@Skull.... It sounded like you had a very bad dose of taxi trade depression!!?? I think any job dealing with the public has it's downside, the trade with dimwits who pass themselves off as drivers, Councils and LO's who are up their own orifices etc. I just developed a very thick rhino skin, a quick sense of humor, a deadpan face that looks as if it could kill, armed myself with the knowledge I needed and basically pleased myself..... Maybe you just need a job that you can do without dealing with the crap that most jobs have...
@Cabby John, Who seems to have a good idea (please leave out the 'r'

), Has used it to his benefit, as I have done.... I was made redundant from my trade as a sparks in 1987, started part time and quickly learned the ropes, eventually bought my own cab and did a bit of electrical work in between. I diversified.... Most in the trade
are thick, which gives the higher IQ ones the advantage, don't you think?....[/quote]
I’ll tell you exactly how I felt about the taxi trade.
After twenty years, you would expect to see a steady rise in pay and conditions coupled with higher standards overall. The exact opposite is true. It was like swimming in a sea of rats all feeding off each other. I’ve got great admiration for guys like yourself and Cabby John, who managed to eke out a living while dealing with the dregs of society. However, the stupidity and ignorance of your average cabby, to me at least, was more than a body could stand. They seem to lack the intelligence to know what best represents their interest and work with the sole purpose of dragging each other down. All they can see is the next job on the meter.
If I were, to sum up, the taxi trade in one word, it would be,
futile. These guys will never learn, and they deserve everything they get.
Now I just laugh and find myself in disbelief, I did the job for so long.

[/quote]
I have to agree with you that most cabbies are exactly as you say.... I must be in the 1%, like Cabby John who have been reasonably successful and made it work for them.... I see the others chasing around like blue ass flies doing crap fares and lots of dead mileage, long hours having to try and take a hundred quid a day, otherwise they are down the pan, trying to pay out £700 a month for just the finance they've taken out, let alone other cab expenses etc etc.... It's no life.... As you say the trade is not something I would even contemplate now, they would be better off on benefits and
not working as many do..... Many on benefits are just lead swingers with so called mental illnesses etc, There are quite a few in this city taking up to £350 a week!! Are fed and looked after in hostels for a couple of years then given flats to live in to reintegrate them into the community!! I should know they take taxis everywhere!!

They
DO NOT WORK, have no intention of doing so even when they are capable.... I know this as one of the staff tells us these things... It's very surprising what people will tell cabbies..... (She) tells me that many people feel highly resentful when it's found out....... It turns out they are not even allowed or don't even want to do communal work which would give them some kind of purpose and would be good therapy..... I would imagine that some are definitely in need of help. but it seems the system is failing in many respects..... You tell me....
