Taxi!

Probably the only highlight of the last 16 hours was not the night out, was not getting home and falling onto my bed in a alcohol induced coma, but I would have to say the Taxi trip to the quality establishment that is known as the Tudor inn. Upon leaving my place with Beckz and AdamMac in tow, we jumped into the taxi. I was forced sit in the front because "I was payin." For some reason - nothing to do with all the alcohol that I had drank prior to leaving, I was curious with the new meter that the taxi driver was using. After making a couple of comments which not only made me look stupid in front of the taxi driver, but AdamMac as well - which is not a good thing when is he out looking for something to post. So before he gets a chance to crap on about what a dick I was in the taxi, the defence will state the following:

1) I have not have to catch taxi's as often as AdamMac, therfore reducing the need to study the ins and outs of the technical specifications of a taxi.

2) YES IT'S TRUE! I was quite impressed with the new state-of-the-art-taxi meter, and the fact that this driver knew not only where we were going without having to give directions, but this chap could also speak a fair portion of the english language! So, there is no need to be bagging anyone. I for one have not had a taxi trip in recent memory where I have had to either give the driver directions, have an interpreter on stand-by, and lets not forget my personal favourite - the taxi that smells as pleasant as the Footscray market. Now this may seem a little harsh, but there a quite few taxi trips that I can think of that have been pleasant and I haven't had to tell the driver how to do his job. But if you have had a pleasant taxi trip, I would love to hear about it...

3) As mentioned above, I do not travel in a taxi that often. So because I was not aware that the $1.10 after midnight surcharge had been scrapped and a new evil extra 20% fare had been slipped into it's place (to make it seem cheaper, but it's not), there is no need for AdamMac to go "Matty, can't you read posters?" or "Matty, the prices have been like this for ages?". The fact still stands, I do not travel in taxi's that often. And until they put posters advising the latest changes in the taxi world at bus stops and train stations, I guess I will have to remain ignorant.

4) There is nothing wrong in engaging in a little bit of idle chit-chat with the driver. The fact that yes, we may have crapped on about the taxi meter and the new fare structure. To me that idle chit-chat makes the trip more enjoyable, and seem to go a bit quicker. Now look at the other option. We could have had a smelly taxi where we had to tell the driver how to get to the end of the street, using only hand signals and pointing, as the words straight, left and right make no sense to the poor fellow. But at the end of the trip, the english switch is turned on and you can hear the angelic voice of the driver with only the slightest accent say...

"My EFTPOS machine is not working, and that will be $13.80. Thanks, mate..."

Special thanks go out to Kezza and Nigel for helping in the whole writing myself off thing. Please note for next time, when I shout you guys a round it doesn't mean you have to buy the next two rounds - especailly double shots Nigel! But because our little dancing routine and skulling competitions in front of the band didn't go unnoticed, it all seemed almost worthwhile. Almost, if you had have stayed on till closing time... but because you went on for a couple more hours than AdamMac, I can hold no grudges. Cheers guys!