Stalkers

As pinched from Girl With A One Track Mind

A blogger's worst nightmare...

A survivor of the July 7th London bombings, fellow blogger Rachel North has been continually and cruelly stalked, harassed and libelled by a woman called Felicity Jane Lowde. I can name this perpetrator because on April 2nd 2007 she was found guilty of repeated stalking and harassment of Rachel. Unfortunately Lowde did not turn up for sentencing at court and is now on the run and wanted by police. Lowde is believed to be hiding out in London, where she breaches her bail conditions by continuing her campaign of harassment of Rachel, frequenting Internet cafes (and possibly libraries) to do so.

This is where you can help. If you are in London and spot Lowde, please contact the Metropolitan police on 020 7230 1212 or Crimestoppers on 0800 555 111 stating that you have a sighting of Felicity Jane Lowde, convicted stalker/harasser, who is wanted for arrest and sentencing.

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Do not approach Lowde. Rachel states, "Please do not do anything that could jeopardise Lowde's safety, or her arrest and sentencing. Please do not respond to her or anything she says. Please just help the police do their job of bringing her to justice, and hopefully getting her the psychiatric assistance she needs." So if you do spot her, just note her location, try to get a photograph of her on your mobile phone (if you can) and then immediately report her to police.

I'm not normally one for these 'Internet campaigns', but I think everyone can sympathise with what Rachel has had to go through over the last 400 days. I would not wish Rachel's traumatic experience on anyone and for that reason I call on your assistance and solidarity in finding Lowde and putting an immediate end to her stalking and harassment.

Thanks for your help.

Just Overheard On The Connect Radio

DMT "DMT ***** to Controller"
Controller "Good afternoon DMT *****"
DMT "Well it's still morning and just to let you know I'm at Wembley for the football traffic if I'm needed for anything"
Controller "What you working more overtime again"
DMT "No I do it for the love of the company and I hope this is recorded"

Now that's dedication.

Travelling To Work

The one thing I like about travelling to work, is reading one of my many books and listening to music.

I wondered this morning what my average listen is from leaving home to arriving at work.

Todays play list went like this

1) Wasp: Love Machine.
2) Wagner: O Fortuna (Excalibur/Old Spice Theme).
3) The Streets: Weak Become Heroes.
4) The Automatic: Raoul.
5) The Vines: Ride With Me.
6) The Who: Wont Get Fooled Again.
7) Rage Against The Machine: Bullet in the Head.
8) Silver Bullet: 20 Seconds to Comply.
9) The Cult: Rain.
10) Pink Floyd: Wish You Were Here.
11) ACDC: Ride On.
12) The Cult: She Sells Sanctuary.
13) Stereophonics: Dakota
14) Weird Al Yankovic: White & Nerdy.
15) Slipknot: Wait And Bleed.
16) Nirvana: Come As You Are.
17) Natalie Imbruglia: Torn.
18) Oasis: Stop Crying Your Heart Out.
19) Snow Patrol: Chasing Cars.
20) The Dubliners: Finnegan's Wake.
21) Crystal Method: Born To Slow.
22) Robbie Robertson: Somewhere down That Crazy River.
23) Whitesnake: Ain't No Love In The Heart Of The City.
24) Led Zeppelin: The Battle Of Evermore.
25) Faithless: Insomnia
26) Pantera: Becoming
27) Goo Goo Dolls: Iris
28) Pantera: Broken
29) Celldweller: Frozen
30) Star Wars: Duel Of Fates.
31) Chemical Brothers: Let Forever Be.

Sometimes I enjoy travelling.

What Is It About Trains

Two days running I have had trouble getting home, and two days running it has been the same problem.

SILLY LITTLE GIRLS......

Yesterday and today, a bunch of six girls were seen messing around near the tracks, and considering that the trains in question do over 100mph, if it catches one of these girls there wont be much left to identify.

Last night it caused such a problem that the train became stalled about five miles from the nearest station and even when I reached my home station at 20:15 the 18:44 arrival train was still stranded.

Tonight the same thing, however I did get home earlier as we were on the train directly behind the incident train and we were diverted onto the slow track all the way from Bedford to Wellingborough.

Oh well only one more day of grief to put up with, then I'm on leave for a couple of weeks before I start my ATOR. At least i get out of a week of nights.

Cheeky Cleaner

I think my cleaner is now taking the piss, I asked him if he would go to Sainsburys to get me a pint of semi skimmed milk.

He agreed to this and pottered off to get my milk.

On arrival back at the station, he hands over two pints of milk and ahalf eaten Galaxy chocolate bar, saying thanks for the chocolate and theres no change.

Bloody liberty.

Sometimes I Hate The PA

Especially when I attempt to record the same PA four times before I get it right.

1) Ladies and gentlemen, due to a security alert at Elm Park, District line services are part suspended between Dagenham East and Up (big yawn in mid sentence) minster. *Message deleted* need more sleep

2) Ladies and gentlemen, due to a security alart *Message deleted* wtf is alart

3) Ladies and gentlemen, due to a security alert at Elm Park, District line services are part suspended between Dagenham East and Upminster, a good service is in operation on all other lines, with no reported station closures. *Message deleted* that's a lie as Elm park is bloody closed for a security alert.

4) Ladies and gentleman, due to a security alert at Elm Park, District line services are part suspended between Dagenham East and Upminster, a good service is in operation on all other London Underground lines. *YES*

As I wrote this entry the all clear was given at Elm Park and the service resumed, bloody typical.

My Cleaners A Prat

As I wandered around the station doing one of my many checks, I came across a bit of a shock.

My cleaner who generally gives me no worries what so ever, decided in his infinite wisdom to leave the cleaners keys stuck in the lock to the cleaners store for all and sundry to see.

As you can imagine I was far from impressed, one of the reasons is the cleaners store is on a platform, right next to a running rail service, another reason is station security could have been easily compromised, if anyone fancied causing some mischief that was an ideal time to do it.

So after a thorough tongue lashing and the extreme use of a broom handle wedged up his arse (only joking it was a mop handle), he looks very sheepish and apologetic, and slowly meanders off to carry out the rest of his tasks.

Oops It's Happened Again

Today whilst out on the gate line my booking clerk called me up on the radio and told me there was a VIP (Visually Impaired Person) on train 424, my CSA volunteered to me the train, so off she went to meet the train in question.

Next thing i know I'm getting a call from the CSA over the radio.

"Platform to base" she calls up
"Receiving" I replied
"A Met line train has gone but no VIP on the train" She tells me
"What train number?" I asked
"474" she responds
"The VIP is on train 424" I tell her
"Oh" she replies

I looked at the booking clerk and he looked at me which set us both off laughing and made it hard to deal with a few customers.

I spoke to the CSA afterwards and fair play to her she told me she thought Liverpool Street might have got the train wrong.

Good to see forward thinking from a new member of staff.

MESSAGE FOR NEW RECRUITS:

If you need to give train information to an SS the train numbers are on the front of all trains, all LUL trains have up to three numbers.

The numbers on the side of the trains are the actual carriage numbers.

Oh Bollox

Unfortunately this morning I didn't hear my alarm and instead of waking up at 4:30 my eyes opened and stared at the clock reading 6:15 (see even when I oversleep I don't get a good lie in).

I shot out of bed and rang the station. Apologised to the night man, and started getting ready to get to work.

The night man wasn't to impressed and to tell you the truth I fully understand why, and will make it up at a later date.

I shot down to my local station and because I normally get the 5:29 train, I always arrive around 45 minutes earlier then normal, but today I arrived only 30 minutes late. Considering I live in Northampton and woke up one hour 45 minutes later then I should, that's not bad going.

As I traveled on the 7:04 train I realized why I'm happy to get the earlier train as well, because travelling with the suits isn't fun.

The early turn DSM wasn't to happy and demanded a memo straight away, which he got, but on a plus point I get 30 minutes overtime which equates to 45 minutes in total as there is no meal relief today.

On a positive note, I have only been officially late on three occasions (which means I was booked late) in 19 years.

Good News

Aparrently my DSM's have discussed my lateness and decided that as I'm normally never late, I might not turn up but never late, I'm not to be booked and if anything is on the variation sheets, it's to be scrubbed.

Who ever said managers were bad .... oh me lots of times in the past.

ATOR Again Part ii

After bitching and moaning about being sent to East Ham, my place has been reallocated to UK House near Oxford Circus, see wingeing and moaning does work.

Re: One Huge Headache

After rereading my previous post, I realized that it sounded more a criticism of the CSA then what I meant it to be.

I really meant it to be a criticism of the new way of training, it seems that the new training regime is more customer based and less actual how the Underground works training.

A lot of staff both SS and other CSA worry when working with new staff as they all seem pretty clueless to stuff that we had at basic training.

Stuff like roles and responsibilities, basic signaling, lifts and escalator, tickets and other Underground stuff needed to work and help run an Underground station.

When I passed out I was seen by an Area Manager who took you out road training on and asked you actual work related questions, now CSA's seem to be thrown into the deep end and told to swim.

At my own station I have a new CSA, who is starting to piss me off as I have told him not once, not twice but three times about the same thing, it's a small thing, keeping his tie done up properly not round his chest like a school kid, I've done it myself for nearly 19 years and I have yet to tell any other member of staff about this, yet in less then a month I have told him three bloody times, not petty just professional. He is even pissing off one of my CSA's as he has told him he hopes I'm not on duty as I keep telling him off about his tie.

One Huge Headache

Today has not been a good day.

I have two members of staff off sick, as one of them is my middle turn CSA, so I have asked for a spare to be sent from the larger station on my group.

Shortly afterwards a spare CSA duly arrives, and after a only 15 minutes I feeling harassed, I'm not saying she is a bad CSA but she is very naive.
I think common sense was left at the training centre. You can always tell when a new recruit is suitable for this kind of work, and I'm sorry to say I don't think this new recruit is, so that means she will shortly be one of my future managers.
I don't mind though, as she is a new recruit, this only being her second week free from the school knew she would need help.

In trying to be helpful to customers she was more of a hindrance, so during the rest of the morning peak, I stayed out on the gate line and basically held her hand throughout the morning.

One thing that did crop up, when she puts 60+ kids onto a train to South Kensington and calls me up over the radio and gives me the number of the carriage and not the train, luckily Trackernet came to the rescue.

After speaking with the early turn CSA who has only been on the job for only two months herself, she was shocked about the new CSA I can't remeber being that bad.

After a hasty bit of retraining, hopefully things will soon get better, and she will get a bit more confidence.

More Overtime

So once more I was offered overtime, so four days out of my four days off.

One of my colleagues have gone sick, so Saturday night, I went out for a meal with my better half, and left my mobile purposely at home.

When I reached home once more I had three missed calls with numbers with held and two texts, the text were telling me I had two new answer phone messages. The with held numbers had me worried as it's normally the ex wife so straight away I'm thinking something is wrong with my kids.

As I listened to the messages they were from my DSM asking me to call in as there was OT on Sunday and possibly Monday.

I rang the DSM and the first question I was asked "Where have you been" I thought f**k me it's my rest day and you want me to explain where I was, I wasn't to impressed then.

After I pointed this is my weekend off and it has nothing to do with work what I do, the DSM offered me the overtime.

I declined the Sunday as I would still be in the pleasant company of my better half, but told him I would be do the Monday though.

So tomorrow i will be up at 4:30 on my day off to go to work. It all helps.

Something That Made Me Laugh

I don't mind doing overtime, never have done, however when i have other priorities in my life, overtime is the last thing on my mind.

This week I was offered it twice, once by the Admin Assistant to work today, but as I've worked eight shifts on the bounce I had to decline the offer (and would have done any way), the main reason is I'm seeing the better half this weekend so OT is a definate no no, the second reason is that under the Underground Framework you can't work more then eight days in a single stretch.

The second offer was from my DSM to work tomorrow (FA Cup Final), yeah right as if I would wanna work at that station on that day, what with an estimated influx off 90.000+ traveling through the station to Wembley and to Lords, are you mad man.

However what tickled me was my DSM said to a colleague that now that as i have a new better half, I'd rather be seeing her then doing the overtime.

Damned right, wouldn't you.

Roll On Annual Leave

I really need a break from the job.

I was pottering along at home when the phone rang, as I picked it up, I answered

"Supervisor ***** ******** ******"

I then thought hang on did I just answer the phone with my work reply, argh I need a break, good job it was the Ex-wife, and not some one else.

On a better point, I only have to wait nine more days before I'm on my two weeks leave and for once my ex wife is playing ball and will be dropping the kids to me at work, ready for me to have them for the half term.

ATOR Training

Once more I get the dreaded paperwork for my Annual Test Of Rules, and like any good company LUL in there infinite wisdom have decided that they will try and place me as far away from my own station as possible.

That's right I work in CENTRAL LONDON not to far away from the training rooms at Oxford Circus, am i going there, am I f**k.

Where am I going I hear you ask?

East Ham. Again.

This means I'll have to be up every morning to get a train at 7am, travel into St Pancras and then travel out to the shite end of the Hammersmith & City line.

Not only that but the week before my training, they have done the same to one of my colleagues who lives near Canons Park.

As I read the paperwork I was given by my DSM, I noticed the number for our "Customer Services" so on the off chance that they could help me, I rang them and they can't do nothing.

How To Piss Me Off

When I'm in the middle of dealing with something, dont press my Passenger Help Point and think it's funny to ask me a completely stupid question.

Me "Can I help you"
Twat "Can I get some information"
Me "Yes what would you like to know?"
Twat "What's the meaning of life?"
Me "42 now f**k off"

That's A First For Me

I just checked one of my comments and followed the Aga's profile back to thier page.

I was surprised to find I was linked on there own blog page, but what really surprised me was it's written in the UK but in a different language, I think it's polish but I'm not sure.

Just want to say thank you and welcome Aga.

Also if you are an LUL blogger send me a link so I can post it on here as it's good to read other LUL stuff.

There Coming Out The Wood Work

My god another Underground blog has joined in the writing of a lunatic company, welcome Underground Gal

My Career With LUL

A CSA asked me last night when did I become an SS after replying it got me thinking about the rest of my Career on this company.

Basically, I joined LUL on the 1st August 1988 and did my roles and responsibilities at White City Training Center,there are certain things you remember on this job, and training at White City was one of them, you think Ashfield House is bad, then try White City.

Unlike todays training environment, it was seen as a very regimental way of training, you weren't allowed to ask questions, the instructor called your name and you had to answer, the reason I remember my first week was because i kept pissing the instructor of (even then I was a trouble maker) but it wasn't my fault.
On the first weeks training it used to be all about basic signalling, how it works, what it does and so on and so forth.
The only problem was every time the instructor asked me a question I would get it exactly right, by the end of the week he came up with some impossibly hard bullshit question, and with a smug look on his face turned to me and asked the question.
I gave him the completely correct answer and saw a look of frustration cloud his face.
"How the hell did you know the answer to that" he rants.
"I used to be an apprentice electrician" I answered with a grin.

So started a long life in the employ of LUL.

When I first was released out of the training center, you did a weeks worth of road training, which basically meant that you were baby sat by other members of staff for the whole week before seeing the Area Manager (Now called duty manager trains) so finally I was let loose to all and sundry.

I started off as a Relief Leading Railman (Reserve Customer Service Assistant) working out of Euston, however unlike todays structure I could work anywhere on the Northern line and anywhere on the Victoria line I could also cover Station Foremen (Station Supervisors) and start doing that only six weeks into my career, as for working on the Gate Line as a Leading Railman I could because you had to grade structures with in one system.

Leading Railman could work anywhere on the station both on the gate lines and on the platforms
Railman could only work platform and station duties.

Unlike todays pampered CSA's we did everything, from cleaning the platforms and clearing up vomit to changing the sand and water in the fire extinguisher cupboards. We didn't have station cleaners when I started.

In my first three months I had worked at:

Edgware. High Barnet.
Burnt Oak. East Finchley.
Colindale. Highgate.
Hendon Central. Archway.
Brent Cross. Tufnell Park.
Golders Green. Kentish Town
Hampstead.
Belsize Park.
Chalk Farm.
CAMDEN TOWN.
Mornington Cresent.
Euston
Angel.
Old Street
Borough.
And finally Blackhorse Road.

In December 88 I transferred into Camden Town and I was never so happy as when I worked there, yes I have had run ins with the Station Inspectors and with Duty Station Managers even called one nothing so much as a "jumped up booking clerk" (it was my hormones you see) I was on a DB (Disciplinary Board) in 1991 and sacked only to be reinstated, which wont happen now. I still have the paper work for that.

I spent five good years at Camden Town before I realized I needed to move on, so when Company Plan came about I applied to become a Temporary Relief Station Supervisor and was based out of East Finchley.

I did that for a good few months and when Company Plan finally landed I found myself in the grand position of being a Station Assistant.

In October 1993 I transfered up to Edgware to become a full time Station Supervisor and spent four years there running the station, clashing with management (I was told by an old DSM a few weeks back that because of my don't give two shits attitude especially at P&D time, I was really hard to work with but if there was ever a problem there were no worries when I was on duty) and basically causing merry hell along the way.

In October 1997 I transferred into Tufnell Park and caused more mayhem as we had three supervisors all with the same surname at the same station.

I spent a good couple of years there but knew that Tufnell wasn't for me when I get told by a wanker of a DSM that as long as I stay on that group I would never make SS1 as he will block me all the way, (you get cretins in every grade) so in 1999 I transferred to my current resting place and the first day I worked here I met the LadyBoy man and my first thought was "What the fuck have I done", but I've been here ever since and once more my attitude towards my managers and towards certain colleagues has seen me clash a good few times as you have read from my previous posts.

However I am happy with my present management team, however I'm just a bit disgruntled about a couple of my own Supervisors, this might sound like I've turned into a bit of a lackey, but don't worry I haven't.

You might also notice that LUL weren't very PC when I started as well.

You Light Up My Life

Tonights shift has been dead boring, the high light of the evening.

A customer pressed the intercom button outside my office and looked shocked when I opened the door.

"Can I help you"

"Oh I'm sorry, I saw the button with a green light around it and pressed it, I didn't expect some one to open the door"

All Hell Has Broken Loose

Tonight has been one of those nights, it was like waiting for a bus, firstly nothing then six things came along at once.

Firstly, I get an embarrassing situation for myself.
A customer presses the PHP (Passenger Help Point) on my platform and as i look at the monitors to see whats up, I notice a man walking away, when that happens I do get a bit pissed off, so I answer the PHP from the office and shout down the intercom "That's right mate just walk away" at which point a female voice replies "I haven't I'm still here" OOOOPS. From the angle of the camera I couldn't tell she was standing beside the PHP. I apologise to the young lady who just laughed it off and said no worries.

As I cut off the conversation with the young lady, another PHP is activated.

"Hello can I help you" (Notice I'm politer this time) "Yes someone on the last train tried to pickpocket me"
Now for serious supervisor time.
Ok pop along to my office and i will take the details and inform the police.
What actually happened was the man spotted two people trying to dart forward at his rucksack and warned them off at which point they just taunted the customer.

Next I had an urgent assistance call to the gate line as one of my CSA's was involved in an altercation with a fair dodger trying to enter the system and had been assaulted. On arrival I assisted my CSA with physically ejecting the fool, only for him to jump over the gate line and almost break his neck (good) hurtling down the stairs.
He dived onto a westbound train only for me to tell the driver to stay where he was and that the police were on the way. As I walked down the the train to were he was firstly one customer told me he was in the third carriage then when I arrived another customer who was standing directly behind the little git pointed directly down to where he was crouching like a scared little girl.
Once more I escorted the twat off the station only for him to jump onto a bus, my colleague told the bus driver what was occurring only for the bus driver to open all the doors and let him escape, about 20 seconds later the British Transport Police made a speedy made an appearance.

Just as I started to write up the report for the assault on my staff, another PHP is activated, this time in emergency mode, as i look at the camera i can see something is happening on an eastbound train, I rush off once more feeling more like a bloody superhero then a station supervisor and arrived to find a young lady recovering from a faint on the train.
After making the lady comfortable and spending a while chatting, I find out that she suffers from low blood pressure (after today mine is sky high) and she has fainted before, as a precaution I offer the obligatory ambulance which is declined.

Just as I started writing this post, the station next door has closed for a fire alert so I am on the PA informing the customers, when the Line Controller calls to ask me to check out the east end of mt westbound platform as some dickhead is shining one of those laser pens at the trains when they arrive

So all in all a quiet little shift.

Customer Service Assistance Vacancies

I've just seen a bulletin advertising for staff who have friends or family who might be interested in working for this company.

If you feel like you want to be abused almost daily, f**k your body clock up so badly that you don't know which why is up, and feel constantly tired but being paid tons.

Please apply at http://www.tfl.tube.go.uk/ or call 08712 100 600 and I might see you around.

Just doing my part to aid recruitment.

Update: As I was asked via a couple of comments what the application process is, I rang up the recruitment people and here's what happens.

1) You will need to fill out an application form.
2) If successful you will have a telephone interview.
3) If successful you will be called in for a computer assessment.
4) If successful you will attend and interview with the possibility of a 2nd interview.
5) If successful you will be given a job offer.

All a bit different from when I started in 1988.

Update 2: As these are comments from some of my readers I though I would post these on my main page.


7 Comments Close this window

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Rob said...
Indeed you might see me around, saw the ad a couple of weeks ago, applied and have been accepted for a phone interview.Whats the next stage should I be successful at this stage?
11 May, 2007 16:00

john said...
hi there,i have applied to CSA job as well few weeks ago and ive passed the phone interview. Now im schedule for my final interview/assesment on the 18th may. Can you give me advise about the interview/assesment? I really wanna get this job and i think i would really enjoy working in london underground.
11 May, 2007 16:42

john said...
hi is it possible if we can have chat on the phone?what is your email address and i can email you my number.
11 May, 2007 17:32

Anne said...
There's no computer assessment, btw.It's a written, timed, assessment. Because they're getting so many recruits in, there aren't enough pooters to go round, if they ever wanted to use them, especially with all the new Supervisors and CSAs doing their final CBT assessments.
12 May, 2007 11:55

Station Supervisor said...
John above, asked me via email what sort of questions are asked in the interview, and what the role play is based on.
12 May, 2007 15:58

Anonymous said...
As a member of staff, totally agree with SS, consider your social life, it takes a good kicking. If your a party animal, dont bother applying. If getting drunk every 2 weeks is your thing, then thats ok. A lot of people see the salary, and not much else!!!
14 May, 2007 03:35

Underground Gal said...
The roleplay was the bit I found most daunting, it's mainly just to see how you react to customers/the public - there's a bank of several different ones, as far as I can tell, the main point is to be calm, helpful as possible, looking out for your own safety as well as that of other people. The written and numerical assessments I found a breeze. The interview was the other bit that terrified me, I've never interviewed well (heck, hardly ever had any interviews before this - about three in total). The main thing to remember is the medical, background checks and references can take ages to go through... I was in an odd position anyway because of having to up sticks from Dorset to London, but I applied in October and started late February. Not a quick process. (There was almost a month between my interview and my medical, simply because there were so booked up - it may be easing out now, of course.)
14 May, 2007 11:44

Talking To Grandma Beattie

If you're old enough you might remember those adverts with Maureen Lipman "You got an ology, you're almost a scientist with and ology" (that's showing my age).

Well today I had the honour of ringing BT faults to report a problem with my phone line, as I listened to the computerised voice on the end of the phone.

"Please enter your BT number" ***** ******
"I'm sorry that is not a BT telephone number.
Yes it bloody well is.

"Please enter you BT number" ***** ******
"I'm sorry that is not a BT telephone number.
I've had this number since last May and I have the bill in front of me with the account number on it.

"Please enter your BT number" ***** ******
"I'm sorry that is not a BT number, please contact your phone service provider ... Please stay on the line whilst we connect you to customer service".
Hang on you're telling me I don't have a BT number yet you're still putting me through.

This seems to be just my luck at the moment, what with one company not giving me a settlement figure as they haven't sold my car, the money I'm trying to get back from British Gas is still going on and I'm ringing them practically every day and now the BT computer not recognizing a BT number, and only just now being told Twitter has changed it's number and not getting the Email, what else will go wrong.

As Monty Python once said "The only way to get anything done round here is by going Kerniggit Kerniggit Kerniggit".

I Don't Believe It

Firstly, I had a phone call from another station asking me to check the front carriage of a train coming towards me for lost property.

I asked my CSA's on the gate line for there assistance in checking the train, my new CSA answered the radio first and i told him what to do.

"Go to platform two and tell the train operator that you need to check the first carriage for the lost property" those were my exact words.

A short time later I look up to see the train that needed to be searched had passed through my station and was at the station next door.

I called up my CSA and asked him if he found anything, he replied "No I didn't find anything and I'm on my way back to the station"
"Sorry" says I "Where are you?"
His reply "I'm at the station next door".
My Reply "What are you doing there"
"I was checking the carriage and the doors shut" he replied

"Once you get back see me in my office"

As he arrives sheepishly at my office the first question I asked.
"Did you tell the train Op you were getting on the train to search it?"
"No" he replies.
"Why not?"
"I didn't think I would need to" he tells me
"Why do you think I specifically told you to inform the Train Op you were on his train, especially as you were In the front carriage?"

At this I get a mumbled apology and get told "Well I will know for next time"

What is it about the new recruits that are coming through, mst of them just don't know how to listen.

Secondly, I rejoined Weight Watchers last week and for a first week loss I only managed 10.5lbs.
Hopefully I keep it up for next week and loose that 3.5lbs to make a stone in two weeks.

Bloody Car People

As you might remember, I gave my car back to the financial company last November, I spoke with the company yet again today, only to be told that the car was only collected last month and taken to auction.

At this point I asked a couple of questions:

1) Why has it taken so long for the car to be sold.
2) Why are you sending me pissy letters when you haven't resold the car
3) Can you explain why the Kettering branch made me drop the car off last November yet the recovery order was only placed on the 24th of April.
4) Does that mean that I could have used the car for the past FIVE months and will you take into account the depreciation of the vehicle for those FIVE months.
5) Does this also mean I could have had transport for the last FIVE months instead of Shank's Pony.

There reply: "I'll get back to you on that by tomorrow"

A Good Day Off

Yesterday I had a very nice rest day, but it was far from restful, I had woken up around 18:30 Monday night and after working seven nights, like any decent son I popped over to see my little old mum to drop off her birthday present.

But like any little old mum anywhere, she had a few chores for her son.

Todays main chore was cutting back the forest that was attached to her garden fence. I spent a nice two and a bit hours attacking this monsterous thing with a pair of hand shears, no electric hedge trimmer for me, my hay fever flaired up and at one stage, I even had both eyes with bits of plant in them.

As I finally settled down to my second coffee at mums, she pops up with my second chore of the day, the back fence needs realigning and supporting as it's almost as old as my mum, it's amazing what you can do with brute force and a bit of string.

Mum then tells me that she is going to have to replace about 11 fencing panels as the next door neighbours plants have seriously damaged her remaining fence.

I think I'll call the brother in law when I'm doing that chore.

After that I popped up to see the better half (she says it not me) and spent a wonderful afternoon in the company of a lovely woman, I finally made my way home and arrived back in Wellingborough about 19:45, after pottering around catching up on a ton of laundry, I settled down to a bit of TV and a chat on MSN and MySpace and finally popping into bed around 12am.

At 2:30 I was still on the phone to the better half but then decided after being awake 33 hours straight I had best get some sleep.

As I finally crashed out I was rudely awoken five minutes later with full blown cramps in both calves, now that's a funny situation to be in trying to get out of bed and stand when both calves are in shear agony.

*note to self: need more salt*

Today will be spent resting, a nice bit of shopping and off to Weight Watchers (as I need to loose weight once more) later.

Scared And Confused

I have a booking clerk who works on my group of stations who scares the life out of me. He s totally unpredictable.

He arrived today and it looked like someone had stuck a hand grenade in both his ears and blown up his hair so that he looks like Catweazel, (my Station Assistants words not mine, but totally apt)I asked him if he had combed it, and he said that doesn't work, I asked him if he had any teeth on his comb as that normally does the trick, all I got was a blank expression (my humour does take getting used to) instead I tried another tact, have you tried water, yes he say and even Brylcreme but that just doesn't work.

Then I told him that the Multi Fare Machine (the machines that give you the multiple choice of tickets and Oyster) at my station wasn't excepting coins or notes, he turns to me and "what do you want me to do" I was left thinking, What!!!!!!

I told him to try and fix the problem as that might help, he replied "Okay I'll give CTS (the ticket office equipment techs) a call and see what they say.

After he wandered off upstairs I was left shaking my head. A little while later i spotted my clerk outside the ticket office looking at the slot where you you put the notes in, he steps back stands up straight and I was convinced he was going to launch a boot at the machine.

Luckily he doesn't and he fixed the machine.

My Last Night Finally Arrives.

And it couldn't arrive to soon.

As I travelled home this morning, I jumped on to the replacement bus service from Bedford to Wellingborough and once more I was on the bus all alone, just me and the driver, at least i had company on the journey back to Bedford.

My week has felt like a hard slog, but at least I have a couple of days off again before I'm back to a 3pm start.

In the morning, instead of going straight home, I'm off to my mums to drop off her birthday present, she a sturdy old woman for a 74 year old, I bought her a nice little plant something called a Buxus, don't ask me as I haven't got a clue about plant life, apart from the punters on this job of course.

This afternoon I'm off to see the better half (as she calls herself, bloody cheek) so by the time I reach home today it will probably be nearer 6pm.

At least I have Wednesday to catch up on my beauty sleep (I must be tired at the mo, as it just took me six attempts to spell the word "beauty"), I might even do a bit of tidying up in my own little garden.

Feeling Intolerant

Apart from having and easy struggle getting into work and having a good old chin wag with the bus driver from Wellingborough, tonights shift so far has basically pissed me off.

Firstly we have the idiot who thinks its funny to jump forward towards the platform edge when a train is pulling into the platform. The driver had to drop his controller so the train stopped quicker then normal.
The prat of a customer (and I use the term loosely) has a big smile on his face, but as I'm not in the mood for idiots tonight, he is soon escorted off the station by a very irate Supervisor.

Secondly, I have a relief cleaner on site who has never worked here before, I have to show him what he has to do and all this in between seeing off 11 last trains, as he decides to clean the ticket hall area I notice he has left a half empty rubbish bag at the top of the stairs leading to my platform one.

The cleaner is on a totally different level from this bag so he is no where in site.

So thanks to the cleaner I have a tripping hazard in a very dangerous place especially with a number of drunk customers around or if a customer really wanted to be funny it could have caused a security alert, after picking the bag up and then looking for the cleaner, I gave him a serious talking to, ok a complete bollocking.

I wonder what else will happen now.

UPDATE:00:20

I was wrong, not only did I just bollock the cleaner, as he walks along the platform, he leaves the rubbish bag next to the yellow line close to the platform edge, so one strong gust of wind from the train and the bag is on the track.

A Bad Set Of Nights

I don't know what the problem has been this week, but I have really struggled at work.

Tuesday night I didn't want to come in at all and I really had to force myself out of the front door at home, it came to the point that when I reached London, I almost jumped on the 22:25 home again.

Wednesday I hit the sack around 11:30 but was woken at 15:30 by a kid screaming and shouting at the top of his voice "I want one", as the brat stopped one of the tenants of the Adults with Learning Disabilities Center three doors away starts shouting, sounding like a fire alarm going off, as i lay in bed thinking this can't get worse, it did.

The next sound I heard was a van reversing ... beep, beep, beep. Finally silence.

As I settled down to sleep once more I looked at the clock and thought I could catch another two hours sleep, but I then receive a call at 4:30 from my daughter .... twice.

Thursday I fell into bed around 11ish and was out like a light, however my daughter once more calls at 4:30 to say hello as she is bored, that was my days sleeping done, I couldn't drift back off to the land of nod so just lay in bed waiting for my alarm to sound.

Friday sees me going home looking like death warmed up, and as per usual I hit the sack at 11:30 only to be woken once more by my daughter. I know it's lovely to chat to my kids, but when I'm on nights it's hardly the best time to call. I asked her why she rang me and she told me that she had rang my work but they said I was off, yes i was off I said but I'm on nights all week.

So once more I'm awake early and feeling more shattered then ever.

Today was different, I fell asleep on the train home and was woken by one of Midland Mainline's staff who know me, and where I get off, I was home by 8am, another first for this week, and in bed by 10am, so a lot of firsts for me today.

However once more I woke up at 3:30, and just lay there in anticipation of the 4:30 phone call that never came.

So here I am once more at work feeling dead tired, having no contractors to abuse during the course of the night, and looking forward to a three hour trip to get home by train and buses tomorrow and Monday.

That Was A Struggle

As my shift slowly trundles on towards it's bitter end, I have really struggled to stay awake, the reason was due to lack of a decent sleep and lack of contractors to keep me busy.

The next three nights are going to be dead as well as I wont have any of my usual contractors in.

So apart from my station cleaner I'm hoping for a peaceful three nights over the bank holiday.

I Wonder About The Intelligence Of My Colleagues

When I arrived at work on Tuesday night, I had an email from a manager asking me to explain why I didn't get my booked staff taxi for an early turn start.

The reason for me not getting the taxi was because my night turn colleague rang me about 22:15 on the Saturday night and told me not to rush in as his first train wasn't until after 8am. I told him to ring staff taxis and cancel my cab as I wont be needing it now.

Today I had another email asking me what time it was cancelled, I emailled them and wrote about 22:30 as my colleague had done it.

On the off chance I rang my colleague to find out how he cancelled the cab, only to be told that he had cancelled it via the pc not via the phone.

So because of my colleague not cancelling the cab properly via the phone as told, I may have to cough up £45 for his ineptitude.

If it comes to that I know who will be paying me back.

First Night Down

As you might have noticed, I didn't want to go in to work last night, I wandered down the the station to get my train and just felt so down about going that when I reached London I could have easily caught the 22:25 back home.

When I reached work, I settled in for a LONG tedious night, however much to my amazement the night started off with a service suspension to the Met line, followed by a phone call from LIA (Line Information Assistant) telling me to get passengers to the next station as the last Met trains weren't guaranteed. Oh Bugger.

Luckily the service resumed with delays around 23:00 but I only had one Met train to see off instead of my usual three.

My contractors duly arrived and luckily I only had a few as the refurbishment work is winding down.

I spoke to a colleague and as it was his first night too he was in the same position as me, we chatted the night away keeping each other awake, at one point we even had a discussion about giant Brazilian spiders.

My relief arrived bang on 7:00, as I looked at him, I noticed he has a strange new hair cut, I asked him what the f**k happened. and he told me he had a hair cut in Bangkok and it only cost him 80p including the tip.

I'm not surprised it only cost 80p.

As I was getting ready to go out the door, he suddenly blurts out that he had a massage as well from some ladyboys in a gents toilet and as he didn't have any money on him he had to call his wife to come pay for it.

I looked at him and then fled.

I Have That Feeling

As I've had a good weekend off and just chilled out today unfortunately I just feel like I don't want to go to work.

I get like this every now and then, but never mind I'll go in as normal, and terrorize the contractors as usual.