Many internet subscribers on Dial-a-Cab have found themselves being sent emails from someone referring to himself as dialacab.driver who, seemingly in a mission of trying to stir up some mischief, declared that he had heard from a taxi trade scribe about "a bloodless coup at DaC after Mike Son and the BoM had launched a vote of no confidence in the Chairman."
   Like all his (surely not her) previous emails, this driver was once again attempting to cause trouble and more importantly along his merry way, irritate many of the drivers that didn’t want to be on his email list. Several told Call Sign following an earlier email from dialacab.driver that they had asked to be removed from his mailing list but to no avail.
   Mike Son told Call Sign: "Yes, it is total rubbish. This BoM works well together, but there are some people in this trade to whom that scenario doesn’t suit. What this person has done is to take Brian’s views of how he sees the future at DaC and twist it around to suit their stupid email. My view of those who are too afraid to sign their names is that their views cannot be trusted. We believe in democracy at DaC and we are all allowed to speak our mind at Board meetings. Not once has there been the slightest hint that we are unhappy with Brian’s leadership, which in case the so-called dialacab.driver doesn’t know, has been the most successful in this organisation’s history in addition to making us the number one radio circuit. To be honest, I really have far more important things to do than comment on a stupid email, but as it mentioned me and seems to have spread around the trade, I just wanted to put the subject to bed. Once again, it was total garbage and anyone at the AGM would know that…"
   Brian Rice added: "If there was a bloodless coup, I do wish someone would have told me about it. I wouldn’t have bothered coming in the next day…!"
   If you know who dialacab. driver is, then please don’t bother telling Call Sign. We’ve wasted far too much space on him already…!

CALL SIGN EN LA BELLE FRANCE

It may be warm and sunny down here in the Languedoc this winter as per usual, but I recently decided to leave the sun-kissed vineyards and beaches of the Med for a wee trip to bonny Scotland. Fully equipped with thermals, gloves, hats and scarves, we expected snow, well at least a heavy frost, but no! This climate changing is quite bizarre, even up in Jockoland spring has arrived early with daffodils about and even ladybirds and bumblebees! Can't blame Ken Livingstone for that I suppose!
   The plan was to enjoy a spot of 'twitching' up there and I was not disappointed. Most of my family and friends find relaxation is a case of keeping the Germans off the sun loungers in equatorial and exotic locations worldwide, but give me a pair of binoculars to go search Red Kite of Loch Ken any time! Another cabbie once said to me: "Of all the 47,000 Millwall fans that went to Wembley in 1999 for the Final of the Football League Trophy, you must have been the only one that would ever consider going birdwatching!"
   What a palaver these days it is handing in lost property found in the cab! Just before Christmas, a palm top computer was found in my hired cab, but being out of the loop for a while I called the PCO to find out of any changes. A guy there told me that because of security implications these days, most police stations will not take items and even if they did, there would be no reward. He told me to take it to the Lost Property Office on Baker St.
   Have you ever done that? You wait 10 minutes straddling the pavement inconveniencing pedestrians, while some 'doughnut' on the intercom is mystified that you would ever want to report there! When you finally get to the other side of the big steel gate, a clerk says that you really shouldn’t bring it here, but have taken it to a police station! You could blame Ken Livingstone for that one I suppose?
   If you’re struggling and fancy an early break, go to www.southoffrancelets.com.
   There are villas with pools, French village homes and others to help you recharge and get ready for the busy time to come.
   Be lucky, be careful out there et à bientôt…

Bob Woodford (Ex-P49)
Saint Genies de Fontedit, Languedoc, France