2 weeks in, what's the score? Do I like it? What is the feedback?
Firstly, 'yes' I'm enjoying myself. I like the relatively stress free working conditions and not having to think like a manager. I'm given my deliveries and off I go with a satnav and a glove box full of maps.
Delivering flowers is a win-win situation, because even for sad occasions, they still like receiving them.
What's negative?...
Well the van isn't brilliant (10 year old Vx Combo diesel with 174K on the clock, knackered clutch and a 0-60 time of 'possibly'). There's a new one in the system, just being sign written, '12' plate with only a 100 miles on the clock, so that will soon improve.
Mobile phone reception is often dire, which means when (rather than if) I can't find somewhere and want to ring the shop for someone to check Google maps, then it's a faff sometimes to get any reception.
The '40 mile an hourers everywhere' brigade are fairly irritating. I have no realistic acceleration, so overtakes are rare, so I have to just sit behind the mimsing **** and being in a sign written van belonging to a friend, I can't even indulge in a bit of healthy road rage.
Pay is poor, but I'm not doing it for that. It's a bit of beer money and gets me out.
What's positive?
I'm driving around the beautiful Devon countryside...and someone's paying me to do it.
I have no real stress.
I can be flexible with my hours if I wish, which is ideal for my family commitments and my new business venture (to be explained in a future communication).
I see the seaside every working day (usually)
The van is kept at home (and the shop is only 2 miles away from my home anyway), so I have no commuting costs.
I can get my flowers at half price staff discount.
For me to get stuck in a really good jam in a single lane A road (artic versus silly cow driving a VW Toureg) that took a good 25 mins to sort out (lorry driver out of his cab 3 times to direct her)...and not get stressed, I just listened to Steve Wright, phoned the shop to explain the delay and enjoyed the antics. That's proved i'm out of my London mode.
Last edited by: VxFan on Wed 3 Oct 12 at 10:05
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I have a similar sort of job out here in rural Wales, though in my own car and I'm self employed. It'll never make me rich but it keeps the wolf from the door, is stress free and I too get to see the seaside most days and pick my own hours.
PS Listening to Steve Wright is something I regard as one of the downsides of an otherwise pleasant working day.
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>> PS Listening to Steve Wright is something I regard as one of the downsides of
>> an otherwise pleasant working day.
>>
That's interesting, each to their own then.
I really like Chris Evans, but am not up early enough nowadays. Steve Wright is high on the list. I don't mind Ken Bruce or Jeremy Vine, but switch off the radio when the twaddle gets too much e.g. the pop quiz for KB and topic of the day for JV if I think it too boring.
I also quite like Graham Norton (amazingly). I sort of want to think of him as a sordid little ****** who ought to mind his innuendo a bit better...but...in reality don't, he's good at what he does.
There's a woman who comes on at the weekends I think, God she's got an irritating laugh. The radio definitely goes off for her.
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I dare say you manage to get your hands on some big tips in some of the more well-to-do areas.
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>> I dare say you manage to get your hands on some big tips in some
>> of the more well-to-do areas.
>>
Do you know, I've had none of that...and hadn't even thought of it.
I've not had any negligees at the door either...but looking at the average age of the recipients, that's a good thing...;-)
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>> >> I dare say you manage to get your hands on some big tips
Oh Big TIPS.
sorry - I misread that.
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>> I dare say you manage to get your hands on some big tips in some
>> of the more well-to-do areas.
>>
In my experience it's the less well off who tip and tell you not to bother with the penny change. Go to an obviously prosperous customer and they stand and wait while you go through your pockets for a few coppers while the rain is hammering down on you.
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>> In my experience it's the less well off who tip and tell you not to
>> bother with the penny change. Go to an obviously prosperous customer and they stand and
>> wait while you go through your pockets for a few coppers while the rain is
>> hammering down on you.
>>
Now you know why the prosperous are prosperous, and the less well off are less well off.
;)
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>> Go to an obviously prosperous customer and they stand and wait while you go through your pockets for a few coppers
>>
Boom Boom!!
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>Boom Boom!!
:-))
If I order the flowers do you have a negligee for him Martin?
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>> >Boom Boom!!
>>
>> :-))
>>
>> If I order the flowers do you have a negligee for him Martin?
>>
Not one of my own dear boy, but I'll nip down to deepest Cornwall and see what I can find. There's folk down there I reckon that may help....(0:-:0)
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I'm all fur coat and no knickers me ole flower :-))
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Please don't think it impertinent Westpig if I ask whether, while driving about delivering flowers, you ever get a tiny bit nostalgic and have an urge to, well, pull someone? Not just anyone of course. Someone asking for a scolding.
No shortage of those down there I gather.
:o}
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Pleased to hear it's going well Westpig.
Driving for a living, whatever the vehicle, is a great job and has many benefits as you've found. I think Employers realise that we like to be alone, left to get on with the job, enjoy the scenery, have our own space etc. and this is why we don't get paid so well but it's worth it in my opinion.
You seen to have managed to get into the mindset of a driver as well....start your day on time and after that anything else is not your fault:)
Stress is reserved for those who are doing it when they would prefer to be doing another job.
Pat
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Good points Pat, and WP in original post.
Friends say I'm daft for doing my car delivery job for the last 4 years since I "retired". Yes, the hours can be long (15 hours yesterday, 11 today) and I might be "dead-ended" somewhere miles from home and the pay might not be great. But, I get to see the country; every day is different and "a little adventure" which I have to plan. Until 4 or 5pm I don't know where I might be going the next day (unless I have an "overnight car") and don't know what car I will be driving! Where have I been in the last week? Aberdeen, Dover, London, Ascot, Basingstoke,Felixstowe, Colchester, Newcastle, Harrogate, York. Tomorrow? Watford and Leyton!
Cars? Well, that Porsche Panamera was very nice, as was the Audi A7 and the BMW 730 SE L. And I quite liked the Juke. RR Sport? A6? MB Sprinter?- it got me home from Kent!! Tomorrow? VW Toerag and 2 Nissan Micras!
As Mrs PW says, it keeps me from sitting around doing nothing all day and as I say, it means she is at home doing the painting and decorating while I get lots of brain exercise and the driving which I enjoy (though I prefer to be "oop north"!) - and we have a bit of extra dosh to go out and have a nice meal and go on an extra holiday or two.
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Phil's post reflects my present life pretty much.
I don't often do any distance stuff, Leeds is as far as I get but sometimes I get the train home...the long way, via Hebden Bridge. The job gets me out of her way and I get the chance to use my skills in sorting out problems. I don't tend to get my hands dirty nowadays. I can pay people to do that and claim it back.
I get around this city, deal with all sorts of things from moving a car back into it's bay to re-booting entry systems. I love the city now..... It's buzzing all the time, always something to see.
I get a reasonable rate, £15 a callout. Most jobs, including travel in and out, can be done in 30 minutes, making it a good hourly rate. It tots up to pay my second car expenses.
One day last week, I totted up 5 jobs, none of which took any real time or effort.
I can take time off when I choose, I just leave my 40 sets of car keys at the local postoffice/corner shop as he's open 7am 'til 9pm. If the firm has a major problem they send an engineer over from Leeds and the keys are there, if he needs them.
I gave in my notice last week. They were upset until I told them the date I intended to go...29/12/2015. Well, it's my 70th...give some spotty youngster a chance !
Ted
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>>The van is kept at home (and the shop is only 2 miles away from my home anyway), so I have no commuting costs.
Provided you do not use it for anything else that is fine. If you have non-insignificant private use then the taxman will want to charge you for a taxable benefit in kind. Just saying.
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>> Provided you do not use it for anything else that is fine. If you have
>> non-insignificant private use then the taxman will want to charge you for a taxable benefit
>> in kind. Just saying.
>>
I think there is a lower income limit below which that does not apply, certainly used to be the case
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WP, that's exactly the sort of job I dream of having. Really pleased you're enjoying it.
As soon as I don't have a mortgage, school fees etc to worry about I'll be a white van man, quick as a flash. So about 20 years then. :-(
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I was redundant at 55 and got a little job delivering internal mail for my local council two days a week.
I quit that after a few years and started car delivery - that didn't last very long. Most of the other drivers seemed to have 9 points and sophisticated speed camera alerts. They'd generally drive like idiots and scared me as a passenger. The pay was barely statutory minimum and intelligence was scarce.
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"car delivery - that didn't last very long. Most of the other drivers seemed to have 9 points and sophisticated speed camera alerts. They'd generally drive like idiots and scared me as a passenger. The pay was barely statutory minimum and intelligence was scarce."
No doubt there are companies and drivers like that bt. Can only speak for my company. We have a reasonably smart uniform supplied, drivers have to be over 45 yrs old and have a clean licence when taken on. I can only think of one driver who "drove like an idiot" and he was sacked. Wide range of drivers - several ex teachers and one retired Headmaster who is also a schools' inspector. Many retired (ex bankers, businessmen, professionals etc) who do it for "fun" or to top up pensions. Most seem to do it because they like the "lifestyle" - own boss when on road, all over the country, challenge of working out how to do jobs on time and get between jobs on public transport etc. Also get to drive cars that one would be lucky to even set eyes on normally (R8? Maserati? Ferrari? Aston?) as well as "everyday" cars. And if you drive those like an idiot you will soon get nicked - they, and we as drivers, are also tracked so your exact movements, speed etc can be followed or recalled for every minute of the day. I was amazed early on in job when I called at the Office one day and saw the boss looking at a large computer screen - it had the position of every driver on it. "Is that accurate" I asked. He then asked me for a date and time and I just said "March 23rd, 7.30am" (About 6 months earlier) He clicked the mouse a couple of times and told me I had been doing 72 mph on M40 heading South and an exact location. (I couldn't rememberat the time, but looking up jobs later it was obvious he was correct)
By the way, the guy who did 120 on M40 in a Ferrari and denied it was also sacked! (Actually just given no more work 'cos we are self employed)
Last edited by: PhilW on Wed 3 Oct 12 at 21:54
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Not had such a good day today.
Went down two separate roads in different parts of the county that were well flooded. First one was just about passable, but it was a close thing.
Second one was a 'forget it' job and it was a real pain to get around it.
Then, the gear selector on the gearbox broke, so I could only get 3rd and 4th gear. Twas interesting doing the Devon lanes to get back to the garage having to slip the clutch to pull away in 3rd..hoping I wouldn't meet anyone as there was no reverse either.
Earlier in the day, whilst driving up a truly tiny moorland lane (not enough room to open a door), having gone about 30 - 35 car lengths up it, I met 3 horse riders..and they had only gone 3 or 4 car lengths from a much wider part. Did they turn around? No. Just sat there looking a me, all imperious, like they do, so I had to go back. Riled me that did, pig ignorant.
Then when they got to where I was, I recognised them...my two sisters and a niece. To quote Lud " Miserable carphounds"...and most of them are round tonight for a curry. Wonder if I'll be able to keep my thoughts to myself?
Last edited by: Westpig on Sat 6 Oct 12 at 17:24
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Glad you're enjoying it. I've down-shifted as well - stuck in an office, get paid peanuts but hey ho who cares ?
Work with good-people (but realistic) who are making a difference. Zero stress apart from the first day back after Hols week last Wednesday. Arrived home at 2.30am, in work for 8.30am - the clock dragged its weary way to 3.00pm at ten to the it was just me and the volunteer receptionist when a drunken idiot turned up having problems with his electric meter key thingy. I could have cheerfully punched him.....
But I have never had such an easy time of it in a work environment.........plus side some pleasant chats with people on the phone...
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Cook the curry to you own taste by adding a decent quantity of very hot dried small red chillis. With luck they won't be able to eat it although it will be good.
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Add some phenolphthalein, cascara or Exlax to their curry portions.
As they rush off to the bog shout "How's about that, then?"
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My new van driving job. Update. - Robin O'Reliant
