This comes with a delightful side order of Weekly Blood Tests, The possibility of a Liver Biopsy and the feeling of nausea for around three days after taking the drug. But even with all that, If it clears my skin I’ll be happy! and taking a tablet once a week sounds much better than having to apply creams twice (or more) a day.

 

This is gonna sound really sad, and well, I don’t care! 😀

I went to the London Transport Museum shop in Covent Garden a few weeks back and saw these cushions… Not any old cushions you must understand, But cushions that have been made out of London Bus Seats of yesteryear, and ever since then I’ve wanted one. I popped down there yesterday and got myself one 🙂

IMG 0739

 

News from work is that we will be receiving a couple of brand new buses. This is unheard of in Aylesbury!!

The two Optare Solo’s were originally purchased for High Wycombe depot for a route to Thame, But when they arrived it was noted that they didn’t fit on the stops at Wycombe Bus Station (Why this wasn’t thought about before they spent the money on them is anyones guess!).

But Wycombe’s misfortune is our gain and they should be arriving shortly…

wycombe solo


Time Flies


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It’s been almost a month since my last post, Yet I don’t really have anything to report.

I’m off to drive a bus for our Leighton Buzzard outstation for a couple of weeks as they are short staffed. Nice little shift each day, 1500 – 2120 😉

I’ve re-started my Bus model shop (www.modelsmk.co.uk) to try and make a bit of extra cash..

 

..But apart from that not alot has been happened 🙁


Passengers


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Can anyone tell me what’s wrong with the photo below?

500

An elderly lady got on the bus and got right up close, Started pointing her finger at me and said “YOU need to get YOUR bus sorted out, It’s not clear that you are going to Watford”

I got out the cab and had a look, Thinking the powered blind had changed itself, But no, Still showing 500 Watford on the front… No idea where she was looking


I've been buying


Posted by admin


Back Garden

Originally uploaded by JSmith9114.

The camera fund has finally reached an amount that would let me buy one! 🙂

So a few days ago I got myself a Cannon 400D Digital       SLR camera, I’ve been excitable ever since it got here and taking pictures of everything. Yes I know I’m sad, But i really don’t care!


Employee Survey


Posted by admin

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You Said – “Facilities at the depot needed improving”

We said – “We have created an outdoor rest area to provide space for employee’s enjoyment”

Translated as – “We’ve shoved a few concrete slabs down by the Bus Wash with some plastic chairs as a Smoking area – of no use to us non-smokers”

 

You Said – “The condition of many buses was demoralising”

We Said – “We put a team of drivers together to list and prioritise improvements so they can be actioned”

Translated as – “We’ve already told you that you won’t be getting any new buses at Aylesbury Depot, So stop moaning about your current fleet of vehicles”