the insider
Reasons to be cheerful, World War Three
T
by realising the value of service we provide and how his month I was hoping to talk to you about the upsurge in bookings much we deserve for crawling out of bed at 3am on a and enquiries being welcomed into our Sunday morning to head out to a pick up. inbox now that Covid-19, (for now) has New blood will not enter into our ranks until it is a been relegated to that of a mild cold. job worth doing again, as the job market is awash with Alas though, we only had a few days to revel in work so drivers need a reason to want to return to or our new found optimism before the threats made join us. towards Ukraine became reality. The pressure is on Following two long years in the wilderness, people Kevin Willis me now knowing that you are all expecting to read my are looking to travel again, they are gagging for it. condemnation of Russian president Vladimir Putin… Travellers, as do we all, know they are going to face Hang on though, we need to take a step back here to Everyday problems higher air fares and increased hotel rates. They will consider all the facts first. Here is a man who has won from the operator’s certainly need to pay more for the food and drink Russia’s ‘Man of the Year’ for the past 22 years, which consumed so there is absolutely no reason why they point of view... is more titles than the needle-phobic No-Vax Djokovic shouldn’t be charged correctly for your professionalism will now manage. Putin is a man who, while topless, and for the car provided. rides a bear into the Duma building following a cold water swim that Although events in Ukraine plunge us once again into an uncertain saw him unearth priceless Roman artifacts. future I believe the only thing to do is plough on with things. After all, In fact, Vlad is so popular with his people that street demonstrations we cannot seek to change the twisted mind of a Russian leader who were held in order to beg him to stay on as leader, even though the resembles the paedophile uncle banned from kids’ parties. USSR’s Glasnost reform policy allowed him only two terms. So there, Remember – all through the Cold War the West were led to believe the facts do not lie! that the Soviet Union was a superpower, capable of destroying us at The scrapping of covid rules and restrictions will fill some with a moment’s notice, only for Perestroika to reveal that they had been trepidation I am sure but, for me, it is time. Time to get back to bluffing all along. This is a nation that cannot win an Olympic medal normality, time to start travelling again and time to earn the money in without pumping copious amounts of drugs into child athletes. And which to pay back my bounce-back loan. A time for optimism, before how can we forget how their ‘military grade’ novichok poison they Ukraine kicked off, but certainly we had a right to be encouraged by brought to Salisbury failed to kill their intended target. our swelling order book. Take hope, Russians themselves are taking to the streets to Most in the professional driving industry are beyond ready for protest against the invasion, Ukraine are fighting back and the rest this, having slimmed down to become a leaner and meaner force. of the world is turning the financial screw. Trust me, the 1% of their Regardless whether that decision was taken by design or enforced is, population who own most of the roubles will not appreciate having at this point, as irrelevant as the manner of streamlining. their playboy lifestyle interrupted for too long. Putin’s assassin will Culling overheads, staff numbers or vehicles in order to survive were probably be an inside job. the hard decisions we had to take to enable those of us that remain in Try not to become too distracted, trust that good always triumphs the trade to be better prepared to get stuck into growing a business over evil and give what support you can afford to the displaced people once more. of Ukraine. Then crack on with business, exploit the changes brought On that note, be aware of the significant depletion in the pool by the UK not being in the EU (though I always thought we were better of available, registered drivers now on offer and, please, take into together, safety in numbers) and drive your business forward. account the more stringent regulatory demands that hamstring our Finally, Naked Drivers Calendar. I am looking for taxi drivers, operations. Petrol prices, parking and drop off charges and insurance chauffeurs, in fact anyone who reads this magazine to step up and help raise money for Ukraine. Twelve brave souls are needed to bear have all gone up so we, in our entirety, need not be afraid to charge all when posing for the Naked Drivers Calendar, with all profits to customers accordingly. be donated to a charity helping the Ukrainians. If you are interested This is our chance to reset some common sense back into the game. in modelling for this unique gift then please get in touch, I would Sense that was lost when allowing a bidding war culture to flourish as appreciate any help on the photography, marketing and printing side we slashed each other’s throats when undercutting colleagues by five too. All sizes welcome. quid just to nick an airport transfer. God help me for saying this but let’s be more like the French and set standard price tariffs and stick to them. We do not need a union or n K evin Willis runs Chirton Grange, association to achieve this either, we just need to change our mindset contact@chirtongrange.co.uk – 07725467263
MARCH 2022
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