BACK TO WORK SHOW TIME

Hi you, Hope all is good with all of my reader's.

Here is a update, ok been back at Caz's now for 2 weeks. Got a call last Friday telling me it's back to work on Tuesday morning. The plan is to leave Caz's at 3am and pick up Steve another uk driver who lives in Ashford Kent and over by the euroshuttle then drive up to the yard. Have to be there by midday on Tuesday so thats why i'm leaving at that time. Show season is on us again but it will be a slow start, we have to pick up 3 chassies each, which are stacked 3 high and then drive with the old truck's from the fleet, two plain white one's and head for Algeciras which is nr Gibralter in Spain. Thats where the live show is coming into Europe "I think" from Japan. The show is only 6 containers, so then we do 3 trips each to Cadiz for the boat to Gran Canaria where the show start's, but at the mo i am not going over there, which is a little bad luck for me but hey ho!!!!!!!. Then we take the white truck's somewhere and park them up and fly back....... back to where i don't know yet, probably back to Caz's, will have to wait until i get to the office and see what the plan is. I know a week on Monday my truck is going into the paint shop for 4 day's to be sorted "at long last". I know there is a show due to start here in the uk called "Princess Classics," about mid to the end of September, I might be on that show at the beginning as i have been told, the one that i am actually going on does not start until October. Have not been told what that one is yet, will do some digging later this week. There is a chance as i might meet up with my co worker "Robert" and see if he know's what we will be doing.



Ok here are one or two photos of some places from last season.



This is me on top of the arena in Porto, Portugal. That bridge is part of the ring road.



Looking at part of Porto on the other side of the arena.

This is in Rome at 1700hrs. At this time of day there is thousands of birds come back for the night and what a show they put on but it's very loud for about 1.5hr's, and the way they all move is just amazing. My camera is just not good enough to get good photos of it.

Still in Italy

The next one's are in Greece. This one's not far from Athens.

This is the same road going into Athens, but what a picture, thats not dirt on the lens it's a chinook helicopter.

This one is coming into Patras, Greece "by road" nice view.

Heading back to Athens from Patras. Yes we are heading for the tunnel's. The lower road is the old one.

All i can say about this one is ATHENS.

Robert trying to get into the the arena in Athen's, car's everywhere, bit on the tight side.

The marina thats nr the arena in Athens

Ok hope you liked the photo's and all. In the next's week's to come i don't know if i will get inter net so sorry if it's a couple of week's till the next one.

OK... keep it sunny side up till then and have a blasst..

CHANGE OF BLOG

Hi all just a short one Caz and me have been playing on the blog. Hope you all like the changes we have done. Let me know what you think please. Me still like the black and blue one before but think this will be easier to read. Still at Caz's, have not had a call yet to let me know what's going on so might call him later today.

Ok keep it sunny side up till the next one.

TWO WEEK TRIP

Hello all. Ok i left you with me shipping out and loading in Amsterdam. Loaded ok and then headed for Genlis which is about 2okms from Dijon in France.


This is coming into the village of Genlis.

The next pictures are the wrong way around. (ie scroll down as 1,2,3,4. They should be 4,3,2,1.)This one, just around the corner is a chemical plant, looking at the pic you would not think there is one, it's where we unload the paint we deliver down here.

Ok this is coming into the village over the little water bridge. this is a memorial statue to the two world war's.

This is the same thing.

Ok unloaded now and heading back to Holland, the next two photo's are of Metz in France

Ok got a call from the boss on the way back to do a trailer change over and back to Genlis again. The change over was up nr Liege in Belgium. Then got a call from the other driver to see where we were going to meet, he said he will make the Q8 station on the south side of Liege on the A26. That was good for me as it saved me from going to Maasticht. It saved me about 1.5hrs, that gave me about 2.5hrs after the trailer swap to drive south giving me time to make the delivery on Friday before midday.

Did the drop by 10am on Friday the 7th and started to head back North to the the yard but hey ho got a call saying there was a load to pick up in Maasticht for York in the UK. I could not load it till 6am on Saturday so called Hano at the warehouse in Maasticht where we load to ask him a favour. He did me my favour so then spent the night on the loading bay. The loading guys turned up and started to load me before i got out of bed so was loaded by 0630. The plan was to go back to CAZ's as the load was not booked to unload in York until Tuesday. So headed for the euro shuttle to get the train back. Got to Calais and there's a place their called Transmark have not been their for over a year, it's where i get the truck washed and some beer, but there has been a lot of building work going on, there is two new secure truck parking place's and went in one just to see what it was like, this one had only been open for about 3 month's. On entry it's operated by two electric gates. Drive up to the first gate and it automatically opens and closes behind you. You then take a ticket from the machine, a camera then takes a picture of your registration and then lets you in the second gate. You get a ticket so they know how long you have been parked there as you get two hours free. I meet a old mate of mine in there, I have not seen him in over 2yrs he told me this one is the better one of the two for parking and the ficilities are good and it only cost him 20€ for a 24hr break. What i saw of the place was it's new and it looks very good with all what you need in a truck stop, big shop/big restaurant/shower and all, plus there were 3 washing machines and 3 tumble driers but don't know the cost of them. Anyway thats enough about that. Well got the train and was back at Caz's by 1700hrs Saturday 8th.

Had two good day's off at Caz's had no booking time in York so left at 6 am on Tuesday got to York by 11am and that's when it all went wrong, the IBC silo's weigh 1.300kg each and i had a box van trailer, they gave me a pallet truck. There was no way I was even going to try and move them with that so i asked for a electric pallet truck and guess what..... they didn't have one and they had no other way of getting the load out; so i said, give me two guys and we'll try, they said NO as it was not safe for the guys. Dos'nt matter about me but it was'nt safe for their guys. So a lot of phone calls went on all day. About 1600hrs got a call from my boss to see if i could, some how get the load off by borrowing an elecfric pallet truck from another company on the int est or if there was a truck company nearby to tranship the load. Well had no joy with the first, so called some other company's, 3 of them said yes it was possible but they did not have a loading bay to tranship on. In the end i got one who had one and could deliver it the next day and it was at a cost waw to high but the boss ok'd it (£250). The company was on the north side of York i was on the south side and it was rush hour now but got there and got it off . On my way then to a boat booking for 21oohrs out of Killingholm nr Immingham which is on the south side of the Humber river thats nr Hull which is on the north side off the river.


Ok this is coming to the Humber bridge normally i do not like going over this as the cost is £18.30 (day like robbery) but did not have the time to go around. I'll get it reimbersed but it's a lot of money.

Just going up onto the bridge. The road under me is the A63 to Hull.

The next two photo's are of Hull looking from the bridge.

Ok only just made it to the boat they were puting the ramp up as i was backing down the boat. Time i got my shit together and going up to the drivers bar we were on our way to Hook Van Holland. That was Tuesday over and done with.

Arrived in Holland on Wednesday morning and was told to load in Maastricht for Madrid in Spain. Was heading for our yard to swap trailer's as i needed a curtain sider. Got to the yard and Maarten told me i had to wait for another driver (Stef) and could i start his truck as it has been parked up for about 3 months. So jumped in started it up swapped trailers and waited for him. Off we went to load in Maastricht and then down in to France. He was going to nr Toulouse in France so we drove together as far as the night stop, south of Paris on the A10, that was Wedensday night.

Ok up and at it at about 09oohrs Thursday. We split up within 30mins of driving, he went his way and me on my way south for Spain. Had a good run down no problems into Spain and over to a town call Vitoria-Gasteiz. It was a very hot day about 29c got to a gas station on the ring road for the night and it was windy and cool, so cool by about 1am i shut the windows. That was Thursday. Friday morning i was up and at it by 5am. Headed to Burgos on the AP1 then south for Madrid on the N1. The next photo's are of going to Madrid from Burgos.
This was taken well north of Madrid.

Just some photo's of the road going south

Ok got to the delivery point at the south of Madrid and there is posts running down the middle of the road, it made it difficult to turn into the company, so much so that I had to turn around first. The gate is on the left just where the green bin is and the post thats why i turned around to make it a bit better to get in.

Looking good waiting to unload, it was about 39c and to hot to open the side of the trl but

hey ho, got on with it and opened the curtains for him to unload, he was not a happy boy as i learn't later, they were closing at 14oohrs and i had to reload the empty one's back as well.

I got here at 1100hrs and was waiting for someone to start to unload me, ok got empty and had to wait for someone else to come and load the empty's. Both side's of the trailer were open and you would not believe this, I certainly didn't! he wanted to load from the back doors with a pallet truck and i looked at the truck and just shook my head, but he started to load into the back doors and i had to use a pallet truck. Hey ho i need to loose some weight anyway. Ok loaded the empties and straped it down and closed up the curtains, fuck i leak a lot!!!!!!. Back on the road by 1430hrs heading north back the way i came.

Ready to strap the load down.

The next photo's are coming through Madrid on the M30

Look's like they smoke alot in this building they have there own smoke stack's. must be flats for driver's

Heading north the same way i came down N1.

Got back to where i was parked that morning so Friday was over with. Made myself something to eat and a beer...... or three..... well it was hot.

Up early on Saturday as i wanted to beat the holiday traffic, so was on the road by 0400hrs up into France and up to just north of Bordeaux for the first stop 4.5hrs. I did notice there were not many trucks on the road. I did another 1.5hrs before stopping again for a shower and something to eat; there were a lot of truck's parked up there so gave my boss a call about this and he said he did not know of a driving ban, so off i went up the road for another 3hrs. Got a call from Caz she had been looking on the net and..... oops there is a driving ban in France on this day SHIT . The ban started at 2200hr on Friday till 2200hrs on Sunday, Shit i have been driving in France for about 5hrs without seeing a cop and i only had 1hr left on my taco to drive so, what the f--k i did it and to my luck did not see a copper all day. Got to the parking area, 9hrs driving done. But within 5mins of stopping in came 3 bike cops shit that was a close one. The temp outside was up to 39c (102f) thats hot; to hot for me so the truck was running for sometime after I stopped for the AC. There was not many truck's in here and i found out later why, there was just a sandwich bar and a gas station, nothing else, good job i had food with me.

There was a fridge to one side of me with it running, which didn't bother me as I have done that work in the past, and only one truck on the other side, and he was a bit down from me.

So spent Saturday night and all day Sunday till 22oohrs here.

Had a drop back in Maastricht on Monday morning, did that, and was then told the truck was going into have the paint work done, then home. So was outside the delivery by 0530 Monday as i thought they started at 6am, no they start at 0730, hey ho did the drop and then off to the yard in Rotterdam. Ok all my stuff into the company car; jump started one of the trucks and took my one to the paint shop.

The guy took a look at it and said "you leaving it?" "YES" i said "O" he said "i cannot do it for 3 weeks!" "ok" i said! Called Maarten and he said "bring it back to the yard then take the other one to M.A.N" did that then back to the yard. He told me i was booked on the 1430hr boat from Hook to Harwich and it was 12oohrs at that time. Ok then see ya boss got fuel in the car and off to the boat.

Got to Caz's by 23oohrs on Monday and thats where i have been till now, Friday 21st. the reason of being back here is i booked off the 20th and 21st as had some more work booked in on my tattoo and a doc's appointment .. will have to wait and see whats next when i call in on Monday .

So now it's Caz's turn and this is a long one so sorry lover girl I do love you ...xxx

Ok keep it sunny side up till the next one ....

BACK TO WORK

Hi all, left you having the weekend off again, had to call the office yesterday (Monday) spoke to Maatan. We have two boss's Maatan has been on his hol's and now it's Kees's turn for his hol's. OK back to the plot got a phone call this morning at about 9.30 local time (was still in bed). Told i was going back to work today (Tuesday). Not sure if i was going to drive over via (i still have the company car ) the shuttle or sailing on the night crossing from Harwich. So did not rush, got up had a shower and coffee and did nothing till i got the next call.

Call came, i am booked on tonight's sailing from Harwich to Hook Van Holland. For you who don't know it's just outside Rotterdam about half an hour from the yard. At the mo i have been told to load in Haarlam NR Amsterdam for France. So it's looking like no Internet for couple of day's.

Caz is not happy about me going back to work but she say's, she know's i have to. It's been great being here with her for so long. I am going to miss waking up to a smiling face in the morning, she is not a morning person but i say smiling cause she's been up about 2 hrs before me. But i will be back in a couple of week's maybe just one week away i will have to wait and see what the plan is. I have to be back by the 20 August as i have got Mike doing some more work on my tattoo. Don't know when the next booking will be as will be back on tour by then. I'll have to wait and see what tour i'm on and then try to make some arrangements to have some more work done.


OK it's time to get my stuff together and do some shopping so for now keep it sunny side up till the next one ........