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Post by john on Mar 16, 2010 22:34:31 GMT
Just thought id give a bit of an update. At my sixth form, it has emerged that a kid in my year is a fan of trains and buses. I was discussing this with about 5 of my friends (who dont know about my bus and train enthusiasm) and they were talking about him like he had some sort of disease. Saying all the usual stuff, like whats so interesting about buses, there all the same etc. Can't believe how close I was to losing my rag with them!! After hearing it all, it did make me feel like a lonely wierdo, and it has made me even more determined not to tell everyone my dirty little secret (well, it feels like a dirty secret anyway lol). Then again, I am one of those people that are forever paranoid about what people think of me I have a lot of respect for people telling their friends about their bus hobby. I'm lucky in that most of my mates also know that my dad works on the railways plus my uncle and grandad worked for London Transport for a short while. If anyone asks why, i generally just blame it on that ;D |
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Post by Deleted on Mar 16, 2010 22:51:52 GMT
I used to make a big deal out of this when I was a kid (say 7 or 8 years old) - would happily tell anybody I was a bus enthusiast. Though there were the few who thought I was a weirdo, there were others who were really impressed with my knowledge of where various bus routes went.
Nowadays I don't bother and simply keep schtum about it.
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Post by Swadbus on Mar 18, 2010 20:52:21 GMT
I only just stumbled across this thread.... I wasn't really into buses or transport as such as a kid (although i do recall taking an interest in buses passing my house and down my road and remembering routes and reg numbers!) i wouldn't take pictures or anything like that. I started as a bus driver a little after my 19th (just a spring chicken!) birthday in 2000 for Arriva Midlands North and it all sort of spiraled from there. I was fascinated that buses can be the same yet all so different (bodies, chassis, gearbox combinations). I found a small circle of colleagues (who are now my closest friends!) working at my garage, and they got me into visiting rallies, taking photos, and collecting models too. I moved to London in 2005, and worked at AR garage for Arriva London, so my interest progressed more into the London Bus scene. My fellow drivers all thought i was bonkers, but again i would prove a minefield of information for my colleagues if they didn't know something. In 2006 i got made up to a controller with Arriva London. I think my managers had noticed my enthusiasm for the industry and was lucky that they were also "bus-men" (old timer LT people!) which helped me to gain the promotion. For a time i was the youngest controller in the company being only 24 when i started doing the job. I found it stressful but nontheless enjoyable. In 2008 i decided that i wanted to leave Arriva as the roll of controller had gone from being a varied job (inside and outside eg... point based) to being effectively an office job at a computer screen with the introduction of iBus onto the network, i lost my "hands-on" with the buses and decided that i wanted a change. I started work as an RPI for TFL. some of my colleagues think i'm bonkers, and i get a bit of ribbing about it, but i'm the first person they come to for information!  I now consider myself really lucky. I enjoy interacting with staff and passengers. I get to ride around on buses nearly all day long. I get to ride on all the different types of buses with all the different companies. The best part of which is i get PAID a d*mn good wage to do it!! ;D ;D So to all you young-uns that are interested in transport or buses.... Ignore all the dipsticks that take the mickey!! They haven't got an interest or hobby, and are basically bored. I consider myself to have done well out of the bus industry, and if it's what you want to do embrace it and go for it. IMHO The job security is good (as people are always going to need to travel - even in the worst of recessions!), and most companies pay a reasonable (could be better tho!) wage. Stuart. |
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Post by Deleted on Mar 24, 2010 20:06:50 GMT
There is no easy answer unfortunately, other than to keep at the front of your mind that it is YOU who has the presence and ability to develop and maintain a hobby, which few, if any of them actually have, or have the interest and intelligence to maintain. This one of the best quotes about this topic I have seen. Many people nowadays dont have hobbies and simply sit on xbox with no lives playing 'COD'- AND BRAG ABOUT IT!!!! My dad and I are both into trains (real & models), and he doesnt know about my like of buses, but sometimes I drop hints in Bromley when a decker on 402. 'Oh look, theres a green bus. It must be the 402 that goes to the countryside, somewhere like Tunbridge Wells I think'.  My dad always says intelligent people are the ones with hobbies that only boring people with no hobbies get bored. As I with so many interests in Cars (MG/Rovers), Buses, Trains and most transport, Architechture can always find something to chat about with my close mate whom I have many same interests. |
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Post by ServerKing on Jul 29, 2010 7:29:04 GMT
I'm also into cars, but sometimes the two hobbies merge It's not just some of Enfield's older DLA's with new LED light conversions, look at this  ;D ;D ;D |
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Post by londonbusboy on Jul 29, 2010 18:30:06 GMT
hahahahaha perks of the job!!
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Post by DLA 365 on Jul 29, 2010 19:17:35 GMT
I am in an unusual position when it comes to this topic, as I don't have any friends other than people who have some form of interest in public transport. This may be because I was an introvert when I was in school in Hong Kong, and didn't really have close friends there. Even then, we only really discussed school work, exam preparation material and teachers who were a pain in our backsides.
When I moved here, I only built up some friends through forums like this and from attending bus rallies and events. Even when I went to college, university and now in the workplace I have not built any friends as such (probably because there is nothing there to build on, since most people do not seem to have any real hobbies!). The mainstream leisure activities that people I went to uni/ work with seem to be 'nights out' involving alcoholic drinks of some sort, which I am totally not into.
If my interest in public transport is the only aspect of my life that provides me friends, then so be it. I am proud that I have a hobby which I have carried forward into my education and my career
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Post by jay38a on Jul 30, 2010 20:42:02 GMT
If any kids in my old school knew i was a bus enthusiast i would have got bullied about it that's why, if i aimed to take any pictures of Routes 636/7/8 i would get out there early before anyone came out. My close mates know im a bus enthusiast and they don't care, i do say if people are your true friends they wont care what your like. I do normally get a message on msn or facebook chat saying, oh how do i get to this place and il quite happily tell them. If im out taking pictures and someone says something, luckily i can use the family excuse as my dad was a bus and coach driver, ive still got his PSV licence sitting at home somewhere. All my family know im a bus enthusiast also however my mum has abit of joke with me and calls me an anorak but i don't care cause i know shes kidding.
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Post by Jack on Jul 30, 2010 22:09:00 GMT
I am in an unusual position when it comes to this topic, as I don't have any friends other than people who have some form of interest in public transport. This may be because I was an introvert when I was in school in Hong Kong, and didn't really have close friends there. Even then, we only really discussed school work, exam preparation material and teachers who were a pain in our backsides. When I moved here, I only built up some friends through forums like this and from attending bus rallies and events. Even when I went to college, university and now in the workplace I have not built any friends as such (probably because there is nothing there to build on, since most people do not seem to have any real hobbies!). The mainstream leisure activities that people I went to uni/ work with seem to be 'nights out' involving alcoholic drinks of some sort, which I am totally not into. If my interest in public transport is the only aspect of my life that provides me friends, then so be it. I am proud that I have a hobby which I have carried forward into my education and my career DLA365 What A Speech And I Think that last sections sums it up! BE PROUD OF WHO YOU ARE |
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Post by Deleted on Jul 30, 2010 23:06:32 GMT
I also have the same problem with some of me non-enthusiastic friends.. I'm like why take the pee out of someone for doing something that you enjoy, i'd rather do something that i enjoy instead of just sitting in me house and doing f**k all (sorry for the language) also I keep saying, why is there TV Shows like Top Gear, Formula One, Motor GP (bike racing) etc.. you watch it cause your interested, hobbie ect.
Just peees me off that some people are ignorant and down you for something that you love doing.
I've also said in the past you wouldn't like it if someone took the pee out of you if you liked fishing or golfing etc.
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Post by vjaska on Jul 31, 2010 1:47:49 GMT
I don't get that with my enthusiast mates, they either just start testing me on bus info or not bothered at all, plus me and my mates take the pee out of each other over near enough everything. Basically, we're a pretty liberal bunch ;D I get more teased over liking Duran Duran (best band in the world, if you've not checked their music out, I seriously suggest you do) than liking buses but then I've musical taste ;D  |
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Post by londonbusboy on Jul 31, 2010 13:41:15 GMT
None of my non enthusiast friends know im into buses but they do know im good at travelling around. As Jay said if i ever mentioned it id probably get the pee taken out for a short while lol. With enthusiast friends i get on with them just fine except the little arguments over opinion (mainly with Vjaska and his frequently wrong views on things ) |
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Post by M1199 on Jul 31, 2010 14:18:36 GMT
I don't get that with my enthusiast mates, they either just start testing me on bus info or not bothered at all, plus me and my mates take the pee out of each other over near enough everything. Basically, we're a pretty liberal bunch ;D I get more teased over liking Duran Duran (best band in the world, if you've not checked their music out, I seriously suggest you do) than liking buses but then I've musical taste ;D Duran Duran!  Well, if its them, then its gotta be 'Hungry Like The Wolf' Thats their best in my opinion! I've got myself into a new relationship recently, I wonder how long it'll be before I pluck up the courage to tell her about my 'lame' hobby! |
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Post by vjaska on Jul 31, 2010 23:28:56 GMT
I don't get that with my enthusiast mates, they either just start testing me on bus info or not bothered at all, plus me and my mates take the pee out of each other over near enough everything. Basically, we're a pretty liberal bunch ;D I get more teased over liking Duran Duran (best band in the world, if you've not checked their music out, I seriously suggest you do) than liking buses but then I've musical taste ;D Duran Duran! Well, if its them, then its gotta be 'Hungry Like The Wolf' Thats their best in my opinion! I've got myself into a new relationship recently, I wonder how long it'll be before I pluck up the courage to tell her about my 'lame' hobby! Just about every song they have done is superb, kinda does annoy me when people only mention the early hits they had, other more obscure songs they did are just as good but I suppose if the song is featured on an album which is in the 100 greatest albums of all time, who am I to complain . Funnily enough, 'Rio' is not one of my fave albums, I love it but it isn't up their on my list ;D |
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Post by john on Jul 31, 2010 23:46:15 GMT
I've got myself into a new relationship recently, I wonder how long it'll be before I pluck up the courage to tell her about my 'lame' hobby! Now THAT is the biggest hurdle I find with this hobby, breaking the news to a new girlfriend ;D |
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Well, if its them, then its gotta be 'Hungry Like The Wolf' Thats their best in my opinion!