Fun as a taxi driver

I have a little sideline business shuttling (read taxi) people around. "Shuttle" sounds so much more civilized, don't you think? 

Arrow Routes cc.

CK 2008/074976/26



SHUTTLES, TOURS & AIRPORT TRANSFERS

Well, I started the business 3 years ago as a perceived opportunity in my town of Potchefstroom. It began when visiting B&Bs, guest houses and hotels here as part of my job as a grading assessor. On more occasions than one could ignore I heard owners / managers complaining that they would have to drop everything in order to cart their guests from the establishment to wherever they needed to be - at times to and from the airport in Johannesburg.

It therefore wasn't too long before I had my little business up and running, serving as an added service to guests. I insisted that it was NOT a taxi service. I now run 3 cars. (My business plan indicated that there would seldom be more than 2-3 passengers at a time so investing in a mini-bus would have been an overcapitilisation)

During the past 3 years I have met the most fascinating people and enjoyed many and varied conversations. 

The highlight was capitilising on the fact that our City of Potchefstroom was host to the Spanish (eventual champs) team during the 2010 FIFA Soccer World Cup. I was adopted / contracted by the attendant Spanish media groups. I fetched them, I carted them, I sometimes rescued them from bars at 4 a.m............. and I became good friends. I have been invited to Spain in June next year so that they could reciprocate the hospitality I showed them. Of course I wasn't just their taxi driver. I was the best host I possibly could be. This warmth and freindliness was also shown by my other three drivers - my partners Vicki and Ben, and my son Mike. 

I received a call at around 5 one morning. The very drunken voice requested me to collect him from one of the bars on the wrong side of town. I arrived to find one of the TV crew cameramen completely wasted. It was in fact the security guard who assisted him into my car. "Too many womens but I drink too much", he mumbled. I took him back to his hotel. Later in the day, at around 4 p.m., I saw a slightly recovered cameraman trying to keep focus on the world around him. When he saw me he threw his arms around me, rattling away to his compatriots in Spanish how I had rescued him from an unknown fate and a possible long walk - stagger - back to his hotel in a strange town.

"Joo my Fadder", he said, "joo look for my life!!" I worked out that what he had said was that I was his father, and that I had saved his life. From that point on I was his 'fadder'.

I got to know Pedro, Fernando (x2), Javier, Miguel............... 

I met and spoke to members of the team - Coach Vicente del Bosque, captain Iker Casillas and players Cesc Fabregas, Carles Puyol, Andres Iniesta, David Villa, Sergio Ramos and so on. All great guys, very humble and complete gentlemen. I did not witness a single prima donna among them. Wonderful sense of humour and lots of laughs. 

Although security was tight one did not feel intimidated or unwelcome at any of the practice sessions. I guess it had to do with the chilled out atmosphere which prevails in Potchefstroom. 

I drove the media guys to Ellis Park Stadium in Johannesburg, to Loftus Versfeld Stadium in Pretoria, to Soccer City stadium in Soweto and many trips to and from the airport in Johannesburg, from whence they flew to Durban and Cape Town. 

Needless to say, my cars were festooned with mix of S.African and Spanish flags and wing mirror covers. 

Every time the team proceeded to the next round, and finally winning the final to become World Champions we celebrated like mad. 

Their impressions of South Africa and particularly Potchefstroom? We hosted the best Soccer World Cup ever, with fantastic success. The crime and political problems as stated in world media prior to the event came to nought. There were very few noteworthy incidents other than the odd theft of belongings (I am only aware of 3 incidents across the country, and we hosted over half a million visitors. Excellent stats by any world standards). The Spaniards loved our country, especially Cape Town, which is uniquely special as we all know. They found Potchefstroom to be clean, safe, wonderful and the people more than accommodatingly friendly, warm, sincere and helpful. 

 The media with del Bosque

 Dinner with the guys from Antenne3. Miguel, Fernando, Javier, Pedro and I

              Soccer City after the match

A few months prior to the soccer madness I was also privileged to shuttle the Jamaican cricket around town. 

So many other interesting individuals have sat in my car over the past year. Too many to mention, so I'll just continue my journal from here onwards.

The Aardklop Nasionale Kunstefees (National Arts Festival) began last Monday and concluded on Saturday the 3rd. Adventures during this period requires a blog of its own. Soon. 

At the moment I am shuttling members of national women's cricket teams who are participating in a tournament here in Potch.

Jamaica, Holland, Sri Lanka, Pakistan, Ireland and South Africa. Yup, you read correctly - INTERNATIONAL WOMEN'S CRICKET. 

We are celebrating Women's Month at the moment, so it seems to be appropriate. 

I'm off to go watch some cricket, so till next time, or if something really pisses me off I'll be back to waste some of your day.