I must confess that today is my most hated day to work in the year – August Bank Holiday Monday! I write this during my break at Caherconnoll and things have already started in a small way I have met a coach in a rather awkward spot but managed to get through unscathed and I got stuck at a hotel picking up some passengers by some rather stupid car parking but I managed to maneuver out. I’am now eagerly looking forward to the trip around Black Head and running the gamut of cyclists, hikers, motor homes and hire cars that makes this job so interesting! In the best spirit of blogging I shall write another update at our lunch break to tell you how the busiest day of the year is shaping up.
Well so far so good at Doolin having my diet lunch and the nerves are still intact! Anyone that has been on our tour might remember the section from Ballynalacken Castle to Doolin is very narrow with poor visability so today I was debating whether to go that way and finally took a 5 min diversion via a wider road. I was so pleased I did as I saw a scene below of one of my colleagues from a large tour company firmly stuck against some cars at a very narrow point so a good result missing that! The trip around Back head was very busy with the usual inconsiderate and reckless car driving to contend with but no real delays so off to The Cliffs next !
Now at The Cliffs and other than a slight delay at the car park entrance we are nearly on time so giving people our normal hour and a half break, met a Bus Eireann driver in Doolin who told me it had taken hime over 30 min to get through Lahinch so returning via a different route to miss the traffic – hopefully!
Well I have arrived home about 7.35 with no damage and a few tips so hopefully our clients have appreciated my efforts to show them as much as possible without getting stuck in traffic for hours, I’am delighted the bank holiday is over and after coach cleaning settle in the chair with a large malt and look forward to doing it all again tomorrow!
Music – I was looking for a bit of walking music the other day for my daily walk up the Cliffs and I have decided Blue Monday by New order is near to the ultimate! – even Chris is into it now !
Book – Filth by Irvine Welsh is going great and my final verdict is coming soon!
Saturday, August 23, 2008
Richards Blog – 11.08.08 – Baton Twirling and Gigging!
There has been a big event taking place in Limerick over the last couple of weeks – The International Baton Twirling Championships – I kid you not! I had no idea that twirling was so popular but I’am delighted that it is as we have enjoyed a bit of extra business as a result, I even sacrificed my Friday off to take a group to the Cliffs and hopefully fun was had by all!
It has been a better if a little exhausting couple of weeks and business has finally been about the level that we expect at this time of year but we do still suddenly get unexpected quiet times. We have been under a little pressure last week as we lost Celtic Pride for a couple of days but Celtic Princess AKA Curt stepped into the breach and performed brilliantly as ever – if only Mercedes could still build coaches as good as that – I may even buy a new one!
Talking of vehicles there may be a change afoot and we may be having another upgrade – so watch this space for details! We always hate parting with our vehicles and I well remember somebody in tears when we delivered Celtic Warrior (Wally) to his new owner! I must admit we do get far too attached to the vehicles but we really do like them and they tend to develop a personality – stupid I know but it is particularly hard when we have to part with a vehicle that has served us well as you never know if its replacement will be as good! That was certainly the case with last years purchase Celtic Pride – it has cost us an awful lot of money to put right but we feel that our investment will be rewarded by a trouble free season next year – here’s hoping!
Music – Went to a great gig on Thursday night at Smyths bar – a local band called The Wilful, I have mentioned them before but again they impressed with a totally mad set that included everything from Christy Moore to Gangster rap via Abba and the theme to Fraggle Rock (don’t worry you need to be a certain age!). A brilliant nights entertainment anyway !
Book – Just started a great read “Don’t tell my mother I work on the rigs” by Paul Carter – a great insight into the mad world of the oil industry and is great reading.
It has been a better if a little exhausting couple of weeks and business has finally been about the level that we expect at this time of year but we do still suddenly get unexpected quiet times. We have been under a little pressure last week as we lost Celtic Pride for a couple of days but Celtic Princess AKA Curt stepped into the breach and performed brilliantly as ever – if only Mercedes could still build coaches as good as that – I may even buy a new one!
Talking of vehicles there may be a change afoot and we may be having another upgrade – so watch this space for details! We always hate parting with our vehicles and I well remember somebody in tears when we delivered Celtic Warrior (Wally) to his new owner! I must admit we do get far too attached to the vehicles but we really do like them and they tend to develop a personality – stupid I know but it is particularly hard when we have to part with a vehicle that has served us well as you never know if its replacement will be as good! That was certainly the case with last years purchase Celtic Pride – it has cost us an awful lot of money to put right but we feel that our investment will be rewarded by a trouble free season next year – here’s hoping!
Music – Went to a great gig on Thursday night at Smyths bar – a local band called The Wilful, I have mentioned them before but again they impressed with a totally mad set that included everything from Christy Moore to Gangster rap via Abba and the theme to Fraggle Rock (don’t worry you need to be a certain age!). A brilliant nights entertainment anyway !
Book – Just started a great read “Don’t tell my mother I work on the rigs” by Paul Carter – a great insight into the mad world of the oil industry and is great reading.
Tuesday, August 19, 2008
Richards Blog – 31.07.08 – It had to happen !!
As you can imagine we drive a large number of miles every year and are constantly at the mercy of our Garda Traffic Corps and no matter how careful we are there will always be a day when you will get caught for some traffic offence. I have been extremely lucky as I have been driving professionally for over 20 years and never had a ticket (other than for parking!!) and my license was totally clean.
I was heading back from Dublin in our car last night after a long day over in England on business and at about 11.00 traveling through Littleton Co. Tipperary – a typical sleepy country village and one of the countless ones we still have to pass through thanks to our still woeful infrastructure and whilst I had slowed for the village I didn’t slow enough and got caught by a radar gun. The officer was standing about 200 yards from the de restriction sign which lies at the bottom of a hill at the end of a fast stretch of road and, needless to say I was one of many who got caught so I will soon be Eu80.00 poorer and have 2 penalty points. I do not dispute the facts of the case but for years it has been accepted that traffic does not strictly observe the 50 km speed limit in these places late at night and indeed the Garda NEVER enforced this. I have traveled over that road countless times at all hours and never seen a speed check in a village at night. It would be fair to say that the officer would have caught 90% of vehicles last night – sitting ducks? - I think so!
The Garda are currently suffering from a major image problem in Ireland and antics like this will not help, I think once the respect of the public is lost their already difficult jobs will become impossible. If this all sounds like a rant to be honest it is, if I had got done for doing 130 kph in a 100 limit I would have no argument but I wonder what mine and other tickets issued last night really will achieve in cutting road deaths, I see dangerous inconsiderate and often downright reckless driving every day and people are getting away with it en mass! I’am not sure of the wisdom of writing this but my goodness I do feel better!!!
Music – Still a bit chilled but really enjoying listening to some old school chilled Ibiza stuff like To the River by Groove Armada and la Passonara by the Blow Monkeys. I’am thinking of checking out a bit of ambient jazz too, we were in Lanzarote about 4 years ago and there was a great dj playing that kind of stuff – any suggestions of where to start?
Book – Filth by Irvine Welsh is drawing to a close and I honestly am reading it in small bursts as I don’t want to finish it, it really is that good, If you like this kind of stuff and as I said earlier you are not easily offended you really have to check it out – a masterpiece to my mind!
I was heading back from Dublin in our car last night after a long day over in England on business and at about 11.00 traveling through Littleton Co. Tipperary – a typical sleepy country village and one of the countless ones we still have to pass through thanks to our still woeful infrastructure and whilst I had slowed for the village I didn’t slow enough and got caught by a radar gun. The officer was standing about 200 yards from the de restriction sign which lies at the bottom of a hill at the end of a fast stretch of road and, needless to say I was one of many who got caught so I will soon be Eu80.00 poorer and have 2 penalty points. I do not dispute the facts of the case but for years it has been accepted that traffic does not strictly observe the 50 km speed limit in these places late at night and indeed the Garda NEVER enforced this. I have traveled over that road countless times at all hours and never seen a speed check in a village at night. It would be fair to say that the officer would have caught 90% of vehicles last night – sitting ducks? - I think so!
The Garda are currently suffering from a major image problem in Ireland and antics like this will not help, I think once the respect of the public is lost their already difficult jobs will become impossible. If this all sounds like a rant to be honest it is, if I had got done for doing 130 kph in a 100 limit I would have no argument but I wonder what mine and other tickets issued last night really will achieve in cutting road deaths, I see dangerous inconsiderate and often downright reckless driving every day and people are getting away with it en mass! I’am not sure of the wisdom of writing this but my goodness I do feel better!!!
Music – Still a bit chilled but really enjoying listening to some old school chilled Ibiza stuff like To the River by Groove Armada and la Passonara by the Blow Monkeys. I’am thinking of checking out a bit of ambient jazz too, we were in Lanzarote about 4 years ago and there was a great dj playing that kind of stuff – any suggestions of where to start?
Book – Filth by Irvine Welsh is drawing to a close and I honestly am reading it in small bursts as I don’t want to finish it, it really is that good, If you like this kind of stuff and as I said earlier you are not easily offended you really have to check it out – a masterpiece to my mind!
Friday, August 15, 2008
Richards Blog – 24.07.08 – Fully booked !!
We had a first on Sunday, we think it was the first time in ten years that we had every seat taken – Chris with 24 for the Cliffs and me 37 to Blarney. I originally had 33 bookings but we got 4 people extra at Limerick Tourist Office and we still had a few to pick up at the Bus Station and must admit to breathing a huge sigh of relief when everyone had a seat – no matter how much we check and double check you can still forget a booking somewhere! Everything went to plan with my tour although Chris was slightly delayed at The Cliffs waiting for some of her guests, however in general our stress levels were OK and we made it through the day fairly easily.
Its fair to say at the moment that our stress levels go up with tiredness, as I hope you realise we do love our jobs but at this time we do tend to get a little burned out although we hope our customers never notice. Our biggest problem is a lack of any “me time”, I have a couple of hobbies that I would love to pursue but by the time the bus cleaning is finished at 9.00 every evening all I can think of is sleep! We have always said if we could take even 3 days off mid season it would just re charge the batteries and get us through but unfortunately that is a dream!
So at the moment we are kept going by dreams of Thailand – our favourite holiday destination and we are just about booked up to go for Christmas this year which should be great fun! I cannot wait to eat my xmas dinner in the sun.
I suppose at this point I should mention my hobbies well first of all is my car a 1966 MGBGT which I have owned for 15 years and is well overdue some restoration, my other hobby is model railways- I’am currently building an n gauge model of a subject I grew up with – coal mining and the model will be loosely based on Westoe Colliery in South Shields in England set in the late 70s – I may post a pic or 2 of progress soon!
Music – I seem to be drifting towards chill out music as tiredness gets hold and my current favourite is a little known track called “Easter Song” by A man called Adam – it takes me right back to Koh Larn in Thailand! – check it out and join me!
Book – Filth by Irvine Welsh is going great and is now featuring some dialogue from a tape worm – great lunch time reading !!!
Its fair to say at the moment that our stress levels go up with tiredness, as I hope you realise we do love our jobs but at this time we do tend to get a little burned out although we hope our customers never notice. Our biggest problem is a lack of any “me time”, I have a couple of hobbies that I would love to pursue but by the time the bus cleaning is finished at 9.00 every evening all I can think of is sleep! We have always said if we could take even 3 days off mid season it would just re charge the batteries and get us through but unfortunately that is a dream!
So at the moment we are kept going by dreams of Thailand – our favourite holiday destination and we are just about booked up to go for Christmas this year which should be great fun! I cannot wait to eat my xmas dinner in the sun.
I suppose at this point I should mention my hobbies well first of all is my car a 1966 MGBGT which I have owned for 15 years and is well overdue some restoration, my other hobby is model railways- I’am currently building an n gauge model of a subject I grew up with – coal mining and the model will be loosely based on Westoe Colliery in South Shields in England set in the late 70s – I may post a pic or 2 of progress soon!
Music – I seem to be drifting towards chill out music as tiredness gets hold and my current favourite is a little known track called “Easter Song” by A man called Adam – it takes me right back to Koh Larn in Thailand! – check it out and join me!
Book – Filth by Irvine Welsh is going great and is now featuring some dialogue from a tape worm – great lunch time reading !!!
Saturday, August 2, 2008
Richards Blog – 19.07.08 – Up the Banner ! (Me Ar*# !)
Sunday was what could only be said to be a fraught day at Barratt Tours! As usual we were both out on tour me to The Cliffs and Chris to Blarney. Also on Sunday was theMunster hurling final between Clare and Tipperary in Limerick which Tipperary won by the way.
The match turned out about 5.45 so I held back as long as I could and hit Limerick about 6.30, to cut a long story short the next hour was spent in gridlocked traffic and I arrived in Limerick station at 7.40, I never even attempted any further stops as I really just wanted to get out of town by that stage! Chris fared even worse as she was delayed at Buttavent Horse fair for 45 min before she even hitLimerick! She then had to drop passengers off at The Raddisson Hotel right in the thick of the traffic! She finally arrived about 7.30 at which point her nerves were jangled enough for her to give in and sit back and enjoy a coffee before even thinking of heading back!
She left the Raddisson at 8.00 and arrived back in our yard believe it or not at 9.30 – Limerick was still at a standstill 3 hours after the match finished! We both agreed if the next Munster final was in 100 years it would be too soon!
Whilst I would never want to spoil everyone’s enjoyment of the match I do feel that something urgently needs to be done re a traffic plan or park and ride or something as I do not think it is acceptable that Irelands third city should be gridlocked for over 3 hours even on a Sunday making it impossible for the precious few tourists we have to get around let alone people trying to run a business like us!
Music – Retro again this week, still on Tom Robinson and downloaded some tracks from ‘Power in the Darkness” surely a masterwork with “Up against the wall” being my favourite. I had to pay for these as I guess EMI still hold the rights to them but still well worth checking out.
Book – The Masterchefs –Finished now and the ending did not in any way disappoint! Just started “Filth” and it is even more disgusting and slightly depraved – a great read for me in other words, I’am afraid I find myself drawn to stuff like this – I really like gritty reality in a book, as you may have surmised I’am not a big Mills and Boon reader!
The match turned out about 5.45 so I held back as long as I could and hit Limerick about 6.30, to cut a long story short the next hour was spent in gridlocked traffic and I arrived in Limerick station at 7.40, I never even attempted any further stops as I really just wanted to get out of town by that stage! Chris fared even worse as she was delayed at Buttavent Horse fair for 45 min before she even hitLimerick! She then had to drop passengers off at The Raddisson Hotel right in the thick of the traffic! She finally arrived about 7.30 at which point her nerves were jangled enough for her to give in and sit back and enjoy a coffee before even thinking of heading back!
She left the Raddisson at 8.00 and arrived back in our yard believe it or not at 9.30 – Limerick was still at a standstill 3 hours after the match finished! We both agreed if the next Munster final was in 100 years it would be too soon!
Whilst I would never want to spoil everyone’s enjoyment of the match I do feel that something urgently needs to be done re a traffic plan or park and ride or something as I do not think it is acceptable that Irelands third city should be gridlocked for over 3 hours even on a Sunday making it impossible for the precious few tourists we have to get around let alone people trying to run a business like us!
Music – Retro again this week, still on Tom Robinson and downloaded some tracks from ‘Power in the Darkness” surely a masterwork with “Up against the wall” being my favourite. I had to pay for these as I guess EMI still hold the rights to them but still well worth checking out.
Book – The Masterchefs –Finished now and the ending did not in any way disappoint! Just started “Filth” and it is even more disgusting and slightly depraved – a great read for me in other words, I’am afraid I find myself drawn to stuff like this – I really like gritty reality in a book, as you may have surmised I’am not a big Mills and Boon reader!
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