Skip to main content

The Winged Menace: Birds, Buses, and the Perils of the Seafront

Seafront

The Seaside Siege: How Feathered Foes Turn Buses into Their Playthings

The Battle Begins: Birds vs. Buses

Ah, welcome, dear reader. You’ve arrived just in time for today’s little...experiment. The stage is set, and the actors, well, they’re a peculiar breed—seagulls. But don’t let their beady little eyes fool you into thinking they’re harmless. No, no. These birds? They’re more than mere nuisances. They’re tacticians, predators in feathers, waiting in the wings—quite literally—for the perfect moment to strike. And what’s their target, you ask? Only the poor, unsuspecting buses that roll out of the depot every morning, gleaming with the fresh polish of innocence.

The Seagull Conspiracy: A Tale of Defiance and Defecation

You see, these birds, they aren’t just hungry. No, that would be too simple, too...mundane. These creatures are vindictive. The locals, in their infinite wisdom, feed them scraps—fish and chips, crusty bread. But when the morning feast doesn’t appear, the seagulls’ fury has no limits. They turn to us—drivers, buses, anything in sight. It’s almost poetic, really. The way they wait, calculating, poised to release their special delivery the moment we dare set our tyres on the road.

Secret Schemes of the Seaside: Some of us, in our quieter moments—those brief respites between wiping off yet another windshield massacre—like to spin tales of the birds’ secret council. A conspiracy, if you will. They gather at dawn, high above in their perches, plotting, scheming. "Wait for it," one says to the other, as the buses inch forward, "just a little closer...now!"


Life in the Splash Zone: The Daily Struggles of a Bus Driver

Ah, but it’s not just about the buses, no. Even we drivers, in our humble, earthbound lives, aren’t spared. My own car, parked innocently by the depot, has become a favourite target. I step out, key in hand, only to be greeted by a Jackson Pollock of bird droppings on my windscreen. How...artistic. And don’t think for a moment they’re unaware. Oh no. There’s a gleam in their eye when they spot us. They relish it.

The Art of Dodging Feathers and Fury: You can’t escape it. No matter how skilled you are at weaving through traffic, dodging low-hanging branches and unruly pedestrians, the moment you hit the seafront, the game begins. They’ll swoop. They’ll dive. And they’ll hit their mark. Every. Single. Time. It’s almost as if they enjoy the sport of it, the challenge of reducing your pride and joy to a biohazard on wheels.


Beyond the Poop: Lessons from Life on the Road

You think this is all just some wild, elaborate fantasy, don’t you? Oh, how I wish it were. But the truth is, dear reader, that every day is a new battle. Every morning, a new gauntlet. We drivers, we’ve learned to cope. We’ve mastered the art of patience, of zen-like calm as we scrub down the buses, again and again, all while muttering under our breath about the injustice of it all.

Mastering the Madness of the Daily Commute: Adaptability, too. You never know what might befall you on the roads—a rogue pedestrian, a distracted cyclist, or, yes, an aerial assault. We drivers? We’re always ready, always watching. You have to be. After all, it’s not just the birds you’re up against. Oh no, the streets themselves are teeming with unpredictability. But we rise to the challenge, day after day, wiping away the mess with a smile...or at least a grimace.


The Reality Behind the Story: Keeping It Clean (Or Trying To)

Now, let’s not lose the plot entirely. No, we don’t actually believe the birds have a secret vendetta against us...or at least, most of us don’t. But there’s something to be said for the randomness of it all, the chaos of being a bus driver. These stories, exaggerated though they may be, have roots in reality. The frustration, the bizarre challenges, the humour we find in it—those are all too real.

Pride Amidst the Poopstorm: We take pride in what we do, keeping the city moving, come rain, shine, or...bird droppings. The buses? They’re more than just metal boxes on wheels. They’re lifelines, stories on the move, filled with passengers whose lives we touch in ways they’ll never know. So, we’ll continue, come what may. Because, after all, this is our world. And the birds? They’re just another part of the madness.


Conclusion: Navigating the Chaos with a Wicked Grin

So, next time you see a bus, gleaming and freshly washed, spare a thought for the driver behind the wheel. Maybe they’ve just survived a seagull’s siege, or perhaps they’re bracing themselves for the next onslaught. Either way, they’re out there, dodging life’s little surprises with a wink and a smile—or maybe a sinister grin, depending on how much they’ve had to clean that morning.

Vincent Roderick – Master of Chaos on Wheels
With a knack for turning the mundane into the extraordinary, Vincent Roderick revels in the absurdities of life as a bus driver. His stories are laced with dark humour, twisted perspectives, and a wicked sense of irony, capturing the essence of life on the roads with just a touch of menace.


Call to Action:

Ever had a run-in with a rogue seagull or felt the universe itself was out to get you on your morning commute? Share your tale of woe below. Let’s see whose story reigns supreme in the battle of life’s unexpected twists.

Comments

Popular posts from this blog

The Hidden Risk Behind That Extra Shift You’re Asked to Take

Once you’ve clocked 9 hours in uniform, even the vending machine starts judging you. It’s not just driving time that drags, it’s everything in between. Here’s why I stick to 39 hours and refuse overtime, no matter the pressure. Introduction I’m three months into a 12-month rethink of my overtime habits. After a steady drip of minor incidents, not enough to make headlines, but enough to make me think twice, I’ve realised piling on extra hours isn’t just about padding the pay packet. It’s about keeping my focus sharp, my sanity intact, and most importantly, everyone on the road safe. I know the desk staff might be throwing me the occasional side-eye, wondering why I’m not jumping at every chance to work overtime. If only money grew on trees, I’d be first in line. But unfortunately, it doesn’t. What does grow (or at least what I’m fiercely guarding) is my peace of mind, and a scrap of sanity after years of long shifts and minimal downtime. I’m at that point in life where I’d rather enjoy ...

What Drivers Think When a Bus Crashes Into a River

You Don’t Need to Be in the Cab to Feel It: A crash like that echoes through every depot. We weren’t there. But we know the weight of the wheel. I’m not a double deck driver. I wasn’t there. And I won’t claim to know what happened near Eastleigh yesterday, not with investigations still ongoing. But like a lot of us in the seat, I felt that cold drop in my gut. There’s something about seeing one of ours, uniformed, behind the wheel, doing the job, caught in a headline that starts with “crash” and ends with “students injured.” You feel it. Not because you know the full story (you don’t), but because you know the pressure, the road, the weight of that responsibility. Most of us go our whole careers without facing anything like that. We hope to keep it that way. But that doesn’t stop your mind from going there. Doesn't stop you wondering, What would I do? Would I have seen it coming? Could I have changed anything? The truth is, buses are heavy things. We drive them through tight spaces...

The Day the Bus Carried a Quiet Medal

A mysterious rider boards with a quiet grin and a coin in their pocket. Something’s being celebrated, but not out loud. They boarded like they’d just been knighted at the kitchen sink, fresh-faced, wide-eyed, carrying the kind of quiet victory that doesn’t need an audience but accepts one all the same. Not loud, not showy, just… unmistakably someone who woke up today already proud of themselves. There’s a kind of walk folk do when they’ve already won the day before breakfast. It’s not quite a strut, too self-aware for that, but there’s a bounce to it. Like the pavement’s giving them a round of applause. That’s what boarded this morning. Mid-morning, not quite rush, not quite calm. Buzzing with something invisible but important. They tapped on, grinning at nobody in particular, and made the kind of eye contact that tells you they’ve got good news and absolutely no plans to keep it to themselves. I gave them the usual nod, half polite, half do we know each other? …and they leaned in slig...

Archive

Show more