Day 4 – Montrose & Perthshire
This was another trip that showed the flexibility of these tickets, but also how you can become unstuck quite easily. Took 607 on the 39 to Montrose, and then got on the same bus again when it returned to Montrose, taking me back to Dundee. I then took Dart 317 on the 16 to Perth, then proceeded further west for the 17 towards Gleneagles, as far as Auchterader.
I got to the bus station in enough time, but the bus was nowhere to be found. Called the depot after about 10 minutes, and what they basically said was as no-one else had phoned in, the bus must have been in on time. I left it at that, and asked around the stance. Including those that couldn’t speak much English, we had 9 passengers waiting for this service. For passengers going beyond Dunning to points not served by other services (Abbey Road area of Auchterader, for example) it’s the only bus for two and a half hours – and there were no school buses for back-up, as the schools were off! So, I called back… the bus was on it’s way with 41509 on the 17 – and the tickets on the floor showed that the bus had came straight off the 13, a sort of horseshoe shaped route which (sometimes) seems to have an issue with reliability, not helped by tagging on lots of extra bits to it over the years! Anyway, 41509 left with ten passengers, and more were picked up out on the 17 to Auchterader, and got the same bus in reverse. The bus went out showing “DUNNING/VIA/KINTILLO” beause the manually wound Mercedes don’t have Gleneagles Hotel – this might well be the last one now. I hadn’t been to Auchterader for a while, so did what I had to do, and went back for the bus – knowing that it was late, but it had made up a bit of time.
For the first time in *ages*, stopped a the New Hong Kong (the better of the two take-aways in the vicinity of the bus station) for a Deep Fried Pizza… second this year, but not as many as before! Some of the foods I used to eat make me feel sick now, but this isn’t too bad. I then found yet another way to travel from Perth to Dundee – via Meikleour, Blairgowrie and Piper Dam. Took Solo 253 on the 58A from Perth to Blairgowrie. When the blind fired up, it showed that the various “via” points flipped correctly, except that “via Cargill” showed as a 58, not a 58A. The driver commented that this was occasionally an issue. Then, changed to Volvo 614 on the 59 from Blairgowrie to Dundee. 614 was therefore my last bus of the day, the last bus of the month, which made journey number 150.
Day 3 - Perth
We were supposed to be having a DABF Meet-Up in Dundee today, but the bus and driver were both unavailable, so it’s been put off until later in the year. As a last-minute alternative, I’d suggested Perth – and the “tour”.
I’d taken Perth Volvo 20111 on the 16 from Dundee to Perth. After a look around Perth city centre, lunch, and meeting Tony, the bus arrived – as the promised AEC Routemaster EDS 50A ex Perth 601. Alan Condie (who was doing the conducting) wants to paint this into red & cream Perth City Transport livery for next season…
After a look around Perth, I had a go on Solo 47223 (on most of the Moncrieffe & Craigie part of Service 6), before taking similar 47225 on the 10 to Riggs Road. Strathtay’s Perth depot was demolished some time ago to make way for a Lidl store, but Lidl have recently moved over the road. The car park is now being used for the vehicles from the People On A Mission movement. The Neoplan was behind the Christian Centre at the time.
I then walked back into town via the retail park & TIC, had another go on the tour, before taking Dart 33436 on the 16 back to Dundee.
Day 2 – Fife, North Berwick & Preston Mill
I’d enjoyed yesterday quite a bit, and today’s visit was to cover new ground for me. I’ve got my MegaRider to take me to Edinburgh, and I’ve also purchased a One-Ticket, to cover me onto East Lothian. I firstly got Stagecoach Fife 20314 on the 96, and the driver questioned the ticket. That didn’t take long, did it? (It was even printed on a Stagecoach ticket roll – Subway advert promo stock – rather than a Strathtay roll!) Once I explained, he was happy, and let me on. The 99 group service was due, but no-where to be found, so I took this one to Guardbridge, when the 99 was on our tail. I got off, and the driver said “are you trying to catch the 99”? I said “No, going for the X24” He looked at his watch, smiled and carried on his way. (The 99/99A/99B and 94/94A carry onto St Andrews the “direct” way, and the 96 runs via Strathkinness. More confusingly, the two journeys on the 96A use the “direct” way too).
I walked around the corner from Guardbridge Main Street to Guardbridge Cupar Road. If anyone has been wondering, the Blue Bus X58 (St Andrews – Livingston) appears now to be a non-starter, thanks to a disagreement with the TC/VOSA. As a result, Fife Council have obliterated the service from all the panels, that they changed in the run up to the start of the month!
Then, it was 52422 on the X24 from Guardbridge to Cupar, and 52481 on the X59 from Cupar to Edinburgh. Whilst on the bus, I spotted – most unusually – a “99” branded MAN, on the 64 (ran by St Andrews on Saturdays), and one of the St Andrews Stagecoach Express posters appeared to have been inadvertently stuck up in Kirkcaldy. As I got to Edinburgh, one of Munro’s MAN/MCV’s was about to leave for Jedburgh, with a connection for Kelso.
I took some pictures around Princes Street, but then the card was filled, so I had no space for the rest of the adventure. Shame, because it was some adventure!
I took First 62394 on the X5 from Edinburgh’s North St Andrew Street to North Berwick, where there was lots of school holiday and weekend tourist traffic around the town. After stopping at North Berwick TIC, I was able to take EVE Cars & Coaches Service 120B North Berwick – Tantallon Castle - East Linton - Dunbar (that’s what it says on the timetable!) from North Berwick to Preston Mill, before going in for a look. By contrast to how busy North Berwick was, and all the traffic heading to and from East Fortune Airshow, this was somewhat different, and quiet. I can’t remember now for the life of me the name of the guide, but she managed to translate what my name meant in old Scots. I didn’t quite make the bus back into East Linton/Dunbar, but walked the short distance into East Linton village, and then for First Scania 61218 on the X6 to Edinburgh via Haddington. This service was recently extended following BRDG funding to/from Dunbar, giving Dunbar two buses an hour to Edinburgh.
As we got into Edinburgh, I wondered if we’d still be in time to get the last X60 back to St Andrews. Well, one better – I was in time to get the one before that – the Leven short working. I took 52441 on the X60 from Edinburgh to Kirkcaldy, popped off for snacks and sweets, and then took PS type 20303 on the X60 from Kirkcaldy to Leven. This bus is actually a St Andrews motor, and it was swapped over when it got home, with a Dart retuning to Leven. I then took MAN 22407 on the 99A back to Dundee, and then home.
Day 1 – Newtyle & Perth trip
This was the first day of my 10-days-for-the-price-of-5 holiday. (I have 10 days off, taking five days paid leave, and combining it for rest days). My normal shift at the call centre is 1300-2200 Monday, Wednesday, Thursday, Saturday (the second most oft asked question, after “when’s the next bus to…”). So, you get the idea. For the first seven days I will have the Stagecoach “SuperMegaRider” ticket - £30 for 7 days travel. It covers all Stagecoach in Fife, all Stagecoach in Perth services, Stagecoach in Glasgow services within the City plus the X25, Stagecoach Western Service 4 within Glasgow, and has recently been extended to cover all Meffan’s services, and all Strathtay services – with the exception of cross-boundary services into Aberdeenshire, where your ticket is valid to Marykirk (8, 9, 29, 102, 104), Gannochy Bridge (31 inbound), or Northwaterbridge (31 outbound, 339). Yum Yum – where do you go first?
My mother wanted me to meet up with her for lunch, before heading for Newtyle to see the relatives. I’d planned to go onto Perth – thought about waiting for the new Friday extra-late Perth-Pitlochry-Blair Atholl return, but wanted to save my energies for tomorrow (and you should see what I’ve got planned!)
So, we met at Dundee Bus Station, and proceeded to City Quay. She still complains that the 31, which passes close to their place, doesn’t run anymore, because it used to run all the way into City Quay, saving the walk. I happen to know she was one of two regular passengers on that service sometimes… if that. The City Quay end was a waste of time, the rest would have been worth saving, but that’s for another day. She wanted to take me to this restaurant at the outlet, called Saks. Don’t confuse this with the American store chain, or even the hair & beauty place in town, as this is fully titled Saks Steakhouse. They do a wide variety of stuff, with a three-course lunchtime buffet. The food was not bad, nothing special, but a wide enough choice. I wasn’t too sure about one of the cakes, but there was plenty of ice cream to try instead! As we left City Quay, Mum had a look in the health food store doing a sale on, and buys a fair bit (she was fully aware she still had to get to Newtyle and back!, and that I would be only going out i.e. not coming back with her to Dundee. As an interesting throwback to where we were headed next – after the last few shops and the bus station – I snapped a picture of The Frigate Unicorn, from the other side. My dad used to be a volunteer worker and show-guide on the boat, and the two of them had their Silver Wedding Anniversary a few years ago now.
Crossing over to the bus station reminds you of the traffic lights, which appear to be stuck when a pedestrian presses the crossing signal, for up to two minutes! If you are in a hurry and heading west, you may wish to walk via the Casino instead! Anyway, after all that, we headed for Newtyle. Trident 18508 on the 57, and I bought the first £30 weekly that driver had sold so far!
We got to Newtyle, and all is fine. Dad had put together a bag of clothes he was no longer using – well, two – and it turns out a couple of the things had shrunk somewhat… but my mum had resolved this with the home before we left. Yes, Dad & “Auntie” Margaret are fine.
We were heading back for our buses, and this is where I start to get something that I’d missed out on – until now. By this point we’ve been out for a few hours, but my mum now starts to complain about the length of my skirt… now, obviously I missed out on that sort of “fun” when I was younger, for obvious reasons, but she did follow it up with “I wouldn’t let your sister go out like that…” No comment, but I can confirm it was knee-length, just! It was a little on the big side for me, I thought! Well, either that or I've lost even more weight...
She got another Trident, on the 57 back to Dundee, while I went onto Perth on Volvo Olympian 962 (I will start to use the new fleetnumbers as soon as they are on everything!) all the way through to Perth Bus Station. I then fancied a few bits & pieces from Tesco, so took Stagecoach in Perth Mercedes 47051,on the 14 to opposite Tesco Crieff Road, then crossed over to Tesco. Whilst I was shopping, the bus continued to Pitcairngreen & Bridgeton, and I came out in time to get the same bus back to South Methven Street, where I made it to South Street in time for Strathtay 615 on the 1910 16 back to Dundee.
I can’t be the only one who wants to make journeys like that, can I ? The opportunity to cross Dundee, cross Perth, etc. on different services, is now even more open, with tickets like this. The opportunity also arises for crossing Montrose or the Aberdeenshire boundary, but Rome wasn’t built in a day. How long have First been running trains and buses in Scotland now, with little sign of integration? From the Stagecoach takeover of Traction Group to the first phase of new Strathtay tickets – even with an OFT investigation in the way – was six and a bit months…
Two wrongs don't make a right - normally
This was my last day at work, before the start of ten days off.
Talk about unfortunate timing though, because following
Erin's announcement earlier in the week, her state has recently made their policy on "gay marriage". I'll leave it in the words of the artist herself, as she does such a good job at it...
July 27, 2006 - Well, today I was going to post my father's guest rant, but just this morning, the gay marriage decision got handed down from the Washington Supreme Court, and since this affects me personally, having just proposed to my lesbian girlfriend of two years, I felt obligated to say something. First of all, thank you to the many, many people who sent me congratulations on our engagement. It's really heartwarming to know that not everyone believes its wrong to be in love. The soon-to-be Mrs. Lindsey (or maybe I'm the soon-to-be Mrs... I guess that's something we need to discuss) is still pretty giddy over the whole thing, and she's loving reading everyone's e-mails over my shoulder. There's still a lovely picture of the custom Ring I had made for her here, for those of your who've been wanting to see it. And to answer the single most oft-asked question I've received: No, we don't have a date in mind yet. We know it will have to be at least a year, because neither of us wants to tie the knot while I'm still crazy with schooling, and we'd like to make it within the next two years. Beyond that, who can say. To answer the second-most-asked question: No, I will not be having a public wedding for all my fans. You'll just have to settle for sending wedding gifts and cash. So back on the very national version of marriage: This morning, the Washington States Supreme Court handed down their decision that homosexuals didn't deserve the right to marry. Their basic reasoning, like most every opponent's, is that being gay is a choice, so it's not something you need special consideration for. I'm not going to break off into a tirade about whether or not gay is in-born or learned, and whether its a choice or something you're just given without your consultation, but if it were up to these same sorts of people, being black would probably be considered a lifestyle choice, too. The line that really stuck it to me was in mentioning that gays weren't being discriminated against, because they're free to marry people of the opposite sex any time they want. Dear lord, if ANYTHING would cause damage to straight marriage, it would be forcing gays to do it. The primary justification for the judicial discrimination was that gay couples couldn't procreate (well... gay male couples, anyway; as near as I can tell, there's no such thing as lesbians), so in years to come, expect to see a lot of court decisions from Washington state outlawing marriage between the elderly, sterile couples, and heterosexuals who don't want children. Luckily, thanks to extremely close-minded birth-certificate modification laws that prevent a transsexual from being re-assigned as her new gender, I can still legally marry the woman I love. I guess two wrongs can make a right.In Europe, are we really that open-minded - or closed-minded? I think we like to think we are open minded, although some people say we restrictive. At least the UK on the whole has got better policies on both the items mentioned - albeit with much discussion along the way (and in the latter case, a challenge to the European Court of Human Rights). Maybe things aren't so bad after all. Not brilliant or ideal, but still better than some.
Right, enough rants from me for now, I am officially on holiday!
Work Wednesday
In addition to the aforementioned 10 days away (starting this coming Friday by the way), there was an extra reason to be smiling at work today. Ish. The air-con was not working, and the temperature was shooting up. But, I had an hour's training on a new system, so we got an hour in the "cold" side of the building, with working air-con in the training rooms! It's sad to think about it that way, I know...
While I Was Out...
... having a good time, Erin Lindsey has just published via her comic , that she recently proposed to her girlfriend, who duly accepted! Congrats to them both. While the rest is to follow, for that brief moment in time, they will be the happiest couple on the planet.
25/07/2006
This would have been my grandmother's 83rd birthday (my mother's mother), and is also notable for being the day she got given her last pet cat, a vicious little thing which came from a neighbour upstairs, on this day back in 1993. It would spit at you if you showed it any affection. So what did she call it? Fluffy...... 25/07/1993 was also when the Sunday 5/6 was started by Tayside, but I shall leave that for another time...... Today's trips were various points around Dundee, and you can see the pictures here, if you wish to! I was meeting my mother in town this early-evening for a "dine out" (there's another americanisim again...) Anyway, we did, and she was about to head home on the bus. I was going to go straight home myself, but at the last minute, decided to go back to theirs. So, my mother and I were talking about many things, and my sister joined us. She'd been upstairs asleep, although she had been out earlier. Turns out she's been up to Ninewells Hospital genetics, to go for the same tests I had done at the end of last year to see whether or not she'd picked up a defective gene that could lead to HD, and she'll have her results late next month. To be honest, I was secretly proud of this, just wishing I'd had the chance when I was her age... yes, she's 18 now. How would I have reacted then to now, assuming nothing else had changed earlier or later? That's an interesting one,. thankfully I'd never have to find out. She explained about her recent change of circumstances with work (like me many years ago, she took what she thought was a better offer and it wasn't), wedding (no longer, but they are still good friends), new bf etc. - and the rest. I've added links to her myspace and faceparty on my blogroll (look under "R" for Ruth...)
... so I stayed late, and got a taxi back to town...that was a different day!
Never mind the local holidays
Got through work, with the promise of a "different" day tommorrow, two more work days, and then away for ten days! It was also a Dundee local holiday today, but we work to "English" holodays - see previous rants.
Fair City Vintage Bus Tour
Stagecoach Perth are providing a town tour of Perth this year - not using the open top buses used until now, but using "vintage" vehicles instead, and running on Sundays only.
The service is being crewed with veteran driver Brian Johnson at the wheel, and publisher/writer Alan Condie doing conducting and tour guiding. This was an interesting combination worth sampling, and today's bus was the ex-Fife Bristol Lodekka
BXA 464B. The tour passes
Balhousie Castle, back to the City Centre, over the Queens Bridge, passing the
Isle Of Skye Hotel lights,
Bridgend, A93/A94 junction,
Gannochy,
Kinnoull Hill (
timing point), down
past the monestry, back to
Bridgend,
A93/A94 junction,
Isla Road to
Scone Palace -
watch out for the peacocks! - before back on the
bus, and heading back to town...
... On the way there took 33439 on the 16 from Dundee to Perth (the ex-Inverness one), where
the bus then continued as a 15 to Comrie. The tour charges normal Perth city service fares i.e. £1.25 point-to-point, but also offers a £2.50 all day "open" ticket, which can then be used all day on any Perth city service, so I also squeezed in a bash on Solo 47053 on both the 11 Kinnoull Hill and 3 Scone/Old Scone circle - giving the opportunity to compare the old bus with the new, on similar roads. On the way home, Solo 47225 on the 16 - both 16's very busy throughout, and the one coming in had a huge load for the Errol Car Boot Sale.
Next week, the Perth Tour sees the A1 Service-liveried Routemaster...
Saturday. WORK
... is a four letter word!
I signed onto the phones today in time for 1300 start, and had all the systems open in enough time to start my shift. Sometimes I can cut it a little fine, but some days are different for whatever reason - and on a Thursday or Saturday, depending which of the two buses I get (or three), I'd always arrive earlier than a Monday or Wednesday (no 54 you see).
As part of what we do, we are supposed to fill in a web form for every "unsolved" call. This is in addition to everything else we've been doing until now. As part of the enforcement, if you aren't using this, you will be given the usual coaching with your team coach/leader/manager/whatever they've called them this week.
40 minutes into my shift, and our on-duty team coach for the afternoon finds out only two such forms have been filled in all day. EVERYONE gets a counselling form - even me, and I've got mine open, just had no suitable calls on which to use it! I did object at the time, but was told to "go back to your seat"... then just over an hour later, I was told that I could get rid of mine, because he'd thought about it, and I'd not been in long enough. Shame was, I'd already filled it in, photocopied it, took a printed screen grab, and printed them out to take home with me, to complain about this later... Why? Not because of being right or wrong, but the number of calls waiting increased while we were all fannying around with paperwork that was not required (in all cases). The web form in question has recently been modified so that the name box (where you put your name) has been removed... yes, I'll let you explain to me how the hell they work it out. Apparently it comes from our profile names, which is weird when you send something to the printer how they all show up as the same...
Whilst at work, I found we'd had a small delivery of a publication called "North East Yearbook & Business Directory”, which I'd not seen before. I guess you've all seen the format - a mix of editoral and adverts. Here's a surprise - ClientLogic has a full page Editorial on Page 5! Bearing today in mind, read this quote... "...The team thrive in a young and dynamic environment, designed to motivate and encourage. ClientLogic is a modern company with a team based work ethic driven by the desire to make a difference for their clients; a positive outlook and a committed approach are pre-requisites. ClientLogic expects its employees to take ownership, make decisions and have the ability to make a positive impact on the results their clients seek”.
I do get asked a lot about my work, but I'm sometimes ashamed to explain some of these things. Think about this. For those of you who are in a relationship (even a virtual or online one), think of the number of times your wife/husband/girlfriend/boyfriend/partner/significant other says "What did you do at work today"? Then, explain the above. And all the other [long string of expletives] we've had to put up with of late.
Two things to keep me sane in all this...
1. That "special person" of mine also works in telecoms, so he's seen it all before! ...and...
2. Just THREE more shifts to go, Monday, Wednesday and Friday - then I'm off for TEN days - for the price of five!
I can see the good in everything, and everyone. Even if it's got a sign above it showing "EXIT"...
West Side Story
Fine on Friday?... well, not so much of a headache today, and the lack of nausea was probably a good thing!
I got out of bed in time to find a shop open to sell me another One-Ticket for today, and travelled around the west side of Edinburgh, and West Lothian. After I'd left Nethergate News I saw the 16 coming on the other side of the road - Stagecoach 20151 - so got that to the bus station, clawing back 60p or so after yesterday! Then, form the bus station, the One-Ticket trip began for real.
From Dundee, I travelled on Stagecoach 52440 on the X54 from Dundee to Ferrytoll Park & Ride (0845 departure) which is on the north side of the Forth Bridges, just outside Edinburgh. The reason for the change of bus was that the X54 doesn't stop on the other side at the bridge tolls, so I had to change to a 747 or 55. I let the X50 go before I realised that ran into South Queensferry... never mind. I got 20336 across the bridge on the 55 to Forth Bridge Tolls, and walked up the ramps into South Queensferry Tesco, for the bus to Livingston via Broxburn, due off at 1129. When I got to Tesco, the bus (E&M Horsburgh Optare Solo YJ51XSL) was not due out for some time, but I could see it was already there - didn't think the diversion saved that much time! I took this as a good sign, but when I came out, the driver told me he was the 1029 departure not yet away, because he couldn't get it started! The irony being, if I'd got out of bed an hour earlier this morning, I'd still be stuck here now! Anyway, the cavalry arrived in the shape of YJ51XSO, and the mechanics van was still coming to attend to XSL in time. The driver apologised to the few who questioned where the last bus got to...
At Broxburn Main Street/Cardross/Strathbrock Partnership Centre, I got off the bus, and crossed the road, to get another similar bus from the same operator on Service 274, Livingston-Broxburn-Linlithgow, YK51XSN. This took me into Linlithgow, and I went for a nosey in the First enquiry office at the depot. Despite the office hours on the door posted as open until 1400, and the fact that there was over an hour to go, and staff inside, it was locked! Treating passengers with contempt as ever! After YJ51XSN had done it's town loop, I got it back through to Livingston town centre, and had a look around the shops. That "Cadbury World" store may be a bad find after all... even in the summer... at least right now I'd avoid chocolate purchasing as it would just melt... still ended up with some though!
From Livingston I took First Scania decker 36009 on the 27 to Hermiston, and crossed the road to the newish Park & Ride site. Services 25, 34 of Lothian come in here, as well as Stagecoach's X40 service towards The Gyle & Ferrytoll. Yes, I was heading for the former, so 34082 took me from Hermiston to The Gyle. Then, a case of Lothian Buses Volvo 131 on the 22 into Edinburgh city centre, having tea/supper/whatever you want to call it as long as it didn't make me sick - and it didn't! - before 52424 took me back on the X59 from Edinburgh to Glenrothes (picture of it arriving at Edinburgh on the previous run), before 20335 took me on the 24 to Cupar, and then MAN 22405 on the 42 from Cupar to Dundee - where I finally got to meet up with Graeme/TP2040! On the bus home, met Nagiv who used to be in our team at work, but is working elsewhere now. Apparently he'd wanted to come back full-time, but they didn't agree because he didn't have enough experience, despite a year of working part-time... but two of his friends who'd not worked there before got taken on!
Thoughts for the day - first time I've ever had an EMH bus break down on me, but as you can see it didn't cause too many problems. The lack of "exact fare" boxes, and allowing the drivers to have the radio on (even if it is pernamently fixed to Real Radio) seems to keep the passengers relaxed and entertained. First's "work avoidance" was another thing, but I will try them again some other trip. Whilst sitting down for "tea" - yes, quite rare to get me to sit down for any length of time I know - but anyway, I was sat next to an American couple who were on holiday, and they were discussing with a Euopean couple beside them. The two Americans then tried to work out each of the states... on the back of their reciept, I think they had a few left to go. Real world life is all around you.
If you still want to see all the bus pictures I took today, look here!
I don't like it when I feel like this
I felt a little bit weird when going to bed last night, but put it down to all the running around I've been doing. Then, I woke up in the middle of the night, feeling not good at all - "throwing up" is probably the best word for it, even if it is an american-ism. I ended up with a headache, and headed back for bed. Woke up, called in sick (several hours before my shift - I usually wait and see, but on the very rare occasion I feel like this - last one was in 2002 I think - I know I won't make it).
I woke up at 1500ish, and my headache had cleared by 1700. I was meant to be meeting Gareth & Graeme/TP2040 this morning, but I'd not. So, as Gareth's phone was previously advised to me to be defective, I sent a text to Graeme's phone to say I wouldn't be there. Guess what - he'd left it at home, turned off. So, I get a bollocking message from Gareth, but he did apologise shortly afterwards when they got up to Graeme's place, and he put his phone into the charger.
What p155ed me off most about that was I had about £12 to do me the rest week, and I spent £6.90 on a 7 Day TayMegaRider yesterday... never mind, sure I'll make it up early next week!
Blog updated
By very popular demand (you all know who you are!) I've updated the blog with the last few weeks worth of stuff. There is some heavy reading in parts, I warn you now! There have been some structural changes to the blog, in that anyone can now post a comment/reply, you don't need to be signed into Blogger.com to do so. This is how it should have been, but some setting changed inside somewhere. I do have "post moderation" and "word recognition" turned on to prevent spam/robots, but I promise to post all messages that make sense, are inoffensive, that are not spam, and regardless of whether they agree with me or not. I know a few of you have said "well I would have put a comment to it on the blog..." or "why can I not place a comment...", so this should resolve the issue. Let me know if it does not.
Burntisland Games Day, and The Original Falkirk Wheel
Today, another
One-Ticket to bash the Burntisland Highland Games Service 21. These games are a one-day event, and IIRC is the oldest established games still going. The bus service runs from Cowdenbeath to Bernards Smithy via the old 18 route (now the 16), then onto Burntisland via usually unserved roads. This year was one bus only - last year was two - to leave from Cowdenbeath Kelty Junction at 45 past the hour from 1045 to 1845, and returning from Burntisland Harbour Place thirty minutes later. Good crowds are usually taken on this route, despite the uniqueness, and buses have it on the blinds all year round, so no boards or bits of paper, even for one day a year (First please note!) An Aberhill-based Trident
18093 was used departing at 1035, almost full, but it appears this was on duplicates, as Volvo Olympian
16401 was the main bus, and it left at 1045. At 1115, the Olympian left Burntisland, with Trident
18093 (driven by an Aberhil inspector) shortly behind.
So I took Stagecoach 52478 on the X54 from Dundee to Halbeath Lauder College, 22273 on the 19 to Cowdenbeath depot, 22274 on the 19 to Cowdenbeath Kelty Junction,
16401 on the 21 to Burntisland Harbour Place,
18097 on the 7 to Dunfermline - until the bus developed a defect at Hillend By-Pass, we continued to Inverkething High School and got put onto 16045 on the 79, then 52474 on the X26 to Kincardine, First
Scania 60203 on the 15 to Alloa, First Scania 62310 on the 60 to Stirling town centre, First Scania 62303 on the 62 to Stirling Bus Station, First Dart 40942 on the 16 to Caron, then I joined "the original Falkirk Wheel" - the Falkirk Circular 10/11/12 services. These routes have recently been "upgraded" using Bus Route Development Grant funding, and now run up to six times an hour instead of four (they used to be six times an hour per direction before the 1999 service cuts/changes). So, First Scania 61233 on the 11 to Stenhousmuir, First Scania 60192 on the 10 to Stenhousemuir shops, First Scania 61233 to Larbert, First Scania 60192 on the 12 to Falkirk Asda, then walked to Falkirk Bus Station where Stagecoach Fife 20327 took me on the 74 back to Dunfermline, then 52366 on an X54 as far as Glenrothes. To take up the time, went for a run on the 46A within Glenrothes - to Caskieberran and back - and since the three new "diet" Solo's got put on the 13 (meaning the older, "fat" Solo's got put on the 46/46A instead), Aberhill have tried to keep the 46/46A all low-floor, and I've heard a few reports of Tridents turning up, as it's the next thing low floor that thye have... so,
18094 took me out and back, before I went for 52460 on the X24 to Guardbridge, and then 22406 on the 99A to Dundee.
You can see all the pictures
here. The Dunfermline bus swapping is more than usual (although branded buses have been known to wander at that depot) because of capacity needs on the 78 exceeding that of a Solo, so the D5/D6 is getting the Solo's from the 78, and the Dart's are going onto the 78. As a result, this evening, Darts that worked the 78 during the day then continued to the 76 and the 80.
Run-around Saturday
I said I'd be at the Seafront Spectacular in Arbroath today - in the end, I walked past the Strathtay presence a few times before finding three conductors hard at work promoting the new "Round O" network, as it will be branded, starting in mid-August. The "goodie bags" they were handing out included new pocket timetables showing each of the five main corridors in Arbroath, and the new DayRider (£1.50 for 1 days travel in Arbroath) and MegaRider (£5.00 for 7 days travel in Arbroath) tickets which start from 14th August.
See the pictures here.
Now, I did try to get this day off, but failed - once more. I'm not going to whinge about it, as this one was put in a lot later than the others. I was a little late (see due to above hold-up - and walking to the wrong park initally probably didn't help), but still left at 2200. When I was ready to go, I couldn't find my keys. Turns out that I'd locked them away in a closed room, and our own duty manager type person - the only campaign working this late - didn't really seem to know if the cleaners would be in (as they'd have a key so I could get back where I left my keys) or what else that might happen if I couldn't get back... so I called a friend of mine who also happened to be that evening's on call duty manager... I won't explain what happened next, but within seven minutes, I legally and morally got my keys back! Good, but the oriignal response hardly inspires confidence, and it's things like that which I have to explain when people ask why I really want to leave... maybe today wasn't supposed to be. Maybe we'll never know now.
Friday
Today was the first chance I'd had to speak to Jay in well over a month... mostly as he's been off to Florida, and I've been ar*ing it up and down the A90/A91/A92 etc. Anyway, we had a lot to catch up on - both of us - and we talked for a good few hours. (He's currently on an earlier shift, which is equivilent to 12 noon to 8pm my time). Afterwards, I was left with that strange warm inner glow, and knowing that if we'd met in the flesh, I'd probably be a little sore by the end of it LOL... now I know why I think of himn in the way I do, and have been doing so since late 2002. Anyway, n interesting coincidence this evening... today's episode of the Bastard Operator From Hell (BOFH) series, amazingly titled "Go On Then, Subcontract Us" has a quote from the boss, where he was discussing the BOFH's contract "...mentions nothing about subcontracting your services to another company," he counters smartly. "I know - I had the company solicitors give your contract the once-over. As impressed as they were about the numerous strange clauses in your contract - their favourite being the extortionate penalty payment for remaining at work after a UFO sighting in the vicinity of the building - they believe that there's nothing to stop us using you to provide services to other companies." You can then read how that ended up. Well, heading up Commercial Street at 2235ish, I could see another undentified illusion - two Travel Dundee buses with the same number (160) on the back. I waited for the 40 minutes or so until they came back - and here they are, 160 and 160 (really 161).
(Later - they were both changed the next morning before 161 went back on the road).
Guess which bus took me to work today....
... 148. Not 258, you'll note - although I'm sure I saw it out. Despite those four Solo's being less than a year old (257-260 in "old" money, think they are 47257-47260 in Stagecoach numbers) I've been them on them all many times over. Being on the bus passing my work does help...
Forth Valley Explorer
I took a
One-Ticket for a spin... from Dundee on the Stagecoach 99B [22401] to Guardbridge, Stagecoach X24 [52475] to Dunfermline, Stagecoach 79 [16166] and 19 [22264] within Dunfermline, Stagecoach 74 [
47178] to Falkirk, First 38 [
65271] to Linlithgow (on which my seat cushion kept coming off as we went forward...), First 38 [
65720] to Edinburgh, Lothian 34 [561] within Edinburgh city centre, First 86A [32682] to Dalkeith, Lothian 3A [702] to Edinburgh city centre, Lothian 34 [552] to Sighthill, walk to Hermitston Gait Retail Park then walk via Edinburgh Park Station to South Gyle Crescent, Lothian 35 [
567] to Edinburgh Airport, Stagecoach 747 [
47228] to Ferrytoll Park & Ride, Stagecoach X59 [52462] to Glenrothes, Stagecoach 24 [
52367] to Guardbridge, and finally Stagecoach 99A [22404] back to Dundee. The trip started at 0903 from Dundee Bus Station, and I got back into the bus station just after 2300. Eighteen buses in sixteen hours for £10.65. You can see all the pictures
here.
News picked up along the way includes Blue Bus of Shotts are to introduce a
new Service X58 from St Andrews & Dunfermline to Livingston - was due to start on the 10th of July, but apparently it's not been seen in Fife yet. (Later - turns out the traffic commissoners have objected in some way to the registration, thus delaying its start date until further notice).
Guess which bus I had today...
... on the 13 to work... that's right... it's 258. Four days, four journeys on 258, and all on journeys originating in the City Centre heading west... now I am worried... tommorrow, no Strathtay buses, but Wednesday?
Another Saturday at work...
... especially as I was unable to get the weekend off! Never mind... got 258 to work today... yes, again. I'm beginning to get suspicious - three days, three journeys... at work today, I was helping with one of the newish starts. The trainer-person in question said they'd been getting "good feedback" about me from those newbies who I had sharing my calls last week. I then pointed out the 9/30 review that I had, but that seemed to be an aside issue, so I did this for three hours this evening. A bit of extra variety, and something different.
Cairngorms & Aberdeen
Earlier in the year, Aberdeenshire & Moray Councils tendered the Heather Hopper (it's two words this year!) Service 501 from Ballater to Grantown-on-Spey. The 501 was timed to connect with buses to/from Aberdeen and Aviemore, for the adventurous. The finished timetable has been published, and it started on Monday past. Stagecoach Bluebird won the Aberdeenshire tendered run on the 501 using a "plain" bus, and D&E Coaches won their run on the 501 using a newish Optare Solo with bike access, and extending it commercially in service to/from Aberdeen. Stagecoach Bluebird also registered a commercial Service 502, from Aberdeen via Strathdon to Ballater, Glenshee, Pitlochry and Perth, with two overlapping buses from Perth to Ballater, and Pitlochry to Aberdeen. So I'd worked out how I could do a day around the 502 from Perth in the morning, and then continue back down the coast via Montrose back to Dundee at night. I also had a committment in Aberdeen to do as well, making it more worthwhile.
So, to do this, I left the house very early, for the 0740 54A Dundee - Perth. This was using Optare Solo 258 (schools were off) which is the one I got to work yesterday on the 13's! Of course, this is the start of the T In The Park weekend, and the Bus Station cafe were not missing a trick with posters all over! (When you've got food as good as they do, I guess it's allowed). The 502 was leaving from Mill Street, so I made my way up, and saw amongst other things, an Olympian on the 9, before recently-transferred-back-to-Bluebird-from-Fife Mercedes 40586 arrived to pick me up. I was the only passenger, well at least as far as Pitlochry, where an elderly Australian woman boarded the bus. She'd been told about this bus by the tourist office (good start, given that it began the previous Monday), and she wanted to go to Kirkmichael... if it had been the week before, there would have been no bus between these points, so she would have had to go via Dunkeld, or Perth, then changing at Blairgowrie. It transpires that her relatives lived in Kirkmichael years ago, and she's came over to try to find them... that does inspire you somewhat. As the bus rose out of Pitlochry on the bit of road that's not otherwise served by bus usually except for this new service, (well, until early 2007 - as one of the options for the Tarvie-Kirkmichael-Blairgowrie Service 71 may include two return trips on Saturday extend to/from Pitlochry... we shall see...)
When we got to the Spittal Of Glenshee Hotel, there is a break of about 50 minutes. Three Lochs & Glens coaches were getting ready to depart, blocking the "bus stop" (read - postbus), so the driver parked in the bottom car park. The Renault Kango Postbus arrived on Service 216 to/from Blairgowrie. Lots of scenery to nose around in, before the other bus arrived heading for Pitlochry. This is the one from Aberdeen depot, 40727. The two regular drivers chatted, as she (my driver) advised him (Aberdeen driver) to watch for the traveller getting back on at Kirkmichael (she had a return, after all - and two buses a day makes it more worthwhile). The hotel she is staying in was on the road from Pitlochry to Kirkmichael, meaning he could drop her off at the top of the hill, and save her the walk back.
We climbed up through Glenshee, with mobile phone coverage being surprisingly good, until we crossed the boundary into Aberdeenshire after passing the Cairnwell Ski Centre, where we lost it for about half an hour. After double-running the usual bus stop in Braemar, we got to Ballater. The driver advised me of the return pick-up time, but I thanked her and pointed out I was going back via the coast... yes, I know it was a bit of an odd combination, but there you are. D&E's 501 could be seen at Ballater - £9.00 single if anyone fancies travelling from Ballater to Inverness through (and you know, it could be done, and you could still get back to Dundee in time for lights out...) Anyway, waited for the 201 which was due to take me into Aberdeen, which was 20144. This took me into Aberdeen, where sights included 53215, a Buchan Link branded Profile on the 307 to Inverurie instead, and a look at the newly produced informative vinyls at Aberdeen Bus Station. In Union Street, I could see the new articulated Volvo B7's which featured interior route map vinyls on the exterior, beside the front door. These were of note as these were of a similar format to those used by First Gold Arrow in London when the Routemasters were on the 7 & 23. (I thought I had a pic of one of them, but not quite those that I was looking for). Of course, some management have moved from London to Aberdeen since...
Whilst most of the Aberdeen city bus stops have been replaced, one relic still exists in Union Street, outside St Nicholas Kirk. The stop includes the "Hop & Shop" circles and squares which were discontinued in the mid-90's (a red circle on a board in the windscreen meant the bus went end-to-end along Union Street, whereas a green square meant it went to the back door of the Bon-Accord Centre - as you can see, this started one Christmas), but also "90", which refers to the X90 from Laurencekirk provided by the now defunct bus operator Merlin's Ark. I walked via Union Street to Union Terrace, spotting 53209 also on Inverurie runs, but on Service 737 via the Airport, as well as Bain's of Oldmeldrum's Delta S306 KNW on their 305. I then had a go on one of the new lift-equipped Profiles. I feel the passengers in Fife (who are about to get some for the X24/X26 in late summer) aren't going to like the door arrangement, or the steps, but that's progress.
I then took First 61846 on the 19 back to town, and the board (a little out of date?) said it was £1.10 as far as Holburn Junction (the 1st stop in Holburn Street), which was good for me as I could grab food from a choice of nearby outlets, before getting a Stonehaven bus from there. No, "it's £1.20" said the driver. Another 10p dug out, and off we went. Guess they must be getting sick of that, and I'm sure it's not the only "abandoned" stop board like that.
I was going to go for the 1750 X7 to Stonehaven, but when I left Subway and headed around the corner, the 1740 107 came first. Both should effect a connection to the 103, but given that the A90 out of Aberdeen had roadworks, as well as an RTA (news taken from the local travel report), and that trains were being held up due to a COW on the line at Laurencekirk (I'll let you do your own punchline there), was there any way out? Well, the 107 was surpsingly smooth, and double-ran at Portlethen past Asda, because we couldn't get to the usual junction. For all my doom and gloom, 22361 actually got into Stonehaven a few minutes early. That's good. If I'd waited for the X7, which came in shortly after, I'd have got similar 22363, but Aberdeen had an older, non-easy-access Dart 32804 on one of their peak extra workings (and coach N151 XSA was spotted later too, after it came off the 325 but before it did the Citylink via the coast in the evening - did it?)
The plan here was to get the 103 at 1840 from Stonehaven to Laurencekirk, and it was 40939. This 103 is due to get into Laurencekirk (post office) at 1915, where I was planning on getting the Strathtay 29. Now, you are probably going ahead of me and saying "but doesn't the 29 leave at 1914?" Well, yes - but there is a note for the driver to await the arrival of the Bluebird bus from Stonehaven, and wait up to three minutes if needed. We got to Laurencekirk - no bus. (Later found this was due to the school holiday drivers board inadvertantly missed this off, for some reason). So, 40939 back to Stonehaven, but this is where buses start having longer gaps between them. I did the 2115 117 back down the coast to Montrose, with another MAN 22358. Because of the new route on the way out of Stonehaven, that bus just misses the Dundee one, so a little bit of time to spare and ingenuity in the meantime, saw me take Strathtay 151 on the last 47 town service of the night from Montrose garage from Montrose to Craigo and back, before getting on 607 on the 2145 Dundee - Montrose/Hillside Bridge 40A through working (from Montrose Station northwards) which then comes back down as the last 47 to Ferryden, then the last 40 back to Arbroath Depot. So, this one took me into the early hours of Saturday, and arriving at Arbroath - where the 0025 train towards Perth took me as far as Dundee, getting into Dundee at 0047.The ticket inspector couldn't be bothered leaving her cab, thus meaning I wasn't out of pocket!
So, end-to-end, just over 17 hours, 13 bus journeys for (£12 Explorer + £5.80 Rover =) £17.80. Don't even want to think about the mileage... a long day, but very enjoyable - even with the extra down-the-coast detour...
Oh my god I can't believe it...
Yesterday at work, our team coach advised me that she would do my performance review today, as she was away after tonight (off for a day or two, then going back into hospital to have the metal removed from her ankle, which she broke last year iirc). So, I was looking forward to that. We'd already had our new self-assesement type form, which I tried to score a little "low" deliberatly, but I messed up the counting. If you worked it out on percentages, it would have been just over a half. I believe I am worth a little more than that at least, but would the person who scored these for the entire campaign think the same? There are a variety of items from 0 to 5 points, depending on what happens, and six in total, so no more than thirty.
On the basis of October 2005 to April 2006 - during which time you will know all the things that have happened (if not, you can read my blog!) - I got a 9/30.
NINE out of thirty.
That's less than 30% !!!
This seemed a little low, especially as my attendance (I'd had to take a lot of time sick last year) - well, in the six months, I had two periods off. This should be enough for improvement, without any further questioning. But, because it's an all-new system, I got 0/5 - "Frequently off..." Two of the reasons why I was off those times? One was my spell over the holidays Dec/Jan (when I had five bad things in five days - three of which were work related) and one was due to hayfever. I could have taken a lot more. I don't know whether or not I'd still be in a job or not, but I doubt it.
Late was the same.
I made some of my usual notes, then I was going to see my team coach before disappearing to the bathroom. 2 minutes, I don't want to wait around idle, and I can't wait that much more, so I left the paperwork.
I sat down in the bathroom, and then I thought about what had just occured. I've been here since October 2002. I'm the longest-serving-still-on-front-line full time member of staff. I had a lot of issues that required me to take time off in the first part of last year, and I said I'd improve, and I did, once I got a fixed shift pattern and changes to what I was taking. Suddenly, all this time, all this effort, all this stuggle, rushing through town with my hair dripping over the place just to get the bus to work, it all seemed to be for nothing.
Yes, we work for the money... but I felt this was SO bad. I thought about walking out - yet again, I managed not to.
Then, it all became too much. I was shaking and upset for the first time in years - I don't remember being like this since 2001 (the year I ended up in hospital and soon after felt suicidal, following parting company with LUL on bad terms, and becoming ill when the docs had no idea what to do). I was openly crying for the first time in a long time. Sometimes I've doubted if I have emotions. If you'd been there, you'd know for sure that I definatly do.
Next thing I knew, it was 1710ish - I'd apparently been here for well over two hours. My team coach came looking for me, and I had to explain what had happeend. How could I when I barely understood it? I know what was wrong, but why did it get me so upset? Was it just the final straw?
I went back up to work, had my lunch (which should have been 1630-1700) before finishing my booked shift to 2200. Then, I just wanted to go home. I've got a day planned for tommorrow, and I'm still going ahead with it. It's just that... I feel a little under-rated now. OK, so the new scoring system is very negative. I still believe I deserved double figures...
... and naturally, there is nowhere for us to score them, including the fact that I'm not getting this coming weekend off, despite booking all my "event" dates early in 2006 as soon as they opened this year's book. Six people got it off, including one that started work after I handed in my form... I'm not bitter, it's just the mis-administration goes on. We walk out the door, we get replaced. No-one seems to care, and there is definatly no-one for us to talk to.
It's the clock!
Firstly, found the reason why I've been late... the clock in my main "living room" - it's now ten minutes slow... quickly put that right...I was up & about this morning, and got the chance of a few snaps of the Tay MegaRider poster advertising campaing, as well as another picture of 20324 - see pics here.Then it was the day job, and then home.
Not just a routine trip this time
Firstly, a happy Independance Day to all the americans who read this...
Anwyay, it's a Tuesday, it's the first of the month, so I'm visiting
Sandyford in Glasgow for more routine check-ups and discussion. As I hinted at last night, I had a few things to think about. One thing I didn't was the fact that I - for the second time in two days - managed to miss the bus (M9). Without having a huge set of timetables with me, I read the boards. The next bus is a stopping service (M8), which would get me there that little bit late, at around 1100ish. There is an alternative - given that I'm going to have to pay full fare again anyway, it's going to be a shade cheaper - and it was sat there as it pulled in - the 0820 X54 to Dunfermline, changing to the X24 in Glenrothes, which should get me in for - off the top of my head - 1045/1050ish. I could then phone and say I'd be on my way, because if I put my foot down and ran to the bus stop, I could get there for 1115ish. I hoped. Why not wait for the M8? Well, roadworks on the way between Dundee & Perth could slow me down where I don't need it.
So, decided to board the X54. Single to Glasgow... driver knows how to issue one, but queries "where do you change for that?" This is the one journey on the X54 that Dunfermline depot drivers do during the week, so I guess it was explainable. Ticket issued for £7.00 IIRC, and then I go take a seat. Just as the mobile coverage starts to become solid (i.e. at Freuchie) I call them to let them know (it's a "drop in before 1100" basis) that I would be a shade late, arriving between 1100-1115. This was fine, they said they'd still be there. Good.
Until we hit the A92 on the way into Glenrothes. This road has recently been remodeled, but as we got to Cadham Mills, I could see red lights all the way back. Including another Stagecoach Express coach in front of us - which was going to be my X24... So, we were going to be late, but I'd still make it. Even more late than I was planning on. As we got closer to the Queensway roundabout, it was obvious something had happened, as police and ambulance crews were in attendance. Two car RTA. There was one policewoman on points duty, who was waving traffic through a few at a time, then changing direction. She waved through the X24 in front of us, but that was the last to get through for a few moments! Right, what happens now? Will I still make it there? If not, will both buses get to Dunfermline? How are we going to leave Glenrothes if this is the same roundabout we'd use to get out? I remembered the old principle - when you have to go, you will end up there safely. In the end, I was a little lucky that there was a queue for the X24 i.e. the Glasgow bus, so that held the bus in place for long enough for the X54 to catch up... I then got off 52353 and boarded 52422 on the X24 instead, who's driver went out the "old road" B921 through Kinglassie to Auchterderran, then onto the A92. This may have seemed a bit odd for those who didn't know about the accident on the roundabout, but it seemed perfeclty logical to me. I didn't know if we were on time or not, but a spirited performance meant I got into Buchanan Bus Station just before the hour changed. I hot-footed it to Bath Street, got First Gemini 32577 on the 18 to Sandyford, and walked up to reception bang on 1115 - I made it at the "promised time" - even though after that, all had contrived against me! There were actually another few who turned up after I did, and I wondered if they'd had an eventuful run as I did...
So, met up with John again, after a short-to-medium wait. It was somewhat reminiscent of the scene the first time I came to Glasgow to see them, back in 2004. Then, there had been some kind of failure on the track near Perth, and all trains anywhere around had been replaced with buses - leading to congestion, and it was wet, and the rest. Then, that all really threw my mind. That, and it was my first time. This time, all the above seemed to be irrelevant as soon as I'd got to the door. I didn't end up upset, and I made it in one piece all the way there. While I'd been waiting, I'd also got my mind back. One of the "hidden" benefits of hormone treatment? Anyway, a few blood samples - less than last time, as I think that study I mentioned earlier in the year has now ran its course for me at least - and we discuss what I'm on at the minute, and ask about a few options. As a result, I'm going to be on 3 x estrogen tabs per day, again moving from 2 to 3. That can start anytime, as I already have those. I also asked about anti-androgens, and he's writing to my gp to prescribe these too. When I asked about these, he said "it would be reasonable" given my progress so far, and this would of course dramatically increase the effects of what I was already taking. He then asked if I had any problems with hair, and I pointed out apart from it going everywhere and getting in knots... he laughed! honest! Anyway, this is one standard tablet, and when I can remember the name of it, I will let you know...
Anyway, from there, I went out onto Sandyford Place. I purchased a First day ticket on the way up, took 69059 on the 16 westbound to the retail park just past Partick, then got the same vehicle again upon its return (from Blairdardie) to between Partick & Hillhead, then 61499 on the 42A into town. I then met up with
Bobby (WestEndPoet) once more, and as I'd just had something to eat at Hillhead Subway (the
SPT train
station is now next door but one to the
resturant!), I passed and we ended up at Starbucks. (Maybe I should have waited, but that was technically breakfast... as a coffee and mint two-finger KitKat isn't enough for one day!) Anyway,
we talked about work (both), my trip in, his holiday, operators coming and going, as well as working on the stance as opposed to in the office. He was finished for the day when we met, so we had a little longer than usual. As I was heading down towards Argyle Street area - well I was needing somewhere to go before 1700 bus home again, I went with him. Some pics and the like from around St Enoch before walking around to Glassford Street for 40830 on the 263 back to Dundee.
The 1700 M8 to Dundee was West Coast Motors S900 WCM, who's driver I had cause to
write in this blog about before - when he worked elsewhere, lets just say. Anyway, back in Dundee on time, and I get the chance to go home and recover!
You can see the pictures I that I got a chance to snap today
here, including some from Dundee on the way home.
Monday out
I was inadvertantly late for work today... when I left the house just a shade too late... never mind, prepared myself for tommorrow on the way home.
Wet Sunday
Went to the bus station for just after 3ish... saw recently-acquired-by-Strathtay
20324 leaving the bus station, ironically heading back to Fife on the 77B's (interworked with the 20 to Forfar & Kirriemuir on Sundays). I took
former 613 to Dobbies/Monifieth and back on the 76/75, and then did a spot of shopping. I had a voucher for Boots to earn £8 worth of points back to my card if I spent £16... so I spent the amount on all the stuff that I normally use which was on "buy one get one free" promotions, and walked out with £7 in promotional vouchers, plus more than £10 back on my card, which is enough credits to claim lunch for three days! Is that like getting your money back? Passed Albert Square on the way home - very wet - but saw Travel Dundee's school bus
SB3 out. Given that the schools were off, and it's a Sunday, I wasn't sure what it was doing, but I wasn't going to get soaked finding out.
Blame Canada Day
Hee hee... not quite! First day of the
Tay MegaRider, and my driver on the 13 told me that I had purchased his first one! Even though I was doing one journey only today, and six more to/from work next week, even these seven journeys would save me money over single fares. Up to £1.15 single, or up to £9.20 for a 10 journey strip. The ticket is £6.90 for 7 days (until the end of August), and I will do at least one trip tommorrow, and notch up a little more.
