Taxi Driver Online

It feels right to have a moment to remember Stina. Some of you maybe wondering why the need for the public out pouring of grief? Well if you had known Stina then you'd understand.

I remember when I met her, she was working for Capgemini and had been transferred from Paris with her job to London. The financial crash shocked us all but the real drama for Stina who was working in the Derivative and Equity markets came when it was revealed the fall in share price was caused by a CG employee! She could never understand why this person had done such a thing to harm the company.

Stina eventually left sickened but not before she found out that actually this guy was a little gullible and had just been used by a scheming rival to better his company in challenging times.

Stina had principles and was open and honest. And that's why she needs to be remembered.....

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"I'm going to tell you the story about the geese which fly 5,000 miles from Canada to France. They fly in V-formation but the second ones don't fly. They're the subs for the first ones. And then the second ones take over - so it's teamwork."

What a wonderful tribute to wake up to Artur. You are absolutely correct in saying that it is the right thing to do. She was a class act and her most important value was indeed principles. The thought of an intruder from within nearly sent Stina over the edge. She stood by her principles thiugh and moved on to a brighter life. The memory of Stina will live forever.
Your quite correct Artur on our last game of 18 at The Claw USF at Tampa. How I chuckled remembering the "Red Baw Face" as you described him. Do you remember when he launched his putter on the 18th and struck the gent sipping his Cristal. They are great memories, I think Ian was never allowed to play golf in the state of Florida again.

Another great weekend was when we were invited to the Heffner bash at Lake Okeechobee, referred to as simply the Lake or the one I prefer "The Big "O"" What a weekend Artur. I felt that that was possibly the last 18 we played but that's for another gathering. Stina gave a rousing speech I recall. The gist of it was morals and principles. She was of course referring back to the rat within her company that brought it to its knees. There were valuable lessons to be learnt Artur. RIP Stina.

Artur, do you feel that maybe the same can be said for the Taxi Trade? Where possibly a member of one company can be influenced by members of another with the idea of bringing the company to its knees!! I know Stina would be appalled by actions such as these but it happens unfortunately. It comes in many forms Artur, verbal attacks on Taxi Ranks, company information passed over to competitors or as easily as a letter. Once again Artur I emphasise that the greatest threat to the taxi trade and the taxi company's is not from Uber or Get Taxi, it is from the devil that lies within.

Thanks again for the wonderful memories and you very moving piece on Stina.

Long Live the Stina.

Aye thanks for that Artur

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All animals are equal but some animals are more equal than others.
George Orwell, "Animal Farm"

That trip to the Lake in Florida was wild and Heffner to a real shine to our Stina but she was having none of it. He dodged one there as she would have eaten him alive.

I think Stina would say put the negativity behind and face facts we're all in this together and healthy competition between the companies is good but you should work together against the apps. Maybe a night with the midgets in Prague would cheer up these scowling faces.

One last memory of Stina from myself.....It was Vienna 2004 and we were there as Olaf had gotten us into German house music and Lars Behrenroth was playing at Flex nightclub.
Stina as entertainments manageress for the Stockholm group had booked us an apartment miles away from Vienna city centre. She took some stick for that, still it was some place.

We ordered a cab after spotting one earlier emblazoned with the number on the bumper and side. We were getting reply thank you texts in German for days with the number to call again, suppose now they'd have a link to the app with maybe some enticing introductory offer that you could even maybe pass on yourself in a link maybe. The driver Tobias was some character and explained he could drop us at the local station as the night club was right next to Schottenring U-Bahn station. But we said no it's clean and warm lets go. He was telling us how when in quieter times his Ausschuss (Committee), all of them! was out handing flyers at Vienna international airport not discounting but explaining the benefits of use of grüne wege (green ways) in peak hours and excellent customer service and business accounts etc. Eventually we told him to quit his jibber jabber and stick some tunes on.

Was a fantastic night and although Tobias couldn't get us he had a cab waiting that had the heaters on, which I was thankful for as Stina in revenge for my teasing her over the apartment had slipped a pill into my Havana 7 club rum and I was starting to come up. Kudos to the revenge move Stina.

What a great laugh back at the apartment with Olaf rapping to the Beastie Boys as he downed shots of apricot schnapps. He'd went for the 80% Doppeltgebrannter version.

Stina will always be with us Kaiser.

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"I'm going to tell you the story about the geese which fly 5,000 miles from Canada to France. They fly in V-formation but the second ones don't fly. They're the subs for the first ones. And then the second ones take over - so it's teamwork."

Great memories Artur. Stina had balls of steel. My favourite memorie takes us back to Lake Okeechobee in 84 and the trip to Lake Worth. I know your smiling now. Heffner took us took the Rhum Shak, 10 limousines in a convoy. I remember Abba belting out the speakers in the Limo while sipping champagne, The Winner takes it all if I remember correctly. Do you remember Stinas face when she was confronted by a naked John Holmes? Stina handled that well, two handed admittedly but she did well all the same. I think the message to us all was, no matter how big the problem, if handled well there is always a solution. Mr Holmes found that out that night. How fitting to mention Mr Holmes as his anniversary of passing is nearly upon us 13/3/88. RIP JH.

I would now like to turn the attention on to another big knob. I heard earlier today that a certain Skull left the Taxi Trade after he was refused his 3rd Plate, no Artur you heard me correctly, his 3rd (THIRD). He had already been given two, free gratis, sold them and was hoping to cash in again. How he sleeps at night is a mystery. He has no right to tell any owners or drivers about morals or principles. I'm hoping Artur to hear your views on this matter.

Stina & John. Always handle what's thrown at you.

Thats going back some Kaiser. I remember the flight out with Olaf smoking that cigar and almost bringing down the plane. Olaf the terrorist before his time.

I'm still in wonderment to this day how Stina coped with such a situation. Right in there two handed, taking a grip of the situation right by the balls. Skål to Stina!

I can't believe this Kaiser I'm sorry. Not about one that preaches so high his moral outpost.

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"I'm going to tell you the story about the geese which fly 5,000 miles from Canada to France. They fly in V-formation but the second ones don't fly. They're the subs for the first ones. And then the second ones take over - so it's teamwork."

Aye that third plate really pi**ed me off but you can't blame a man for trying.

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All animals are equal but some animals are more equal than others.
George Orwell, "Animal Farm"

I mean it's not like you really own a plate, it is a public licence after all and the council will tell you they hold no intrinsic value. So when someone wants to give you cash for one

You know, you would almost think that licence plates hold a scarcity value because qualified drivers are denied the right of unfettered access to the tools of their trade?

Who would have thought?

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All animals are equal but some animals are more equal than others.
George Orwell, "Animal Farm"

Anyhoo Kaiser what about this Stina Engstrom? I was just getting into that...

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All animals are equal but some animals are more equal than others.
George Orwell, "Animal Farm"

Perhaps as part of the surprise "This is Your Life" ceremony to mark the 10,000 postings on the TDO we could persuade the City of Edinburgh Council to un-revoke the taxi drivers licence and issue a plate too.

It would be interesting to see how long you would hold onto the tools of your trade this time round.

Afternoon Skull. I would like to make it perfectly clear that at no time would you have been able to get into Stina. Stina would have ate you up and spat you out for breakfast. Stina was the Shirley Bassey of the Stockholm movement. If she could handle John Holmes she would have you wrapped round her little finger. Stina would have frowned upon your lack of principles and the fact that you have no morals would have appalled her.
You ramble on Skull that you know so much but fail to deliver on any actual points. One question I would like to ask Skull, and I am hoping you could provide a positive answer!

How damaging to the Edinburgh Taxi Trade do you feel that CRT's discounting strategy is? And, how long are such strategies sustainable? After all Skull, there's only one person going to pay towards the discounts.

Long Live Stina.

So what Stina Engstrom movie are you talking about

You couldn't do me a favour and sort out the hot chocolate at the feeder rank, one of you's will do

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Alway's been about Tightening the Grip!

Good evening Private Reggie. Having driven Taxi's since the late 70's, I am still trying to recall if I have ever read such nonsense that you have penned. I have broken a promise I made to myself not respond to any of your drivel, but after reading your derogatory remarks towards Stina I have had to rescind. I have taken the time to read over your posts, I started at 4:30 and was snoring at 4:45. I can't forsee you having any tangible assets to offer the taxi trade now or in the future. I never had the opportunity to purchase my own taxi, so I must be one of the drivers that are detrimental to our trade. I think not PR. Please don't get confused again, I'm referring to your pseudonym and not a department of business.
I'm sure Stina would be delighted to hear you like Hot Chicolate. I can still remember her dancing to "you sexy thing" at a prestigious event at the Dorchester.

Mrs Artur in her professional capacity as a psychologist has banned me from engaging with yourself PR. However your distasteful comments on a Memoriam page are un called for.

Oh PR I wasn't at the Dorchester that night in 1991 but if phones had cameras back then you could have watched to your hearts delight Stina dancing on YouTube, her sweet moves would have heated you up. She was the talk of the London set that night.

Stina firmly never trusted anyone that asked for a favour.....only friends can really ask for a favour but then friends should never have to ask for such a thing.

In your primitive way PR, I do thank you for remembering her though.

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"I'm going to tell you the story about the geese which fly 5,000 miles from Canada to France. They fly in V-formation but the second ones don't fly. They're the subs for the first ones. And then the second ones take over - so it's teamwork."

I've always said that the discounting strategy of two very similar placed companies would eventually bring these companies down. Hence the huge potential for the destabilisation of the trade by GET TAXI/UBER et al moving into the market via their app technology.

These app companies do not have to be hugely successful to bring down CITY or CRT because both live from hand to mouth just to survive.

The simple truth is, you can't keep paying more to sustain the work you have or to come up with less work before reaching a tipping point and the whole house of cards comes crashing down.

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All animals are equal but some animals are more equal than others.
George Orwell, "Animal Farm"