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[Kate]

Thanks very much for all your advice.  I'm already living in London - I swapped my council house so the rent is very reasonable.

I used to be a secondary school IT/Maths teacher but left because it was too stressful.  I might look for something in IT training instead as it sounds like bus driving isn't a very good job.

[Terbs]

Reminds me of a time 20yrs ago when I was made redundant, I fancied doing as my mate was, coach driving.
I had been on the dole for months, and at the second compulsary interview, this women asked me what I would really like to do. (I had been in senior management)
So I said about the coach driving. She got out all the stuff, and told me about it, and I got quite geared up
Light at the end of the tunnel.  Then she said its costs something over £700 pounds. So I said, I assume you pay that and then recoup when I am in work.
'No' she said, you have to pay it'
So I said..'You are paying me £40 a week dole, I am on a mortgage 'holiday', am claiming for this and that, and you expect me to find over £700
I just said 'You are taking the p***' got up and walked out.

[Dusty]

Thanks very much for all your advice.  I'm already living in London - I swapped my council house so the rent is very reasonable.

I used to be a secondary school IT/Maths teacher but left because it was too stressful.  I might look for something in IT training instead as it sounds like bus driving isn't a very good job.

You are clearly an educated and articulate woman, Kate. Why not try writing, perhaps as a hobby to begin with.
This is how I started out. I now write full time.

Good Luck

Dusty.

[Kate]

Thanks very much for all your advice.  I'm already living in London - I swapped my council house so the rent is very reasonable.

I used to be a secondary school IT/Maths teacher but left because it was too stressful.  I might look for something in IT training instead as it sounds like bus driving isn't a very good job.

You are clearly an educated and articulate woman, Kate. Why not try writing, perhaps as a hobby to begin with.
This is how I started out. I now write full time.

Good Luck

Dusty.

I've always wanted to be a writer. I just never had the confidence.

[Dusty]

Just give it a go, Kate.

Many publishers are looking for new talent, especially with the blossoming e-book industry.

I personally write romantic fiction, but it is best to play to your strengths.

It is not easy to become a published writer, I was rejected many times over a period of many years, before I was first accepted.

One good thing, Kate, writing has very low start up costs. All I use is a pencil and paper, and a laptop. If you want any advice on publishers let me know.

Dusty

[karlus 693]

Its just not worth bothering with nowadays, I run a coach company and a driver with a car license has to jump through the following hoops to get his coach license.
Medical (renewable every 5 yrs)
theory and hazard awareness
that gets you to the provisional license
approx 16 hours learning to drive (coach/tutor hire )
test date payment
you also have to have a driver cpc which is 35 hours training on all aspects of costomer care.(every 5 years)
Then you arrive at my door and i say "go and get some experience"
Your spending well over a grand to get rejected

[Terbs]

Is coach driving seperate from Bus driving???
My friend (the coach driver) told me that he went with London Country (buses) to pass his test and you had to stay a year, or they reclaimed the fees.
Then free to go elsewhere

[zirk]

London Buses (TFL) are just the Network / Route owners, they don’t actually own or operate any Buses, this is down to the Garage Operators (Sub Contractors) who do the recruiting and training, and there’s quiet a few of them i.e., Arriva, Metroline, Go Ahead, London General, to name a few.

So don’t just give up on one Operator, try some others, there’s plenty of EU Nationals driving Buses now, and an awful lot of Polish drivers, I would think they wouldn't bother contacting all the overseas Doctors.

Chris  

[Richie London]

i see your west london kate, try the airport for driving buses, or couriers. hotel bus services and so on. west london is not good for being on a bus late at night in my opinion. try some agencies, you could be better off.

[tunnie]

i fancied doing a bit of Heathrow Chauffeur work on the side, to earn a bit of spending money. But need to get a PCO license

[Darth Loo-knee]

I find it difficult to understand that someone who has suffered with depression wouldn't be allowed to do this job.
The amount of people who suffer or have suffered depression is far more than most people think. In my opinion they are stronger afterwards too.

Keep your chin up Kate they don't deserve your employment sweetheart.