Roy July 25th, 2008
Casinos are illegal in Ireland ……..however! Members clubs that have gambling facilities are not, so we have about 6 of these in Dublin, where you fill in an application form at the door, instantly become a member then proceed to play roulette, blackjack, poker etc. You know, the kind of stuff you find in a Casino.
These are good business for Taxi drivers, with plenty of work coming and going from them right into the early hours.
There are two types of customers that I bring to Casinos
1: Drunks after a night out who didn’t score and are feeling lucky.
2: Sober men who leave their homes at 2am to fleece stupid drunks.
However, most of the time I collect just the one type of customer from these “Casinos” ……….Losers!
Meanwhile over in the Arcade I’ve added a Shoutbox! Somewhere to gloat about your latest high score, or to kick the ass of someone who took yours! Tonights new game is “The Temple Bar Walk”, where you see how far you can walk without falling over drunk…….it’s quite funny!
Roy July 23rd, 2008
I don’t believe anybody instinctively knows their right from their left, it’s easy for me to follow directions while driving …… because I know I’m sitting on the right! But the amount of times I’m told to turn into the sea or a wall is immeasurable.
Most people have a “method”, whether it’s blessing themselves, (less so nowadays in this unholy Ireland) or maybe pretending to write.
What’s yours? Or are you the exception that proves the rule and inherently know your right from left?
While I’m at it, why is it European + American cars have the petrol cap, indicators and light switches on one side of the car while Japanese + Korean cars have them on the other side?
It makes me look a proper plonker when I drive my wifes car and put the wipers on instead of indicating!
Are you right handed? ………Or a lefty/ kitog/devil handed?
The nuns used to tie left hands to the desk, to force kids to write with the “proper” hand.
Meanwhile over in the Arcade I’ve added “Camden Street” so called because it’s what I feel like doing some Friday and Saturday nights!
No comments so far on my last post, I used to care about that sort of thing ….now, I couldn’t give a shit, what does that tell you?
Roy July 22nd, 2008
I picked up my first passenger from the new “exclusive” members club on St Stephens Green, Residence.ie
He told me how the two large Georgian townhouses have been restored to their former glory, how he dined in a room overlooking the Green, on food cooked by the one time head chef of Michelin starred restaurant, Thorntons, he then drank at one of the five well appointed bars, all of this after his successful business meeting in a private room provided free of charge to members.
He is being charged €1600 per year for these privileges (the prices for food and drink in the club are on a par with surrounding venues) Not bad if the aim is to impress your guests?
There’s also a small Nite club, which is open to the general public, well …….a certain type of general public.
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I really enjoyed working tonight, it was far more civilised than the “busy” weekend nights and reasonably lucrative, I may start working Mondays and Tuesdays…….. instead of Saturday/Sunday! far less stressfull
New game in the Arcade ;Bubble Shooter, I seem to remember my wife being addicted to something similar (Beehive bedlam??) I removed Bejeweled. it wasn’t working….. sorry!
Ps I see the Point re-opened last night only it’s not the point any more it’s the 02 arena, still I’m glad to see it’s return, it looks good! ………The 02
Roy July 21st, 2008
It was a good day sporting wise for Dublin, with the footballers destroying Wexford in the Leinster final and Padraig Harrington winning The British open in golf for the second year running.
Normally the night of a Leinster final in Dublin would be a very busy time for Taxi drivers but it wasn’t ……. there was more than enough extra Taxis to cover any extra work that was available on the night.
Bottom line ………. there are more than enough Taxis in Dublin. I’m pissed off saying it and too apathetic to bother trying to do anything about it, hopefully something will come up soon that will allow me to get out of this business ………… although I seriously doubt it.
New game added to the Arcade it’s called “balance 2″ it’s not too bad ….. passes the time at least.
Arcade added to the Tabs above (game zone)
Roy July 20th, 2008
You know the old saying - folk that play together stay together?
I’ve been messing with the internet again and made a little arcade you’ll find it here
There’s a few classics, some word games and a few of my favorites. I’ll add more when I’m bored.
I’ve set a few high scores …… see if you can beat them, you can gloat in the comments if you do.
You’ll need to register a nickname and password for your scores to count!
I may add a link in the tabs above if it proves popular ( I may anyway. I’m addicted to the gold miner game!)
Normal blogging service will be resumed on Monday, (I’m thinking of taking the weekends off)
Roy July 18th, 2008
I’ve never been robbed or threatened with violence in the eleven years or so that I’ve been driving a Taxi, I’m asked this question all the time and sometimes wonder should I make something up just to satisfy the bloodlust of my passengers!
However, I sometimes accept fares where during the course of the journey I get a feeling there might be the potential for violence, normally it’s when I get an individual or individuals wearing certain types of clothing with a certain type of accent and going to certain areas, all very stereotypical ……..but hey I’m only human!
Depending on my mood at the time I decide in my head that I’m either going to hand over all my takings without argument or that they’ll have to kill me in order to get them.
After years of going through this process I’ve decided that the best “feeling” to have, regardless of whether it’s a sensible option or not is; “they’ll have to kill me to get my takings” as the vibe I give off is far more confident and less afraid, whereas if I’m in a submissive sort of mood it’s quite obvious that I might be an easy target, so as a result, nowadays I always settle on “they’ll have to kill me first”.
I don’t agree with safety screens and suchlike (unless they become compulsory) as they give of the submissive vibe, suggesting the driver is wary and afraid and therefore susceptible to mugging, an older driver I knew who had one constantly got runners for example, thankfully he was never robbed.
Roy July 17th, 2008
Habitat, the upmarket “interiors” store has closed it’s doors for the last time on College green,……..moving into the exclusive top end premises in it’s place is Lidl, the German discount supermarket.
The Building ;
Meanwhile around the corner in Grafton Street where once outlets queued up to pay outrageous rents there are three units vacant, with estate agents suggesting they’ll only sell when values have been cut by 50%.
What’s next? use the bus instead of the Taxi…………. surely not!
Are there any upsides to recession or is it all doom and gloom?
Roy July 17th, 2008
A judge today has ruled against government legislation, which compelled insurance companies to charge the same rate for private health insurance regardless of age, ruling that community rating and risk equalisation (were insurance companies must compensate other insurance companies with older clients) was anti competitive.
The Taxi business in Ireland was thrown into disarray after a similar judgment ruled that not allowing unlimited access to taxi licences was uncompetitive, leading the then minister to throw open the gates resulting in the chaos we see today.
So will the minister allow a free for all in this instance, saying her hands are tied and there is nothing she can do, resulting in cheaper policies for young people and a huge increases in the costs for older people?
Somehow I doubt it, like the post title suggests it’s the same but different, there was no votes in protecting taxi drivers, however they’ll be screwed if they allow the above insurance price changes to happen.
Roy July 16th, 2008
I’m starting to get paranoid now!
A motion condemning the opening of sex shops, takeaways and TAXI offices in Killarney and seeking to bar such businesses from the tourist town has been overwhelmingly passed by town councillors and will be included in the new town development plan.
The new draft development plan for Killarney now lists adult shops, taxi offices and takeaway food outlets as non-conforming retail developments.
