Pete at the pumps
May. 5th, 2009 07:35 am![[personal profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/silk/identity/user.png){kind=small}
skyringWhile my day driver's off on a five week holiday - yesterday he drove the Great Ocean Road - I'm on the day shift. At first I was doing doubles, meaning that I could drive the car whenever I wanted within the 24 hours of the day, maybe with a nap here and there, and then I was supposedly given a night driver, putting me on the day shift.
I say supposedly, because as yet I haven't seen him, and though I know the cab was driven on the weekend, it certainly sat idle last night after I finished at three in the afternoon.
I've been enjoying day driving. There's more traffic on the road, but there's also fewer kangaroos, drunks and crazies. I get more of the little old ladies and gents who are scarce after dark but fun to chat up and be nice to.
And I get to be out on a series of glorious autumn days. Cool and clear, leaves in red and gold and everything in between. It's pure pleasure.
I was doing well yesterday. Took in about as much as I do in a nightshift, thanks mostly to a long duration "wait and return" government job. Banked the big notes, gassed up, ran the car through the wash, vacuumed it out...
And then, as I walked the tangled vacuum cleaner hose out across the service station forecourt to straighten it out before replacing it on the holder, I tripped. I lurched backwards, trying to gain some support from the slack hose before I went down under the wheels of an oncoming car, but after one or two steps, I landed heavily on my backside and outstretched hand, cap flying off.
Luckily the car stopped, the driver laughing on, I retrieved my cap and limped the hose back. Hurting like blazes, but that's how these things go - a day or three of bruising to show off and then fadeaway.
I drove home, unloaded the car, and waited a bit for a night driver. But not too long. I was hurting in two places and exhausted after a long day.
Woke when Kerri came home. She wasn't too concerned about my bum, but the wrist was a worry. It was hurting a lot, and though painkillers were found, I still have no strength in it. Maybe it's broken rather than spraint.
I'm to take the day off and get it x-raid. If it's broke, there's the chance of six weeks in plaster. Six weeks of no driving. Six weeks of no income. And me with a world trip coming up in seven weeks.
But if I can't hold the wheel firmly in two hands and lift baggage in and out of the boot, then i can't drive a taxi.
I say supposedly, because as yet I haven't seen him, and though I know the cab was driven on the weekend, it certainly sat idle last night after I finished at three in the afternoon.
I've been enjoying day driving. There's more traffic on the road, but there's also fewer kangaroos, drunks and crazies. I get more of the little old ladies and gents who are scarce after dark but fun to chat up and be nice to.
And I get to be out on a series of glorious autumn days. Cool and clear, leaves in red and gold and everything in between. It's pure pleasure.
I was doing well yesterday. Took in about as much as I do in a nightshift, thanks mostly to a long duration "wait and return" government job. Banked the big notes, gassed up, ran the car through the wash, vacuumed it out...
And then, as I walked the tangled vacuum cleaner hose out across the service station forecourt to straighten it out before replacing it on the holder, I tripped. I lurched backwards, trying to gain some support from the slack hose before I went down under the wheels of an oncoming car, but after one or two steps, I landed heavily on my backside and outstretched hand, cap flying off.
Luckily the car stopped, the driver laughing on, I retrieved my cap and limped the hose back. Hurting like blazes, but that's how these things go - a day or three of bruising to show off and then fadeaway.
I drove home, unloaded the car, and waited a bit for a night driver. But not too long. I was hurting in two places and exhausted after a long day.
Woke when Kerri came home. She wasn't too concerned about my bum, but the wrist was a worry. It was hurting a lot, and though painkillers were found, I still have no strength in it. Maybe it's broken rather than spraint.
I'm to take the day off and get it x-raid. If it's broke, there's the chance of six weeks in plaster. Six weeks of no driving. Six weeks of no income. And me with a world trip coming up in seven weeks.
But if I can't hold the wheel firmly in two hands and lift baggage in and out of the boot, then i can't drive a taxi.
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no subject
Date: 2009-05-04 09:46 pm (UTC)I feel for you...
as a person who has broken a few bones in the last couple of years - I know that the pain is terrible.
I think it awful that the driver of the oncoming car was laughing.
I'd have been horrified and scared to pieces for your safety if I'd witnessed a fall such as that.
*HUGS*
I do hope that nothing is broken.
Please keep us posted... I am worried after you and hope that all is well.
Please take as good of care as is possible and know that I am thinking of you.
*gentle hugs*
Poor Pete.
:(
no subject
Date: 2009-05-05 01:27 am (UTC)no subject
Date: 2009-05-05 05:05 am (UTC)no subject
Date: 2009-05-04 10:20 pm (UTC)oh dear
Date: 2009-05-04 10:21 pm (UTC)no subject
Date: 2009-05-05 12:07 am (UTC)What's this about another world trip?
no subject
Date: 2009-05-05 01:21 am (UTC)no subject
Date: 2009-05-05 01:24 am (UTC)Ow!
Date: 2009-05-05 01:51 am (UTC)no subject
Date: 2009-05-05 04:52 am (UTC)no subject
Date: 2009-05-05 07:22 am (UTC)no subject
Date: 2009-05-05 08:35 am (UTC)no subject
Date: 2009-05-05 09:33 am (UTC)So sorry that this happened, though.
no subject
Date: 2009-05-05 09:55 am (UTC){{{{{{{{{SR}}}}}}}}}
no subject
Date: 2009-05-05 10:04 am (UTC)I understand why a break would be bad news, but a sprain takes longer to heal properly, so be careful, whatever you do!
*healing hugs*