The comments about receptionists really struck a chord and reminded of this bit from “The Carin’ Sharin’ Chronicles”: “Ian was always a very meticulous DR, so when he was presented with an artwork wrapped in brown paper, on one of those appalling days when you've already discovered the limitations of your “waterproofs” by about 10.30, he went out to the bike and got one of the large bin bags he carried for just those occasions. He carefully wrapped the precious load before going back out into the tempest and placing it lovingly in his pannier. Then he firmly fastened the catches and fought his way through aggressive traffic, on roads that were absolutely treacherous, before squelching into an ad company reception and placing the pristine package on the desk. “Or should I say almost pristine. The receptionist picked it up by a corner, held it at arms length as if it was smeared with dog's turd, and sneered in a ghastly South Kensington accent, that she wasn't about to accept it in “that condition!” Ian followed her eyes down her nose and saw a couple of small dark bluey green circles, where his sodden gloves had left the faintest of marks. They were the only indication of the miraculous journey the ad art had survived and he felt a wave of exasperation rush through him. He took the offending article, wiped both sides on his filthy Belstaff, and tossed it back in her general direction, before turning and strolling through the door grinning. He could still hear her apoplectic braying as he rode off.”
I remember one office where you had to remove your helmet ,one day when it was raining the sign in book was wringing wet after 10 or so DR's had signed in . I remember the blonde receptionist at the Earls Ct arena ! when she looked in your direction she looked like she had just smelt a bad smell . If i am honest i didn't make as much money as everyone else ,i thought pissing off the controllers was more fun . Didn't start earning until i worked at SD ,mind you i have to get up at 5.30 am .
Receptionists? Some were alright but others... don't start me. Pedestrians? One of two occasions I came off was when I was on my way home (Chertsey) after a handy last job to Kingston. I'm trundling along Hampton Court Rd passing the Palace when some tool walks right off the pavement. I clapped the brakes on and hit the horn (I can remember shouting BEEP!!) and then it was all too late. It wasn't that he didn't look, he was a tourist and looked the wrong way. Controllers - good and bad. The problem was they all had their favourites and if there was one on that day who didn't like you (mutual), by half ten you wished you'd stayed in bed. Thanks hoxtonmoto for uploading all three parts of this. This was filmed after I got out but it still jogs so many memories. (ex Delta rider)
Some of the best crack was when I was a courier in Dublin, you had to have a thick skin for the pranks and leg pulling. No health and safety and HR would be put in their place right quick.
87 and 88 .. . A-Z couriers London . great controller . treat them nice and they gift you great jobs . rode a MZ 100 new one . great bike . so i didnt have to do out of town trips . and smaller bike was safer . .. so much money . 400 quid a week in those days
Does this continue today to the same extent? It would seem the internet/wifi/mobiles/scanners/texting/4g connectivity would have taken a way much of the need for physical transfer of much of their cargo...
@@taxus750 now it's all deliveroo just eat uber eats you'll make between 12.50 and 20 pound an hour on average if you know what your doing. I've heard you can do courier riding still and I'll be looking into it.
Snotty Receptionists? The vast majority were ok and quite helpful, but the odd snotty one was dealt with by simply envisaging what they'd look like with the bit between their teeth, as it were. It certainly helped me :) Security staff were mostly ok, too. I'd run into the odd wanker but thankfully they were few and far between.
Only one snotty receptionist stands out in my memory, because she got the arse with me for not knowing who she was because her dad was famous. Dropped off a package at the ad agency Grey (a notoriously up its arse firm, which for an ad agency is saying something). I ask the receptionists name for the sign off ....."Peaches" ( I may have chuckled not quite as under my breath as I would have liked to have done) "Surname please?" She rolls her eyes like I should know "Peaches GELDOF" I always thought her dad was pretty sound on the whole - guess the acorn falls a long way from the tree from time to time
I hit a ped, he walked across the road, turned around and then ran straight back in front of me.. he was clear, no rusk on the other side of the road then boom
never had problem with anyone really .. receptionists were great , security too . never got shouted at . i shouted at taxi drivers and bad drivers .. face was black at end of day .. 88 London was crowded and filthy exhaust fumes .
best purchase were those handlebar muffs .. so essential in winter
The comments about receptionists really struck a chord and reminded of this bit from “The Carin’ Sharin’ Chronicles”:
“Ian was always a very meticulous DR, so when he was presented with an artwork wrapped in brown paper, on one of those appalling days when you've already discovered the limitations of your “waterproofs” by about 10.30, he went out to the bike and got one of the large bin bags he carried for just those occasions. He carefully wrapped the precious load before going back out into the tempest and placing it lovingly in his pannier. Then he firmly fastened the catches and fought his way through aggressive traffic, on roads that were absolutely treacherous, before squelching into an ad company reception and placing the pristine package on the desk.
“Or should I say almost pristine. The receptionist picked it up by a corner, held it at arms length as if it was smeared with dog's turd, and sneered in a ghastly South Kensington accent, that she wasn't about to accept it in “that condition!” Ian followed her eyes down her nose and saw a couple of small dark bluey green circles, where his sodden gloves had left the faintest of marks. They were the only indication of the miraculous journey the ad art had survived and he felt a wave of exasperation rush through him. He took the offending article, wiped both sides on his filthy Belstaff, and tossed it back in her general direction, before turning and strolling through the door grinning. He could still hear her apoplectic braying as he rode off.”
I remember one office where you had to remove your helmet ,one day when it was raining the sign in book was wringing wet after 10 or so DR's had signed in .
I remember the blonde receptionist at the Earls Ct arena ! when she looked in your direction she looked like she had just smelt a bad smell .
If i am honest i didn't make as much money as everyone else ,i thought pissing off the controllers was more fun .
Didn't start earning until i worked at SD ,mind you i have to get up at 5.30 am .
ahh the memories, i think i even recognize a few of those guys.
Receptionists? Some were alright but others... don't start me.
Pedestrians? One of two occasions I came off was when I was on my way home (Chertsey) after a handy last job to Kingston. I'm trundling along Hampton Court Rd passing the Palace when some tool walks right off the pavement. I clapped the brakes on and hit the horn (I can remember shouting BEEP!!) and then it was all too late. It wasn't that he didn't look, he was a tourist and looked the wrong way.
Controllers - good and bad. The problem was they all had their favourites and if there was one on that day who didn't like you (mutual), by half ten you wished you'd stayed in bed.
Thanks hoxtonmoto for uploading all three parts of this. This was filmed after I got out but it still jogs so many memories. (ex Delta rider)
"Fuck Manuel, I'm off!" hahaha
Some of the best crack was when I was a courier in Dublin, you had to have a thick skin for the pranks and leg pulling. No health and safety and HR would be put in their place right quick.
87 and 88 .. . A-Z couriers London . great controller . treat them nice and they gift you great jobs . rode a MZ 100 new one . great bike . so i didnt have to do out of town trips . and smaller bike was safer . .. so much money . 400 quid a week in those days
great series
Why did we always wear waterproofs covered in filth regardless of the weather? £90 a week lol. Liked the courier on the FZ. Class.
Were did them good old days go
Does this continue today to the same extent? It would seem the internet/wifi/mobiles/scanners/texting/4g connectivity would have taken a way much of the need for physical transfer of much of their cargo...
This was filmed in the early 90s, and it was all downhill from there.
@@taxus750 now it's all deliveroo just eat uber eats you'll make between 12.50 and 20 pound an hour on average if you know what your doing. I've heard you can do courier riding still and I'll be looking into it.
Snotty Receptionists? The vast majority were ok and quite helpful, but the odd snotty one was dealt with by simply envisaging what they'd look like with the bit between their teeth, as it were. It certainly helped me :)
Security staff were mostly ok, too. I'd run into the odd wanker but thankfully they were few and far between.
Only one snotty receptionist stands out in my memory, because she got the arse with me for not knowing who she was because her dad was famous.
Dropped off a package at the ad agency Grey (a notoriously up its arse firm, which for an ad agency is saying something).
I ask the receptionists name for the sign off ....."Peaches"
( I may have chuckled not quite as under my breath as I would have liked to have done)
"Surname please?"
She rolls her eyes like I should know
"Peaches GELDOF"
I always thought her dad was pretty sound on the whole - guess the acorn falls a long way from the tree from time to time
Hot day. In the lift at vogue full of models. I'm 5ft 5
Suite you sir !
My favourite story from my dispatch days was the time I walked into an office party and was mistaken for the strippergram
its so funny the random situations you end up in. There's no other job like it
I hit a ped, he walked across the road, turned around and then ran straight back in front of me.. he was clear, no rusk on the other side of the road then boom
never had problem with anyone really .. receptionists were great , security too . never got shouted at . i shouted at taxi drivers and bad drivers .. face was black at end of day .. 88 London was crowded and filthy exhaust fumes .
I let this very rude receptionist see my payslip, I don't think her pay covered the makeup she would use in a week.