Suburbs
Home--Links page--Costs page--Starting the Blue book--Advice??--Where to start--Diary - Jan 02--Diary - 01/01/03 Onwards--Diary - 01/01/04 onwards--Diary 14/07/05 onwards--Driving Test--My First day
19/07/06 - Decided to make a start, I set out around 8.30pm going for route 17, from Hammersmith, apart from a delay along the Cromwell road, this does feel like a whole new ball game, I have an M25 map and a large A4 London map book. Its baking hot and I can see this is going to be tough on my own, It is difficult to see road names in day light, but at night with cars following you its even tougher I had runs that took me along the Great West Rd and onto Terminal 4, and then a couple of runs from Terminal's 1,2 & 3 I have found a possible problem with run 45 crossing the M4, the Junction appears to have changed from what Wizann have written in the book, I will have to contact Dean (Wizann for some advice). In all I did 95 miles last night and feel absolutely knackered. 20/07/06 - Had a later start tonight and did something closer to home runs 19 and 20 starting in Greenwich out to Erith and Thamesmead, which were ok if not a little confusing around Plumstead and I did not feel totally secure there, finishing with Deptford Bridge to Crayford, another late night. I must admit to two things that would improve the suburbs - do them much later at night - I reckon after 10pm, but as I am working this does make this almost impossible, The second is that it would be much easier If you did this with a partner. When its dark, your trying to follow a map and instructions, drive and do ten other things at once that is hard work, one for the advice page. 24/07/06 - Back to Heathrow, a couple of runs to Northwood, a run to Hayes and Uxbridge and a run to RAF Northolt were Heathrow got the better of me and I got totally confused trying to get to Harlington High St, In the end I got to bed around 1.30am - these are tough (I know I already said this!) 26/07/06 - My eldest son wanted to come out with me tonight to keep me company, and It made a change to have someone to talk to, although around 11pm he started to get very quiet and by the time we got home he was dead on his feet - we completed runs to Barnehurst and then onto route 10 from Lewisham to Sidcup & St Mary Cray, then the run to Chislehurst and Orpington, no major problems 27/07/06 - Finished off Lewisham to Old Bexley then down to Catford for route 11 with runs to Keston, Beckenham, Biggin Hill and Pratts Bottom, decided to carry onto Route 12 with Runs from West Norwood to Shirley and Croyden, shattered by the time I got home, also the realisation that I may not be able to get all the runs completed. I have booked to go on holiday for 10 days during August and am now running out of time. Also that part of calling over is really difficult to get kick started again, and to learn 130 runs in six weeks! 28/07/06 - Not so much time available tonight and I have a busy day tomorrow, so decided to do some closer to home, completed Route 2 and 3 Harringay to Enfield, Southgate and Cockfosters and Seven Sisters to Enfield Town, Enfield Lock and Ponders End, not too difficult but the roads were busy and as usual I had problems getting from the end of one route to the start of another. 30/07/06 - Decided to run some of the closer to home runs on the bike this morning, some that I am a little unclear on - Wish I had kept the board on the bike now. 30/07/06 - Back to Heathrow completing runs from both Terminals to Wembley, Harrow on the Hill, Harrow and two runs to Greenford, a late night, left at 8.30pm and got home around 2am - Shattered! 06/08/06 - Completed runs from Putney and Hammersmith while they were not particularly difficult (and it was a nice area, Twickenham and Richmond) and I did about 110 miles, I have decided that I cannot now complete them as I have a holiday booked, so I must learn them parrot fashion, even if, once I have completed, I go out and run them, as a couple of cabbies have told me how useful they are. 10-11/08/06 - Managed to fit in two further days, completing some of the Tooting and Streatham runs, both nights were particularly busy and the runs took an age to complete, but I am glad I have done them I am now on holiday for 10 days - what a time to have a supposed break, I have tried to go away and spend some time with the wife and kids, but in the back of my mind is these dammed runs, I am trying to complete some callovers with the wife once the kids go to bed, I am managing to get around 2 hours a day calling over. 25/08/06 - Back from holiday, I have three days to work my arse off. 26/08/06 - I am dreaming of Hampton, Hounslow and Kingston - what a set of runs, I cannot get these runs straight 27/08/06 - Although some of the runs are coming together, Its the odd one or two and the ends of the runs that are giving me the greatest headache. 28/08/06 - Tried to do a little less today, I either know it or I don't 29/08/06 - Little sleep last night and up around 6am, called over most of the runs and made my way to the PCO about 2 hours early. The early morning traffic did its best to prevent me from getting there including one very close call with the back of a Nissan. Booked in and found myself in a room full of 56's, it was quite strange listening to them talking about some of the problems they have encountered, seems like years ago. Called in about 15 mins late by Mr Bishop (first time) and I was asked the following Terminal 1 to Bedfont Lakes, Catford to Beckenham, Hammersmith to Terminal 4, Lewisham to Sidcup, and East Finchley to Totteridge - Ok That will do, I am pleased to say that you have finished. And that was that! My wife asked when I got home, "How did you feel" and I have to say that I felt greater emotions when I received my rec - But I did feel fantastic. It was then off to window 4 and pay £249 and hand over two passport photo's Mr Bishop said that we had to be back for 10.45 for a final talk and to receive my badge, It turned out that there were two of us actually receiving badges, but four of us having the talk as we had passed the suburbs, three Green and one yellow - See below. We had a 15 min disability awareness video to watch and then Mr Bishop talked us through some of the things we will find as we go out into the big wide world, giving us some useful advice. approx 12 O'clock Mr Bishop handed us a pack containing our badge and license. You receive two copies of your license, one for you and one for any rental firm that you wish to hire a cab from, and a word of warning about renewing your license every three years and not forgetting to get it done, or you could find you back to square one again. You will also receive some items from the LTDA, another brisk handshake and that's it, I was out, I am now a Butterboy, excellent! One word of warning, The two people who did not receive their badge, were unable to do so because they had not passed their drive, The lady who had passed with me on Tuesday had had her test cancelled minutes before her test, she was then unable to get a cancellation as it was a taxi test, and had to therefore wait a further six weeks, which took her after her finals - what a pain, There was nothing she could have done about it, other than organise the test as soon as you hit your 21's. So I drove home all pleased with myself, the family and I went out for dinner. Due to commitments I am planning to get out next week (1st week in Sept) and I will tell you how I get on