Taxi Driver Online

Funny how things go round full circle isn't it?

I put on my first metrocab in 1992, the first purpose built WAV to be plated in the City.

When I was 1st cab on a rank, punters would frequently walk past me to the next available saloon, because they did not want to get into my cab, it being deemed "too big" (in reality they assumed it would be more expensive than a saloon).

The majority of cabs in 2009 are of the conversion persuasion, mine is one of the few "real" cabs in town.

And now, punters walk past the tw200, etc. to me, because they deem the others to be "too big" (in reality more expensive)

Like the lady this morning who did not want to travel to a business meeting in Horncastle "in the back of a delivery van". " would you wait an hour, and take me back to Newark, leave the meter running, driver here's cash up front"

Perhaps she didn't want to be reminded of the bad experience she had when she was hurled into the back of a police paddywagon?

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Former taxi driver

Paddywagon and Black Maria are slang terms for either a police car, or a police vehicle used to transport large groups of people who have been arrested.

The word paddywagon is of American origin. The precise origin of the term is uncertain and disputed, though its use dates back to at least the beginning of the 1900s.[1] There are at least three theories as how the phrase originated.[2]

* The most prevalent theory is based on the term "Paddy" (a common Irish shortening of Patrick), which was used (sometimes as derogatory slang) to refer to Irish people.[3] Irishmen made up a large percentage of the officers of early police forces in many American cities. Thus, this theory suggests that the concentration of Irish in the police forces led to the term "paddywagon" being used to describe the vehicles driven by police.
* An alternative theory is similarly based on the term "Paddy" but states that the term arose due to the number of immigrant Irish being arrested for having consumed too much alcohol and taken away in the vehicles.[4]
* The final theory holds that the name originates from the padding used on the inside of police horse-drawn carriages to prevent injury; [5] this last is regarded by lexicographers as an example of folk etymology[citation needed].

These vehicles were usually painted black or a very dark blue. Archaically in the United States, Ireland and the United Kingdom, a police wagon was also sometimes called a Black Maria (using the archaic pronunciation i.e Mariah IPA: /məˈraɪə/). The origin of this term is equally uncertain. The OED lists the first usage as the Boston Evening Traveller from 1847 which mentions them as a new type of wagon. Brewer's Dictionary of Phrase and Fable suggests the name came from Maria Lee, a large and fearsome black keeper of a sailors' boarding house who the police would call on for help with difficult prisoners. The term is still used today in parts of Britain for the vehicle that transports prisoners from gaol to court, appearing in the song "Guns of Brixton" by The Clash. Frequently, screened-in buses are also used for the same purpose.[6]


The Black Maria is also called 'Mothers Heart' as it is said that there is always room for one more.

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Of all the things ive lost, i miss my mind the most

Perhaps she was a masochist

so the masochist said to the sadist

"Hurt me"

the sadist replied

"no"



think about it.....

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Of all the things ive lost, i miss my mind the most

Perhaps whe wanted to see the view of lovely Lincolnshire...

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Former taxi driver

BTW Skippy your spellchecker is on the blink again...

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Former taxi driver

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Former taxi driver

No its not, just checked your first post 6/10 for effort

Jimbo, if you was a PH you would be getting more working through Taxi boss than sitting on a rank

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Of all the things ive lost, i miss my mind the most

Are you looking for a job as a sales rep?

whats it pay, where do i apply, what company car do i get and expenses?

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Of all the things ive lost, i miss my mind the most

Depends on experience, the company car bit is easy though, as it's you I'll give you one of the one's that you said that i had parked round the back of the office ready for rent/buy. I knew you'd fall into my trap

How do you work that out?

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Former taxi driver

If I were a PH driver, "wannabeeahack" I would more than likely be parked in the bus station, or on the railway station forcourt, or on double yellows near pelham bridge or on the county hospital bus stop, or on waterside north, or the countless other places that PH are parked up waiting for the next call to come in.

Nothing against legally operating PH, you understand, I just don't want to do it.

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Former taxi driver

Sorry i forgot, hacks never park up waiting for work in places that they shouldn't do they?