Retired Old ■■■■:
It’s a tad unusual for me to be serious, isn’t it? And on good old Saviem’s thread, as well!Must try harder.
A great philosopher in our midst,without us realising it. Casey words fail me. 
Cheers Dave.
Trev_H:
I see they are now hauling Aluminium ingots on flat trailers, whose work was that ?
No sheeting and roping involved there then Trev ! 
Cheers Dennis.
Telekonsteve:
Retired Old ■■■■:
It’s a tad unusual for me to be serious, isn’t it? And on good old Saviem’s thread, as well!Must try harder.
Yeh how many have ur had
Well how many do you have to have, Regardless of the time, I mean to say what time it is don’t matter as long as one is enjoying what one is doing or drinking , The crack is allways good IMO, ive just finished a bottle of Shiraz & having a a large Glenmorangie or two before I retire to my bed, & I will be up in the morning sharpish to get my Sunday Paper before I have my usual Sunday fry up , Time means nowt to me as long as I wake up the next day ready for action,which I hope everyone on this thread dose two, Regards Larry.
Thanks for the kind words, chaps. And to those of you wondering about my alcohol intake, don’t worry- I’m not the sort to get maudlin when I’ve had one too many!
And if you really MUST know, I’m on my fourth Glenmorangie! 
Lawrence Dunbar:
Telekonsteve:
Retired Old ■■■■:
It’s a tad unusual for me to be serious, isn’t it? And on good old Saviem’s thread, as well!Must try harder.
Yeh how many have ur had
Well how many do you have to have, Regardless of the time, I mean to say what time it is don’t matter as long as one is enjoying what one is doing or drinking , The crack is allways good IMO, ive just finished a bottle of Shiraz & having a a large Glenmorangie or two before I retire to my bed, & I will be up in the morning sharpish to get my Sunday Paper before I have my usual Sunday fry up , Time means nowt to me as long as I wake up the next day ready for action,which I hope everyone on this thread dose two, Regards Larry.
Now I’m going get slaughtered for this, but the night is young even if you lot aren’t ha ha
Telekonsteve:
Lawrence Dunbar:
Telekonsteve:
Retired Old ■■■■:
It’s a tad unusual for me to be serious, isn’t it? And on good old Saviem’s thread, as well!Must try harder.
Yeh how many have ur had
Well how many do you have to have, Regardless of the time, I mean to say what time it is don’t matter as long as one is enjoying what one is doing or drinking , The crack is allways good IMO, ive just finished a bottle of Shiraz & having a a large Glenmorangie or two before I retire to my bed, & I will be up in the morning sharpish to get my Sunday Paper before I have my usual Sunday fry up , Time means nowt to me as long as I wake up the next day ready for action,which I hope everyone on this thread dose two, Regards Larry.
Now I’m going get slaughtered for this, but the night is young even if you lot aren’t ha ha
Cheeky young whippersnapper!!! Regards Kev. Ps now where did I leave my Horlicks?
Sod the Horlicks!
I just can’t leave the last half-inch of the amber stuff until tomorrow.
Retired Old ■■■■:
Sod the Horlicks!
I just can’t leave the last half-inch of the amber stuff until tomorrow.
Just have like me little owd dad use to say 4 fingers kiddy me mam every time I pourd it for him ha ha god rest his sole and cheers to him and all the rest of us
Gentlemen, Gentlemen, all these posts concerning the demon drink are going to make us all seem like befuddled alcoholics!
I well remember ,(in my youth, of course), going to a party in the next village. Intent on impressing the local talent, I packed my best suit, and my new, (and I was earning the pittance paid to an apprentice watchmaker remember), winkle prickers, in a kit bag, and strapped them to the petrol tank of my girder fork suspended Aerial VB 600 side valve… lest they become soiled by passing road dirt…or the numerous oil leaks that my old girl seemed to have.
Now there is not a lot that one can do to improve the performance of a side valve Aerial, (except part exchange it for something that has the potential of travelling faster…perhaps a Francis Barnett 125 Villiers)!..So to generate a sporty image, I turned the handlebars upside down, and with a new hacksaw blade "abbreviated " the mudguards, and removed the performance sapping rusty chrome silencer…
So arriving at the venue, and parking my trusty steed leaning like a man after 10 pints of Banks`s best, on her side stand, I was able to change, (with my hosts permission), from threatening “ton up lad”, …well in appearance only…into a female chasing lounge lizard…(now it was many years ago).
I shall not bore you with the details of my exploits, but can reveal that my success, (post several, and many pints of Banks`s finest Mild ), was a number of dances with the most gorgeous young thing, resplendent in a “stick out” skirt, in the most fetching shade of yellow, and a skin tight jumper in the most verdant green…funny those were the fleet colours of Wolverhampton Corporation Transport, whose redoubtable Guy Arabs bore the municipal crest, and motto…“out of darkness cometh light”…probably should have been adopted by Wolverhampton Wanderers football club. And the colour scheme which I rather liked probably attracted my eye!!
The night was a complete success…I walked her home…the kiss…the promised date…ah bliss…but when I returned to the “venue”…all was in darkness, and my motorcycle clothes were inside!!!
No problem, for my heart was beating with amour! Turn on the petrol, a quick tickle of the Amal, and my steed roared into life…in truth it was probably similar to an Elephant breaking wind…But I “sped” home on gossamer wings of young love…
That was until I banked over for the first of the S bends approaching our home village. Now true, though Iwas not recognised as such, I really was a rival to Geoff Duke, and as my trusty steed droned on at a totally impossible angle of inclination( given the angle of lean to speed ratio, speed with a VB being modest indeed), I was on the Isle of Man, sweeping around the Bungalow, and my erstwhile dancing partner was staring in admiration of my skill from the roadside!!
Not true, for in reality, the low speed, coupled with a lack of adhesion from the worn tyres, coupled with the pointed projection of my right foot winkle pricker hitting the road…and breaking clean off, a bit like the nose cone of a space rocket, but at more modest velocity…Created the mother and father of all tank slappers which I as the “ace” that I was…totally failed to control, and found myself prone amongst the earnest, and featureless Gnomes, around someones garden pond…wherin rested my high performance steed!!!
What followed was painful both physically, and mentally, and perhaps is not better documented here, but I have to say that…
Since that miserable night I have avoided like a plague the delights of Beer, much preferring the esoteric delights of Wine, and Spirits
Good night, I shall raise my Bollinger to you all,
Cheerio for now.
Saviem, you’ve mirrored my wasted (but youthfully optimistic) teenage years perfectly, apart from the trusty steed of those far-off days being, in my case, an ex-GPO BSA Bantam and the culminating “off” being more to do with the wet cow muck on the lane than a lack of sobriety on the part of the budding John Surtees. That’s my story, anyway!
I seem to recall that the dry cleaning bill for my one and only suit took up about half of the following week’s apprentice-rate wages.
I wouldn’t have missed those days for anything!
Let’s have more Saviem! I would bet episode two involves fitting a love seat on a little fergy !!! The comparison of the Wolverhampton bus colours shows you are true romantic Regards Kev.
Bewick:
Richard Stanier:
It’s sad to read your posting about the Stobart situation, Gingerfold, and I noted your comments in “CVRTC News” too. I would have thought that experienced drivers leaving to join your competitor will give ES a better chance of being successful in their new niche also.It would be interesting to find out if the drivers who have started for “the fast one” are on the same sort of wages as with their previous employer,although I cannot see that the"fast one" has secured the contract at an increased rate so one must assume that he’ll have cut the bottom out of the job and probably [zb] up another job in the process.So watch this space,it could be the same as the British Gypsum contract,once they see it won’t work they’ll give it “the elbow” and leave a pile of [zb] for some other poor bugger to clean up.How do Curtainsiders and extendable trailers mix unless they are going to try and re-load them with their food and beverages traffic,but hang on,that will entail sheeting and roping Oooooo! thats a big No No plus Coke/Tescos wouldn’t wear it,would they ? Bewick.
They have also “head hunted” Preston’s of Potto experienced driver trainer to train up the new flat trailer drivers in the skills of chaining and transporting steel. My drivers are on £110 per day plus £25 per night out and I believe (only driver gossip) that from initially offering £8.50 per hour Stobart has matched my former drivers’ rate. My informants also tell me that any slightly wide or longer loads have got a second man in the cab. even if they are not required by law, and the mate is accomodated in a hotel if the crew cannot get back to base in a shift. They are throwing a lot of money at this job, galvanised chains etc. so that the drivers don’t get their gloves dirty when chaining up.
The aluminium ingot loads are coming out of Warrington. I’m expecting Stobart’s to start targeting the main suspects for flat back loads soon, such as Chep pallets etc. whose rates are below rock bottom already.
Anyway I’ve called in the office this morning to look around the yard and feed the cat. The lodge on one side is about to overflow its banks and the normally slow flowing river on the other side of the yard is araging torrent and higher than I’ve ever seen it. It’s absolutely heaving it down so another few hours of this and we’ll probably be washed away. Problems solved.
Saviem:
Gentlemen, Gentlemen, all these posts concerning the demon drink are going to make us all seem like befuddled alcoholics!I well remember ,(in my youth, of course), going to a party in the next village. Intent on impressing the local talent, I packed my best suit, and my new, (and I was earning the pittance paid to an apprentice watchmaker remember), winkle prickers, in a kit bag, and strapped them to the petrol tank of my girder fork suspended Aerial VB 600 side valve… lest they become soiled by passing road dirt…or the numerous oil leaks that my old girl seemed to have.
Now there is not a lot that one can do to improve the performance of a side valve Aerial, (except part exchange it for something that has the potential of travelling faster…perhaps a Francis Barnett 125 Villiers)!..So to generate a sporty image, I turned the handlebars upside down, and with a new hacksaw blade "abbreviated " the mudguards, and removed the performance sapping rusty chrome silencer…
So arriving at the venue, and parking my trusty steed leaning like a man after 10 pints of Banks`s best, on her side stand, I was able to change, (with my hosts permission), from threatening “ton up lad”, …well in appearance only…into a female chasing lounge lizard…(now it was many years ago).
I shall not bore you with the details of my exploits, but can reveal that my success, (post several, and many pints of Banks`s finest Mild ), was a number of dances with the most gorgeous young thing, resplendent in a “stick out” skirt, in the most fetching shade of yellow, and a skin tight jumper in the most verdant green…funny those were the fleet colours of Wolverhampton Corporation Transport, whose redoubtable Guy Arabs bore the municipal crest, and motto…“out of darkness cometh light”…probably should have been adopted by Wolverhampton Wanderers football club. And the colour scheme which I rather liked probably attracted my eye!!
The night was a complete success…I walked her home…the kiss…the promised date…ah bliss…but when I returned to the “venue”…all was in darkness, and my motorcycle clothes were inside!!!
No problem, for my heart was beating with amour! Turn on the petrol, a quick tickle of the Amal, and my steed roared into life…in truth it was probably similar to an Elephant breaking wind…But I “sped” home on gossamer wings of young love…
That was until I banked over for the first of the S bends approaching our home village. Now true, though Iwas not recognised as such, I really was a rival to Geoff Duke, and as my trusty steed droned on at a totally impossible angle of inclination( given the angle of lean to speed ratio, speed with a VB being modest indeed), I was on the Isle of Man, sweeping around the Bungalow, and my erstwhile dancing partner was staring in admiration of my skill from the roadside!!
Not true, for in reality, the low speed, coupled with a lack of adhesion from the worn tyres, coupled with the pointed projection of my right foot winkle pricker hitting the road…and breaking clean off, a bit like the nose cone of a space rocket, but at more modest velocity…Created the mother and father of all tank slappers which I as the “ace” that I was…totally failed to control, and found myself prone amongst the earnest, and featureless Gnomes, around someones garden pond…wherin rested my high performance steed!!!
What followed was painful both physically, and mentally, and perhaps is not better documented here, but I have to say that…
Since that miserable night I have avoided like a plague the delights of Beer, much preferring the esoteric delights of Wine, and SpiritsGood night, I shall raise my Bollinger to you all,
Cheerio for now.
Lol…This is why I am also a fan…The way you tell your story is superb. Your description of your night on the tiles and the subsequent parking of your motorbike in a front garden is vivid and paints a brilliant picture…Maybe that night is where you first developed a liking for driving vehicles across grassy fields?
Keep up the good work!
(Double post)
gingerfold:
Bewick:
Richard Stanier:
It’s sad to read your posting about the Stobart situation, Gingerfold, and I noted your comments in “CVRTC News” too. I would have thought that experienced drivers leaving to join your competitor will give ES a better chance of being successful in their new niche also.It would be interesting to find out if the drivers who have started for “the fast one” are on the same sort of wages as with their previous employer,although I cannot see that the"fast one" has secured the contract at an increased rate so one must assume that he’ll have cut the bottom out of the job and probably [zb] up another job in the process.So watch this space,it could be the same as the British Gypsum contract,once they see it won’t work they’ll give it “the elbow” and leave a pile of [zb] for some other poor bugger to clean up.How do Curtainsiders and extendable trailers mix unless they are going to try and re-load them with their food and beverages traffic,but hang on,that will entail sheeting and roping Oooooo! thats a big No No plus Coke/Tescos wouldn’t wear it,would they ? Bewick.
They have also “head hunted” Preston’s of Potto experienced driver trainer to train up the new flat trailer drivers in the skills of chaining and transporting steel. My drivers are on £110 per day plus £25 per night out and I believe (only driver gossip) that from initially offering £8.50 per hour Stobart has matched my former drivers’ rate. My informants also tell me that any slightly wide or longer loads have got a second man in the cab. even if they are not required by law, and the mate is accomodated in a hotel if the crew cannot get back to base in a shift. They are throwing a lot of money at this job, galvanised chains etc. so that the drivers don’t get their gloves dirty when chaining up.
The aluminium ingot loads are coming out of Warrington. I’m expecting Stobart’s to start targeting the main suspects for flat back loads soon, such as Chep pallets etc. whose rates are below rock bottom already.
Anyway I’ve called in the office this morning to look around the yard and feed the cat. The lodge on one side is about to overflow its banks and the normally slow flowing river on the other side of the yard is araging torrent and higher than I’ve ever seen it. It’s absolutely heaving it down so another few hours of this and we’ll probably be washed away. Problems solved.
Sorry to hear about your woes Gingerfold, but I always found any customer who is consuming 20% or more of your output is rarely permanent as there is always a young accountant in an office who is pricing away other service providers in the background and has no concept of quality of service or customer loyalty.
Coupled to this, there is always a competitor eyeing up your work and continuously touting for it.
When this has happened me, I immediately get rid of excess labour and equipment, as I find you will otherwise attract bad work and poorer paying customers all in the name of keeping the enterprise at the same size.
I find it is a better business model to have multiple customers that you can serve at a reasonable rate rather than have a few who dictate to you.
I hope your cat is able to swim!
gingerfold:
They have also “head hunted” Preston’s of Potto experienced driver trainer to train up the new flat trailer drivers in the skills of chaining and transporting steel. My drivers are on £110 per day plus £25 per night out and I believe (only driver gossip) that from initially offering £8.50 per hour Stobart has matched my former drivers’ rate. My informants also tell me that any slightly wide or longer loads have got a second man in the cab. even if they are not required by law, and the mate is accomodated in a hotel if the crew cannot get back to base in a shift. They are throwing a lot of money at this job, galvanised chains etc. so that the drivers don’t get their gloves dirty when chaining up.The aluminium ingot loads are coming out of Warrington. I’m expecting Stobart’s to start targeting the main suspects for flat back loads soon, such as Chep pallets etc. whose rates are below rock bottom already…
Sorry to hear about your bad luck, in having your work pillaged by the fat cats. At first glance, I wondered how their operation could possibly turn a profit, assuming the same price to the customer, given all the extra costs. I guess that, once their employees learn the job, they will revert to one driver on a lorry. The specialist drivers will gradually be distributed around other, more mundane jobs while lower-paid drivers are introduced to the steel job, until it becomes just another of their contracts, using drivers on Stobart’s ordinary hourly rate. I wonder if the steel drivers they have recruited on a competitive rate are on fixed-term, short contracts?
I feel for you gingerfold. All of us running our own businesses have had similar experiences.
When I was manager at OHS our business was 100% to Turkey until the army takeover when we had almost our entire fleet parked up on wasteland at Rainham for several weeks until we were able to diversify and make the decision to accept business from forwarders which we had not done before, and run our trucks through to Tehran, Baghdad and Kuwait.
At Orient our business started with Iran which then went down the tubes but luckily for us we were able to switch to Iraq which was a rising market at the time. Then came the Iran/Iraq war and we immediately took the decision to sell all our expensive company cars and introduce a redundancy package for some of our staff. That was a panic measure but interestingly enough that year became our most profitable as we had cut our overhead to the bone,(including my brand new Discovery which was sold at fifteen days old at a profit!)), and found we were able to make more money from the new contracts we took on into Eastern Europe for example and we concentrated heavily on exhibition work which we had only dabbled in before.
We then headed a consortium which signed the world’s biggest freight contract in Iraq, the PC2 contract, and were about to head for Baghdad when we received a telex asking us to delay our visit. A few days later Saddam marched into Kuwait and all our Iraq business came to an abrupt halt and the PC2 contract vanished into thin air!
We had no option but to cut once again and regroup finding business booming into Eastern Europe, North Africa and then the Gulf.
So I hope it’s heartening to learn that yours is by no means a unique experience and whatever decisions you need to make, either to grasp the nettle and cut your fleet or to find alternative work, I hope all will work out for you.
Hi Saviem it is clear to me you have great deal of followers who enjoy your banter on this thread, not just about your every day encounters on the farm but a look back to your youth with motorcycles and the fair maidens you pursued, and of course the transport environment that you later obviously enjoyed as well both here and in France. Perhaps you should consider writing you memoirs in a book form as I am sure it would make a great read. When looking in on your posts it also jogs viewers memories to recount some of there experiences through life as I am sure we all have had some moments to remember, and forget come to that. So keep up the good work with your inputs and at least it gives you some thing to do while it’s raining, all you have to do is find a simple way of making rain water into malt whisky and you will please all your followers on here and make a good crust as well, better than spuds anyway, cheers Buzzer.
PS. how about a picture of the Valtra !
I’m in.
Count me in, Saviem it’s a shame our mutual friend Barry Gibson (R.I.P.) is not around because he would certainly be in your fan club,love the story as an old Wolverhampton lad born & bred I can relate to your escapades. sounds like you may be out Albrighton way ?
Regards
Richard