I am sure that the regular readers of Taxi Leaks have noticed that I have supplied posts to this platform, but I have never explained why.
Let me give you a little background to myself first.
I have been in this industry for over 20 years, I started as a weekend telephonist to supplement my income as a new father, that went on to dispatching by voice (the good old fashioned way) and then by computer. This lead me to be a qualified Taxi/Private Hire driver and have held this badge with the Sheffield City Council ever since.
During this time, I have also been a part of the management team of two of the largest Private Hire companies in this are, Mercury and City (450 and 1000 cars respectively) and between these two posts I owned in partnership a company we called Phoenix (started with 4 cars and built it up to 180)
I am now back as a full time driver.
So why did I start this crusade that I find myself on morning noon and night?
Very simple, I found myself in a dark place, a very dark place....
The industry has been very good to me, it has provided for my family and myself, it has given me friends for life and it taught me a few good lessons in life, but it left me...
It left me when I could not make the living I was making.
It left me when I had to say NO to my wife and kids basic requests for simple things.
It left me when I worked on a day to day basis to pay bills and put food on the table...
It left me and I wanted to leave this world, thats how dark that place was that I was in.
I would have probably gone to that place too, if it was not for the ever present thought that my wife and kids would be distraught and with nothing at all coming in, not even what little I was providing, and the thought that if I went to that dark place and did what those little voices were saying to do.... my mother would have fooking killed me !!!!
So I looked at that dark place and stared at it and searched in that recess what it was that had done me in such a way to make me have these thoughts and feelings, and the more I looked, the deeper I searched, I found it... and it was not me that had brought me to this, or even made this dark place I looked into...no, it was this government, and all the authorities that continually shout out that they are their for public safety...
I understood that, I totally got it, but...but what about my family and myself? what about OUR safety?
What about us having food, having heating, having clothes?
Is that not safety also?
Is that not a part of why I pay my license, so they can police the industry that I am in?
I guess not...
So I decided that my dark place was going to be my driving force, and thats why I do what I do....
I do it because I am proud, I do it because I have responsibilities...
I do it because I love this industry...
And I do it for ME....
I may be a small fish in a big pond, but a lot of small fish together are a dangerous thing....Piranha spring to mind...
And as for the house brick through my family home's window, if you are reading this 'boy' thats not going to stop me moron...it just fuels me.
As Eminem said...
Yeah, it's been a ride
I guess I had to, go to that place, to get to this one
Now some of you, might still be in that place
If you're trying to get out, just follow me
I'll get you there......................
Love
Wardy