More of the same – x2
Just like Thursday, Friday had a deja-vu feeling about it. Just this time, a few things were different. Trip to see Alex (my counsellor), and work until 2300 afterwards.
54010, the newish Volvo/Plaxton Panther that I got home two weeks ago, is my chariot south to Glasgow this time. Third time I’ve been on one of these fifteen meter long beasts (sorry!), and I’ve only just realised that the seat armrests CAN roll forwards! During the trip, several passengers were still having difficulty with the lights and ventilation! Never mind…
I forgot to mention it here last time, but First Glasgow have a two-journey off-peak ticket for £2.00 – two journeys anywhere (return or transfer) for £2.00 (well almost anywhere, not the X6 and one or two others). As that would do me to/from Sandyford, that was purchased 32600, on the 16 heading west. I only noticed this for the first time about a month ago, but the building occupied by Sandyford used to be the Glasgow Eye Hospital… did you know? We had our usual hour to talk, and I’ve managed to complete the brief overview of space, time, and Suzy’s major life points so far.. lol
In all seriousness, these are proving to be very useful, especially on getting a “third party” opinion on things. Alex noticed that I was noticeably happier this time, and getting that way every time I’ve visited her so far! The time was also used to talk about my future, including a few things that I’d not said to anyone else so far… hopes, worries, fears, or just being delusional? A bit of everything I think! I go back again in three weeks.
I thanked Alex for yet another useful session, and left the centre. First Glasgow Service 57 is now terminating in Sauchiehall Street opposite Sandyford Place i.e. back to the “old” arrangement (thus meaning if you want dropped off opposite the centre, you won’t need to walk around the block in the rain…) 61024 took me into town, got a few things, before taking the subway up to Buchanan Street (car 206 – one of the to-be-refurbished trailers), and then 54008 took me north on the M8 back to Dundee at 1330. In heading to work, I was in Whitehall Street looking for a bus, and then walking-and-looking-at-something-else meant that a Travel Dundee driver walked right into me. Oops!
In tonight’s Evening Telegraph,there was a letter from one of my colleagues, complaining about Service 14. This wasn't sent in by me, but I know who sent it in. The letter said...
"WE ARE angry and irate workers for Site in Dundee’s technology park.
The Travel Dundee 14 bus is constantly 20 minutes late, making us late for work.
Several of us have emailed and telephoned Travel Dundee to no avail.
We are angry this has been on-going since November, with no explanation.
A dozen or more workers are hit. — Sitel Employees."
Unfortunatly, Travel Dundee have given us the brush-off...
Stuart Henry, corporate affairs manager, said, “Firstly we would like to thank the readers who took the time to raise issues surrounding our 14 bus service.
“Comments from our customers are vital if we are to continue to operate an efficient network across the city.
“With regards to the general level of service, Travel Dundee, like all other road users, experienced huge problems during the days of the recent heavy snowfall which we saw in the city. This adverse weather impacted on the timetables of all our services throughout that two-day period.
“With regards to the 14 service, in particular, we would like to urge those passengers who have raised direct concerns surrounding the service, to contact us directly by phoning us on (01382) 201121 or, if easier, email us at mailbox@traveldundee.co.uk with the specific times and dates that it’s claimed the services were operating late.
“If there is a larger issue, then we would be very happy to meet with the complainants to ensure a positive outcome.
“We are constantly monitoring our bus services and are committed to providing a first-class service.”
It would appear that the manager in question is based at Travel West Midlands head office in Brum, where there was snow recently! As my own boss then said when I tried to explain this… “What f******g snow?”
So, 2300, finished, home – for now – and I get to stay in bed for an extra hour before going out tomorrow. Yey!
Labels: shopping, transition, work
Late changes of plan
With just a few hours to go, Adam says he doesn’t need his shift covered! Never mind… glad things have improved… but anyway I went out briefly for a few things. It was about as cold and windy as yesterday… no snow though! Now, quite a busy four weeks to come… I had to go out for the afternoon, but spent the evening chilling out with two rich, sweet americans... Ben, and his friend Jerry...
Labels: quiet day, shopping, work
Don't Be A Menace To The Security Guard In HMV, While Out Shopping In Your Hoodie
Yes, I went out shopping. If you like irony, have a read. I went out for a few things, and managed to set off the alarm at HMV when I went INTO the store. This naturally aroused the interest of the security guard, who offered to deactivate the contents of the carrier bag. He did so, and it still went off! Nothing was ”registering” as not decoded, so it was really unusual. So, I bought what I had gone in for – a cheap copy of….
… Don’t Be A Menace To South Central While Drinking Your Juice in The Hood…
… now, could that have been scripted any better?
You have to love a movie that starts along the lines of this…
“One in five young black men will be forced to watch a ‘Growing Up In The Hood’ movie… One in ten will be shot while in the theatre...”
So, I headed for home, left the purchases at home, then headed to the other side of the city centre (Nethergate/Overgate) for power cards. More extravagant spending- yes, a new handbag… my first main replacement for two years… and it was only £4.00! Also, found a new purse for £1.00… Further to Wednesday’s notes, the Dundee branch (Overgate Centre) of Stationery Box is closing (NOT becoming a Partners) –I guess it’s back to the one in Glasgow being closest (maybe Perth, who knows).
Labels: quiet day, shopping
M80 Shuttle (Part Two) – Go West, then come back for work
…do you know, that almost fits in with the tune?
On these occasions, I had not taken off the whole day – although I could have asked for it. It would mean having to move my hours to another day – and I’ve already worked Sunday past, and timesheets finish weekly on a Friday. There is also the fact that the Tuesday monthly/bi-monthly sessions are “drop-in by 1100”, so there was no fixed time of how long it would be before I was cleared – kind of important when booking a bus for the way home!
Anyway, where was I…. actually, don’t answer that… lol what I meant was, what did I get up to? I finally had a “hurl” on the new 15 metre long Volvo/Plaxton Panther megabus coaches – well two of them, as I had one in each direction! – 54009 down, and 54010 back. Like the artics, you lose the sense of size once you board, and all is well. The ride held up, but the driver had to take the ”wrong” lane in Glasgow at Cathedral Street/North Hanover Street junction, to ensure the turn into the latter was smooth. The return trip saw an angry driver driving it from Perth to Dundee (he had just grafted most of the crew shuttle Vito’s types onto the surface of Broxden Park & Ride), and it showed, but again the ride held out.
The trip was a bit more than megabus bashing, of course! Met up with Alex once more, a few minutes late (partially because the Sandyford computer network had gone down…) In any case, the hour was used to explain what I had got up to in the last few days/weeks, a little about work (that may need a couple of back-to-back sessions to explain the last four and a half years!), and this does appear to be helping… and it does tell, apparently… because rather than saying “what did I do wrong” in certain situations, I was saying “what did they do me wrong”, or “how did I do the right thing”… We also talked about the feelings I explained a few days ago, but agreed that I may need to keep watching how I feel with these things.
So, then, after that, I got out quite a bit late (despite starting late, we still took the full hour of the appointment). I had agreed to meet up with Bobby once more, and as I left Sandyford, I thought “hmm oh no, what’s going to happen”- but he was there, waiting for me. Apologies etc. offered, but not needed! We’d agreed to meet up briefly once more – he had today off too, as he was getting ready for friends coming up from down south in the evening. So, we talked about what we’d been getting up to over the last few days, as well as plans for the coming weeks.
When I got back to work, a couple of things. One of my calls was monitored, and it all went well, good score. I had to sign the form – and I have another new team coach. The old name was scored out (Bruce), and Robbie’s name was added on top… reinventing the wheel here, because I was in his team for one day late last year… turns out this team list was last updated on Monday… and no-one has said anything…
… then, it was “performance review” time, for last month. I expected it to be a bit lower than the last month, because I’d been off. Guess what- no monitoring stats meant I was a lot lower –and it appears that no one monitored me because I’d been on the email team. So, at about forty seconds, it has to be the shortest review I’ve ever had…
I was actually more awake today (than yesterday, or two weeks ago), so felt ok to stay awake throughout the shift! Never mind, now I am off until TUESDAY! I can live with that!
Labels: shopping, transition, transport, work
M80 Shuttle [Part One] – Suzy’s South Side Shuffle (or Dundee to Newton Mearns via Sandyford…)
As far as GIC appointments go, this was a fairly “routine” appointment – but, it worked out into quite an enjoyable day… even if panic set in a few times late afternoon! I left the house for the 0800 direct bus to Glasgow (M9 service). You may recall that I mentioned back in October that some new extra-long “megacoaches” were due for Citylink and Megabus work around now. Some entered service yesterday – including on this very journey – but for some reason, I got a Neoplan (50137) for this journey. Perfectly serviceable at less than two years old, and lots of seats for everyone – especially when taken with a single deck Edinburgh duplicate! We got into Glasgow just before 1000, and it was “drop-in” by 1100, so I’d booked off the whole day.
It seemed a lot quieter than the previous visits, and defiantly quieter than my November visit! I was one of the last to arrive, but there was still a bit of a wait (see previous notes of visits – currently only two doctors). Once it was my turn, I met Doctor Westwater for the first time! Quick run-down on what’s happened, and discussion where he agrees to chase the referral letter that his colleague Dr Ewan had sent a few weeks before (I saw it for the first time – last time I was there, the funding letter had not long came back). Dr Ewan had agreed to fill in the docs bit of the gender recognition cert paperwork, and I had thought that they would have ended up lost in the post. But no, the form was in a safe place – still in my file, untouched. He’s promised to have it completed, and ready in time for me to collect on Friday – not this Friday, but in two weeks time when I return. That then resolves the issue of it getting “lost”…
… So, that was the end of that. Another step on the line. Little moments that make up my future. Another brick in the wall. Whatever you want to call it…
61439 was on the 57 from Charing Cross to Central Station, and texts sent out to those I was meeting! In the meantime I had lunch (chatted to someone online via wap messenger… I am beginning to get hooked on that). Shortly afterwards, I could see the Stationery Box store has been acquired by Partners – with “new lines all the time” – and yes, they do have the plastic covered three-colours A5 size ring binders here… no need to carry them home from Manchester or London any more!
While I was chatting, I had thought about a new phone and/or camera. I could just about scrape a few pounds for a replacement for my mobile phone. Why? The phone is fine, but the case is very worn – all corners. Only one of the four clips on the phone cover still holds together. I bought two replacement covers some time ago, but they do not work with the keypad – which is so worn out, it has gone back to its natural transparent state! That, and the display cover has a crack from one side to the other… which could be replaced, but almost impossible to find a working replacement. The digital camera I have is starting not to turn on…
… in short, I need a new brick. “Brick” to use a technical term, is the name I use for Adam’s phone… until he replaced the M-Gage with a Sony Ericsson, but by this point the name had stuck! So, mine is a brick too, in speaking terms. I guess it’s maybe a metaphor that my brick is not in one piece… oh no I said BRICK… what’s the matter with you lot? Lol I was going to say, always going to be broke – like the owner!
So, I had a look around in a few surrounding shops… and I saw something I would like in a local phone retailer. This required £29.99 plus another £10 top-up – to be paid by card, so this meant I had to put the money I’d withdrawn earlier, back into the bank.
Now, for anyone else, this would be easy enough.
But, give a combination of someone-in-a-hurry-who-wants-the-job-done, as I was meeting someone in less than 20 minutes, and someone evidently hungry for a sale, it made for an interesting transaction. I was called over to the last of the desks (finally), and handed over the card and the money. I handed over £30, and said that I’d like to pay in £25 of this
”Are you at work today”?
“No, day off…”
“Is this your account that you are paying into?” (no, I’ve just nicked someone’s handbag and I feel sorry for them….)
“Yes…”
… then, she tries to sell me an account upgrade. Twice I tell her I am not interested, but she continues to ask questions!
“Do you live in Dundee then?”
… for the third time, I explained that I would soon be off work for some time, and this was the reason I didn’t want to make any changes to the account right now.
(…any more questions, and I’ll give her the detailed version of gender reassignment surgery – she looked like she’d just finished lunch…)
“Oh sorry…”
… I was then very quickly ”processed” with no further questions, and given a pay-in receipt for £30.
Oh dear.
Go back to the beginning of this conversation – I wanted change of that…
Now, sign another slip, to withdraw £5 of the £30 I’ve just put back in…
…then, around the corner back to phone store… none in stock… quick look on the computer said that none of their city centre stores had any, but the one in Newton Mearns (about 45 minutes south of the city centre by bus) had some in stock!
I met up with Bobby shortly afterwards, and he was telling me the time he was able to get revenge on said bank. When one of their staff members came into the travel centre in uniform, he momentarily put up his “Position Closed” sign, then (in a very smiley and unusually camp manner) said “Sorry for keeping you waiting…” yes – I loved it! Being his day off, we were able to chat for close to an hour and a half, in the same coffee house that we ended up in during November! We discussed recent developments at both sides of our worlds, including his recent purchase of a HDTV and matching Sky HD box…
… So, we left the coffee shop, and he headed north towards Watt Brothers. I then cut through Central Station, and emerged onto Union Street. There was a Gemini decker coming towards the stop on the 44A, which would be fine for getting me to Newton Mearns. 32608 took me down, and shortly after Clarkston, a red Bristol VR, with blinds set to TB1 Renfrew, goes the other way. Shortly after, we arrived at what is actually called (the name above the door) “The Avenue Shopping Centre”. Rung bell in plenty of time, driver continues to next stop anyway. Grr…!
… Anyway, got in, located the store, yes they have some in silver (not pink). At that price, who’s caring I guess! So yes - it’s a Motorola L6. Very slim, 0.6-megapixel camera (fine for small shots) – all enough to keep me going and clicking in the meantime! Cheap and cheerful – like the owner…
… so, then, had to get the bus home. There was a 44A due, but there is also a 38 shortly after, that would take me closer towards the bus station (well Cathedral Street), as well as a more direct route. See what turned up first – a Henderson Travel Optare Solo on the very orbital Service 395 (Uplawmoor – East Kilbride). Hmm, not helping! Next bus comes along – same Gemini and driver on the 44A. I resist the urge to whinge about not dropping me off at the right stop as I board, largely because I’ve got the “about to be withdrawn from service” mobile phone on the ear, speaking to Paul H about bank holiday arrangements which varied in Dundee, Dudley and Birmingham…
… I had got on the bus just before 1700 at Newton Mearns, so it would be tight to get off the bus in time for the booked bus back at 1800. So, I had a brainwave- jump off at Bridge Street subway… 3-4 min journey up to Buchanan Street, two stops away. In theory… I arrived on the platform, only to see the rear of an Inner Circle train pulling away. The Outer Circle train came… and then another… I could hear a train rattling in… the Inner Circle platform had a green aspect (go light), but the OC was on red… then it changed, and seconds later, the third Outer Circle pulls in to the island platform. I was beginning to get a bit concerned, so I spoke to the train operator who radio’ed into control… apparently yes, there was a ”gap” in service, and the next train was at West Street i.e. approaching. Naturally, the train was busy, got loaded at St Enoch, and almost mobbed at Buchanan Street. The platform helper was announcing on the pa that there was another train just behind this one, and not to overcrowd the train. Quite a lot of passengers were in the stairs down to the platform, never mind getting anywhere near the train!
So, got out with ten minutes or so to get around the corner. Got up to the Bus Station – no sign of the 1800 Dundee M8 [all stops] coach. It’s not in yet… but it came in with one minute to spare. A quick driver change, and I was on Parks KSK 978. As we pulled away from Buchanan Bus Station Glasgow, a few minutes down, I was kind of pleased … to have defeated adversity – three times in one hour, as well as the general good/happy/content feelings that mixed through the day. We were back on time when we got to Cumbernauld.
I will be back on Friday, but with work for afters.
Labels: shopping, transition, transport
At work
Well, this is an interesting one… because I need the hours, as well as needing Tuesday off for a GIC appointment, the team coach who was sort of covering for my own agreed that I could work the same hours today instead. Being a Sunday, there are no daytime buses from the city centre to work at Dundee Technology Park (but of course, a half-hourly evening service…)
So, went out, and had some extravagant spending. Not! Kingsway West Retail Park –157 up on the 1B, walked around the corner, had lunch, then got a few things in Tesco. New toaster required (the old one has given up the ghost) –got one, brand new boxed for £4.00… So, by this point, I was in a good mood, waited for the 14 to work. While I had lunch, I saw both buses on Service 14, so they were both out and running to time. So, naturally, by the time I went for mine an hour later, it was eight minutes late, and I was freezing my non-specific genitals off in a very cold gale force wind… and of course, the bus shelter at Kingsway West Retail Park was long ago deemed to be the worst in the city (by the Dundee Bus Bulletin no less, long before the Tele caught onto it!)
So, I got to the Tech Park 3/4 minutes late, so improving. Completely confused Adam by asking what he was doing in on a Sunday “I’m always here on a Sunday… wait a minute, what are you doing here?”
Labels: shopping, transport, work
Twenty Hours In One Day
I woke up at "silly o'clock" right enough! 0500 UK time! (Some of my American readers may have not gone to bed by that point!) Had to book my tickets (paid today), and the site is down each morning but I couldn't remember until when - turns out it was 0400-0700. So, went back to bed for an hour, didn't sleep but did manage to relax. Thinking of everything at once! Got up around 0620, stayed on the pc for a bit, went for coffee and a shower, had to do my hair as I'd not done it on Thursday! Then came out the shower at 0710, got my seats booked, got dried off, dry hair, out the door, got some "breakfast" from Tesco, before heading for the bus to Glasgow at 0800.Yesterday, the M80 (main road from Dundee/Stirling to Glasgow) was closed from 0100 to about 1900 after a truck did something a bit silly, and jacknifed the truck into the gantry, trapping a car with it. Nothing like that today, which is good... sometimes the weekly appointment system can be useful!This gets me in for 0953, and I manage to get around to Bath Street (for bus to Sandyford) and on it for 1001. I arrive at Sandyford 1010. I did tell Alex (the counsellor) that I may be late this week , but I managed to be not too bad in the end. We largely discussed my childhood - and a different way to look at some of what I have endured. I have another two appointments spread over the coming weeks, to add to the GIC visit (in the same location) on Tuesday 6th March.I got out at 1120, and turned my phone on. I was meant to be meeting up with the West End Poet (I do try where I can!), but he's had something else occur. Never mind, not to worry, I shall be back at least three times next month, so plenty of opportunity!So, I got some things around Glasgow city centre. Found a store in the Savoy Centre doing a nice range of cheap sweets, but also a small range of model buses in the cabinet. Will be back no doubt one day... I had lunch at the only A&W's in Scotland (combined A&W/KFC at the top of Renfield Street) - but after next week, it becomes a "plain" KFC only store. No! ...Afraid to say it is! So, from there, stopped at Sainsbury's, before heading for the bus back to Dundee, leaving at 1330. At this point I will have been up for eight and a half hours, with a lot more still to go!One of the stories that I read in the Metro, and on WEP's blog for yesterday, was that Strathclyde Partnership for Transport (SPT) are contracting First to run a "Subway Nightrider" - a night bus service that follows a circular router, at times when the Glasgow Subway is not running. This will provide a "through the night" service on Friday night into Saturday morning, Saturday night into Sunday morning, and Sunday evenings when the Subway finishes about 1800 usually. There will be a flat fare of £2.00 - double the daytime Subway train fare - to use the Nightrider service, which will commence on 20 April 2007The SPT website explains the story, and quotes Cllr Watson as saying "It may not quite be David Hasselhoff's car Kitt from the original Nightrider but the Subway Nightrider will provide a comfortable and safe journey home for people travelling late at night" After reading the Evening Times and the Metro, I got the cracked old mobile out, fired up Messenger to chat with a certain person who has been good at supporting me in the last few weeks... and we chatted right through to Dundee... and Jay, as ever, you have been wonderful! Almost about as low-tech hi-tech that you can get (i.e. via GPRS and WAP), but it still allowed us to bridge almost four thousand miles! You can be alone in the middle of no-where, yet still feel together!I made it into Dundee, and hotfooted it to the Seagate for a bus to work. Got in for 1600 hours - 15 minutes earlier than last week because I pre-bought my food ("lunch") at Sainsbury's in Buchanan Galleries Glasgow, rather than in Dundee city centre. Got in just as the boss was doing the timesheets to take down to the agency... By this point, I have now been up for 11 hours.I got signed into the computer and phone system, and then I got called over for my performance review for January! Bear in mind I was depressed, coming off the Androcur etc. and everything else, I was a bit concerned. In the few seconds it took to walk from my own desk to the relevant manager's desk, that was all - then, I was happy when I saw the result - 21/30! That is somewhat good, but February may be a little lower. At this point, I'd been up for just over 12 hours. I then went back to my own desk, which was beside the window, looking out onto Riverside Avenue. I could hear someone's car alarm going off, so I got up to have a quick look. I put my left and on the right-hand side of a large A1 size whiteboard, placed horizontally on the windows ledge, but without any fixed support. By the time I realised it wasn't fixed to anything, it was heading for the floor.... I tried to grab it with the hand, and thus noise ensued, and everyone else looking in my direction.... I then tried to rescue it, but it slipped, more noise! Got it back on ledge single handed, and everyone went back to what they were doing, and I went for my break before I could cause nay more damage!Yes, clumsy as ever, but what can you do! The duty desk person asked if I was alright... but I think it was more a "more noise than damage" thing.How come this gets more blog space than anything else that happened today? Well, what's life if you can't have a laugh at yourself sometimes?Headed for my break at 1815 (just over 13 hours up), and tried to explain the whiteboard incident to one of the team coaches that missed it... We actually got unusually busy - for a Friday evening - more so than I would have expected. By the back of eight, it was all over though. I made it to the end, in one piece, and finished bang on 2300 (by this point, up for eighteen hours). Pleased with my week, and progress (excluding whiteboards), and marginally happier this week than I was this time last week, I decided that I could just about stretch to a pizza takeaway, and I'd not had one from the local kebab shop (Corfu) for some time. I've noticed my appetite appears to be coming back... but it comes and goes... but I managed to demolish the lot, and ended up in bed around 0100 - twenty hours up in the end.Tired, but happy.
p.s. No whiteboards were harmed in todays events.
Labels: shopping, subway, transition, transport, work
No journey is too great
Another long day - eighteen hours plus in the end - but, believe it or not, I wasn't as tired as I was the previous evening. I woke up in time for the 0800 fast bus (M9) to Glasgow. The choice was of this one, or the next one an hour later. The latter would leave me with not a lot of time to get there i.e. about 20 minutes, and 15 is pushing it. After being a bit too tight for time the last time I was up at
Sandyford, decided to go for the earlier this time - even if it meant pulling out of Dundee at 0800.
The counselling service is part of the centre, although it is entirely separate from them (in terms of confidentiality etc.), so it is meant to be entirely open. Alex apologised for being just a little late with starting off, and we headed for the counselling room - yes, they've got a room specifically devoted for the purpose, with similar soft seats to the rest of the centre, but also dimmed soft lighting, which helped soften up things. While I managed to over-run my hour a little bit (and still only skim through my life since August), it was good to have an impartial voice to think about what is going on in my head right now. I will check with my own doctors at my forthcoming appointment about something similar more locally, but in the meantime, she's booked me in for next Friday.
So, that was that - and it was time to head back to Dundee, with just enough time to grab lunch, and head for the 1330 fast (M9) bus back to Dundee. This was my planned/booked departure, to ensure I could get back to Dundee to start work - and as I got into work for 1608, I started at 1615 (time in 15 minute blocks). Apparently, "we need you" they said earlier in the week!
Today was of course, my last day on the email team, as this is the end of three weeks. Has it really flown by in that time? The email system decided to reward my loyalty by crashing with forty-five minutes left to go, but the time was used to count and check our daily stats.
I have enjoyed my time answering email enquiries. What makes it different, I hear you say? Well, bearing in mind I am limited by what I can say, I will explain why I liked it. Firstly, it was something different to do. Variety is certainly the spice of my life. It was the same job, but that little bit different. The voice wasn't so much of a problem (although it's gone this week, I shall need to work on it for, and after, the weekend). I did get some good feedback from customers on my responses, including one who praised the service he'd had from me... and all I did was to answer a few questions. Like I said before, it's not what you do, it's how you make people feel.
Oh, and when I got home, there was a letter from Ninewells photobiology unit (laser hair removal), which confirms I am now on the waiting list. That's not bad - I only asked Dr Ewan for the referral back on 23rd January.
Labels: shopping, transition, transport, work
My Sunday Daytime
I went out for the afternoon, met up with Tails Prower 2040 for a bit in the city centre. We met up, had a look at the bus station, Gallagher Retail Park, City Quay, and then back to town - but I felt a bit off-key throughout. Headaches were no worse than before, but by the end, both my shoulders were (unusually) sore at the same time. I put it down to the shopping carried home yesterday, and had a nap whilst part one of three of the washing was going through... Labels: shopping
Links etc.
I have added a few more links to the right-hand side bars. Although this is a continual process, I thought I'd mention a few of those that I have added today. None of these are new sites (two are new to me), but they are fairly useful in their own right.Dundee Lift Share is a part of the Liftshare network, specifically designed for this part of the world. Ideal if you cannot find suitable public transport, and you get the feeling that it is a journey someone else would be making.Traveline Scotland is a Scotland-wide journey planner, which can plan your journey between places or postcodes.Under blogs, I have added Driving A Bus, which is the story of a Stagecoach South bus driver. I did the 700 back in April last year (see my Fotopic) - from Brighton all the way to Portsmouth, almost on one journey - but swapped from the single to the double behind it at Worthing (the single wasn't going all the way anyway). Since then, the Olympians have been replaced by Tridents, and the service level increased to cope with an increased passenger load. Jimmy is a fairly recently qualified driver, and has commented on the 700 as well as the more local stuff.There is also Working At Food Place, which is the diary of a supermarket worker, at an unspecified supermarket. Lots of explained (reasoned) rants about customers and fellow staff make it a very interesting read. Labels: shopping, transport
A quieter Saturday
Well, in comparison with last week! Had some good fun, but I let myself sleep a bit later this time around. I went out for another MegaRider (weekly ticket), and ended up with one with no date... the conductor's machines have a habit of doing this... but will be replaced in due course anyway. I'd fancied a few more things from Sainsbury's that I bought the last time I was there. So, it was 16921 on the 73A from Commercial Street to Broughty Ferry Library, walked around for 33264 on the 88 to Sainsbury's, then back to Strathern Road, then getting on 42224 on the 71 back to town. Went home, dropped the bags off, back out again, and used 47257 on the 13 to save me the walk to the Gallagher Retail Park/Bus Station, then walked back to the flat.
Labels: shopping, transport
Another brave new world
On the day that Microsoft formally launched Windows Vista, PC World have announced that they are no longer to sell floppy discs. Now, I do feel old..."Computing superstore PC World said it will no longer sell the storage devices, affectionately known as floppies, once existing stock runs out. New storage systems, coupled with a need to store more than the 1.44 megabytes of data held by a standard floppy, have led to its demise. Only a tiny percentage of PCs currently sold still have floppy disk drives. "The floppy disk looks increasingly quaint and simply isn't able to compete," said Bryan Magrath, commercial director of PC World. " Labels: shopping, work
Out & About Saturday
So, why was I up and about before lunchtime, on the first Saturday off I'd had in ages? As I am working five days this week, that's ten bus journeys - five there, five back. No Saturday evening finish, so I could buy a ten-journey or a Tay MegaRider for the week. The latter is £9.90, and is 70p more than the flat 10 journey, although I had a feeling that it wouldn't take me long to make the extra 70p… that, and with starting two hours later, it might be useful. (I may be working 34 hours, or 37.5, but more than likely there will be a half-evening slotted in somewhere, but I've been told this will be confirmed on Monday). So, last night, I made up a plan to have a few extra runs around the city area, try a few bits I've not been on for a while. The trips would also give me the chance to hand in a repeat prescription request to Westgate, and to get some things from Tesco Riverside (i.e. the cheap stuff, you know me by now!) that I cannot get in Tesco City Centre. Of course, the MegaRider (seven days unlimited travel) means that all the extra trips do not cost any extra - on Stagecoach Strathtay, Stagecoach Fife, Stagecoach Perth buses. All the journeys I did below are former Strathtay services, and all but one are Strathtay vehicles.So, got up, and out the door about ten to eleven. Yes, some Saturdays I'd be waking up now (if I'd been for a long trip the day before!), and I headed for Nethergate. Dart 33260 (ex 310), rook me on the 77B from Dundee to Wormit, and then the 77 back to Dundee, outside the railway station. I walked along Riverside Drive to Tesco, and after bagging what I wanted, Dart 32304 on the 72. This was worked by St Andrews depot (Fife), and the driver groaned at the sight of a Strathtay ticket… think he's trying to wind me up this time, by the look I got… got that back to Nethergate, went home, and then left, heading for the Seagate. I then headed for Ninewells (and Westgate) on the 72, on 33263 (ex 313), Strathtay's contribution to the service today. Once the 72 arrives at Ninewells from Tayport, it goes for a spin around Gowrie Park, comes back to Ninewells Hospital, and then goes away back to the City & Tayport once more. Something I didn't realise about this until today was, that it is theoretically possible to get off at Ninewells/Charleston Drive, hand in your repeat script, and get the same bus back again (although I didn't do so this time). If you were really quick, and could do a climb over the gap in the fence, you could get off at the stop before Ninewells, run down, hand it in, then run via Thurso Crescent, tale a short cut through the houses, and pick up the 72 again on Spey Drive… that would be some dedication, or mad. I'm not trying it…Anyway, shortly after, I got Solo 47260 (ex 260) on the 13 from Ninewells through to Dobbies/Ethiebeaton Park (buses now display the latter on the screens). This included the obligatory drive past work, thinking and smiling to myself! After a quick nosey around Angus Gateway, Mercedes 42238 (ex 168) took me back on the 71 to Dundee city centre Seagate. The driver didn't click she'd sold me that ticket on the 77B less than four hours before… or did she? Anyway, no problems here. Next one was the Muirhead only working of the 59, which had Trident 18509. That took me out to Muirhead, while the bus reversed, came back, and 18509 back to the temporary stop in Whitehall Crescent.From there, ran around the corner to Nethergate (remember the Whitehall Street stops are out of use), for the Kingoodie 76. Now, of interest, there are two 76's very close together - a 76 from Monifieth Broomhill Drive to Invergowrie Station Road, which is part of the half-hourly 76 Saturday daytime service, with a conductor and driver. This departs Whitehall Street (except when closed) at 1620. Shortly before, there is a one-off (well, one of three) tendered journey, from Dundee Bus Station (1615) via Whitehall Street (1618) to Kingoodie. The latter is ran by a driver only, and is subsidised by Perth & Kinross Council, to ensure a service is provided for the residents of Kingoodie. This one does not serve the Technology Park, but the 1620 bus does, and I frequently point this out to those at work who are starting at 1700 on Saturdays. I got to Nethergate, different driver, but a familiar face - Dart 33260 (ex 310) once more! So, same bus. I got on, went for the same seat as I did for the 77B, and my rear just about goes through it! It wasn't like that five and a bit hours ago… mind you, how many Wormit's had it done since then? (several!) The reason for stressing the above though, is that two people (Adam Hobson included!) saw me on the bus, and decided to get on it, assuming I'd be heading for work! Never mind, he was happy getting off at Invergowrie, and paid to there anyway (seeing "Invergowrie" on the front of the bus!) So, same Dart back to town, and with the diversion, I was dropped off on the other corner of Debenhams at West Marketgait. Through the Overgate Centre, and then home.Thoughts on my day - no major issues with service, apart from one broken seat on one bus (that had obviously occurred during the day in service). The Kingoodie 76 was surprisingly busy - mind you, it was ahead of the Invergowrie one, but the crewed bus did leapfrog us when we were loading at the Nethergate, rather than taking the temptation to sit back. The 72 was also very well used on both halves - more the Ninewells side. The Tayport and Wormit area buses are always busy at weekends, but the 72 was busier than the last time I did one on a Saturday (almost dead). While the city centre roadworks continue to cripple the city centre, the bus crews seemed to be making the best of it. Interchange is almost impossible i.e. Union Street has taxis one side, and a huge ditch (gas mains work) on the other… While the weather was cold, it was not too bad. Total value of journeys made so far (£1.35 + £1.35 + £0.60 + £1.15 + £1.60 + £1.35 + £1.30 + £1.30 + £1.25 + £1.25 =) £12.50, ticket price £9.90…Going past work once (then within spitting distance a further twice) in one day, without having to stop, was also good! Mind you, I did the same on Tuesday, but this was so different.Got home, and have converted my blog to the "new blogger". They've been at me for long enough, and I've only just switched (it was a beta for so long). So far, not too many changes. You can enter the time in digits, rather than a drop-down. Once you click on "publish", it is instant - not taking forever. To make the most of the changes, I may lose part of the template, and I've got a lot of links etc. - will come back to that in due course. Labels: shopping, transport
Not a lot to say
A quiet day, but I was out for food & things. Not a lot of money right now, having had to spread it a bit thinner over the last few weeks - but I did manage to get two new pairs of shoes in a clearout, for £5 then £10. That should hopefully stop me slipping… well, half as much as usual. Home, and a chance to talk to Jay for the first time in a while… he was due to finish work around 1800 my time, but someone else was off, so he ended up working late! Emails are good, but I guess we both had a lot to catch up on.
Labels: quiet day, shopping
