New Years Eve

I would just like to wish everyone a very enjoyable and safe New Years Eve.

I will be out there and working hard to get as many people to and from their party's as possible.

For the taxi drivers out there may it be a safe, enjoyable and profitable night for all of you.

A wish for 2007
May the best of your yesterdays
Be the worst of your tomorrows

Happy New Year

For Christ`s sake, it`s Christmas Eve!

That was the response of a German taxi driver when an armed assailant pointed a gun at his head. While not the response you would expect it was certainly effective scaring the robber away. He was arrested with his girlfriend a short time later.

Read more here It's Christmas

"Bloody hell, Even the bins are in green and gold!!"

That was the comment made by a rather dejected English cricket fan on the night of the 4th day of the recent 3rd Ashes test held here in Perth.

Our household recycling bins are green with a yellow lid and are put out on the verge the night before and then emptyed early the next morning. I guess after the 2 late wickets fell putting victory in this test and any chance of retaining the Ashes beyond the reach of the English team my passenger didn't want to be reminded about anything Australian.

Frank Feldman

I get several Google Alerts each day emailed to me and since posting A Perfect Man I have been seeing the story of 'Frank Feldman' popping up on blogs more and more. So much in fact it prompted me to run a Google Blog Search on 'Frank Feldman". It turns out the story has been posted 64 times with 1 poster even taking the time to write their own Frank Feldman story called 2 Amazing Franks.

Who would have thought it? I'm sorry but I'm going to have to say it.

It could only happen to Frank!

Rip off!

I picked up a lady around 2am from the Sheraton hotel wanting to travel to Como. She seemed very nice, attractive and well dressed and we chatted easily about her night out. Then I mentioned the fare and was stunned by her reply. It came to $12.60 no surcharges applied.

I got the job even thou I was the second cab on the rank. The point driver gave it too me, why I don't know I suggested to the customer maybe her either didn't know where it was or thought it wasn't worth his time and effort. Anyway the conversation went like this.

me: Maybe he thought it wasn't worth his effort for $12.60
lady: Personally I think it's a rip off! I mean you've used like $1 worth of gas and I still have to pay $12.60.

At that point I started getting defensive explaining how it wasn't only the gas but the clean cab, friendly conversation and the fact I knew where to go without checking my map that she was paying for. None of that matters thou and she was very polite about it. It just shocked me when she came out with it and I finished with my stock answer.

me: I just switch the meter on at the start and off at the end, what happens in between has nothing to do with me.

(QLD) Driver robbed at knife point

Read the story here Queensland driver robbed at knife point

I think it is every taxi drivers nightmare. Being locked in the boot by a knife wielding maniac. I know it's mine. I guess it has something to do with not being able to see whats going on and being powerless to control or alter the outcome. This driver was lucky he had his mobile in his pocket and could call his supervisor from inside the boot. The driver escaped unharmed, for which I have no doubt he is extremely grateful. I know I am.

Update: Here is a news report from the Courier Mail that shows several in car shots of the wanted man Cabbie locked in boot

My pax had a knife

Tonight I had a passenger in the front of the cab and he had a knife. Not only did he have a knife but he was agitated, really agitated. You always wonder what you will do if a situation like this occurs in your cab but until it does you really have no idea. For a split second I panicked and my mind raced. What was the right thing to do in this situation?? Keep driving and hope he doesn't use it?? or stop and bolt hopefully without provoking him into using it before I can get away??

Then he started talking. I wasn't the problem. In all reality he most likely has no idea how I felt for those few seconds. It probably never occurred to him that it would be a problem taking out a knife in a cab. You see he is a chef.

The story goes someone else in the kitchen has been using my passengers knife. Apparently that is just not on especially as they weren't looking after it which it turns out was the reason my passenger was so agitated. I guess knives are a big deal when your a chef and believe me I could see the roughness of the blade from where I was sitting. So anyway the guy then pulls out a sharpening (pole/rod) thingy that chefs use and goes to work trying to put some life back into the blade.

By this stage I had relaxed as I understood the situation and to relieve the tension a bit I grabbed the mike without actually calling anyone and jokingly shouted "Base! Base! he's got a knife, he's got a knife! We both got a good laugh out of that and the rest of the fare passed without incident.

1 thing was certain as I drove away after dropping him off. I doubt I will ever forget that fare.