13th - 17th October 2008

Things have gone very quiet of late, not really anything great worth blogging about as we've had all three of us scratching about for work. In truth the work that has been there could be done by 2 drivers. This is a worrying prospect for a last one in driver with not quite 2 years service against a 25 year and a 32 year's service.

Then one day I had a bright idea, we occasionally get some transport for Hewdens at Dagenham who seem unable to keep a regular driver. We never work direct but through another transport company who give us the scraps. I did loads for them last year, and the other drivers have done some bits this year. It was a conversation with one of my colleagues who'd done a day for them a couple of week ago that gave me the idea, I suggested that Danbury hire me out as a supplied driver until they found someone full time. This suggestion does carry the danger of proving that they can do without me, but I felt it was only a matter of time anyway. However the important fact is that I can bring in some revenue to cover the expense of paying me.

So I found myself last week being inducted into Hewdens and now having to try and adapt my way of doing things into something that's similar to their way of doing things. When it was my wagon it was my rules, their wagon their rules now.

Monday
I leave home at 0630 at rattle off in my newly acquired van (acquired from the surplus at the yard) and it's a half hour run down to Dagenham to Hewdens yard. I'd loaded up on Friday and have got a 2t dumper at the front and a 7mt Telehandler behind. These pair are going to a sports ground in Chingford.



It's a bit tight to get to, and impossible to get into so I have to park about 300 yards away and drive the machines down the road to the ground.



It's back to the yard now to reload, I've got another 7mt Telehandler and a 1.5t mini to sit on the tail. It's all familiar stuff, another Scania 6 wheeler, Andover body etc. but there are some differences to get used to. Mostly that's the 4 over 4 gearbox - not a huge problem as our other 6 has got one but the 260 engine seems a bit lacklustre after running a 420.

I'm off through the Blackwall Tunnel and heading for the Old Kent Road although I must have forgotten to pass go and collect £200. It's a retail park and I find myself behind Argos to drop off the mini.

My next job is the CAT TH330, that's only going to Rotherhithe which is about 5 minutes away, it's a machine swapover and I'm collecting a JCB 540-170 which is a 17m lift. That's the biggest lift machine available although it's smaller physically than the CAT equivalent which weighs a whopping 15t.




On my way back whilst having a brew (the kettle has been moved with me) at Blackheath Common I figure that it might be a good idea to check the height as I need to come back through the 13'4" Northbound Blackwall Tunnel. I'm just under 13' so I'm OK to use it, I'm not thrilled about it though as it's a horrible journey through with the corners in the tunnel. You have to keep in lane 1 as there are height restrictors in lane 2, they disappear at the bends to allow you to cross into the other lane but you have to watch out for stray car drivers.

Back at the yard, the JCB comes off and I head out empty after finishing off my break. I'm going in the City proper this time, and I make amazing progress and arrive at Fenchurch Street (another Monopoly one) in half an hour which is incredible. I've got a 5mt Telehandler here and it's in a building that's being constructed. It's a bit of a job to thread it out but eventually I get it out no thanks to the boss eyed bloke who was trying to help me.

On the way in through Wapping the outbound traffic was heavy because of roadworks so I decided to head out through Whitechapel (that's the brown squares done) and it takes an hour to get back. I leave the yard at 1630 having done the grand total of 150km today