(10 Aug 2015, 6:13 pm)Jimmi wrote Well that's your own faults for staying on the 202/265 for that long.

I did warn everyone about the traffic coming into Durham and as ever everyone ignored my advice, including myself by riding the 208 for around 85 minutes, not doing that route again in a hurry!

Wasn't the best was it, I was on it with you, sitting a few seats ahead of you and it wasn't perfect. I wanted to get a photo at High Pittington when he stopped but I decided not to

(10 Aug 2015, 6:16 pm)Jackamcardle wrote Wasn't the best was it, I was on it with you, sitting a few seats ahead of you and it wasn't perfect. I wanted to get a photo at High Pittington when he stopped but I decided not to

The weather didn't help, after I got photos of the two IndiGo Solo SR's on the 204/265 I decided to head home because the rain just came down for a little bit. Also I was a bit sick by this point.

I was originally going to get the X7 to Seaham then 202 to Dalton Park then 265 to Durham but later thought I'd get the 202 to Dalton Park then 265 to Durham but when 547 turned up on the 202 in Peterlee I decided I was not getting on that after already having it earlier in the day.

(10 Aug 2015, 6:29 pm)Jimmi wrote The weather didn't help, after I got photos of the two IndiGo Solo SR's on the 204/265 I decided to head home because the rain just came down for a little bit. Also I was a bit sick by this point.

I was originally going to get the X7 to Seaham then 202 to Dalton Park then 265 to Durham but later thought I'd get the 202 to Dalton Park then 265 to Durham but when 547 turned up on the 202 in Peterlee I decided I was not getting on that after already having it earlier in the day.

Weather was shit at one point, I had to shelter in Weatherspoons until it calmed down, you're lucky you didn't have far to go though, I had to trek to Rowland Gill!

(10 Aug 2015, 6:31 pm)Jackamcardle wrote Weather was shit at one point, I had to shelter in Weatherspoons until it calmed down, you're lucky you didn't have far to go though, I had to trek to Rowland Gill!

That downpour was it for me, headed straight to the bus station for the 7. Thankfully only a 40 odd minute journey for me, much more of a trek for you like.

(10 Aug 2015, 6:31 pm)Jackamcardle wrote Weather was shit at one point, I had to shelter in Weatherspoons until it calmed down, you're lucky you didn't have far to go though, I had to trek to Rowland Gill!

At Durham? Bet that was a barrel of laughs.

(10 Aug 2015, 6:42 pm)aureolin wrote At Durham? Bet that was a barrel of laughs.

I had my grandad along with me today and he absolutely loves Weatherspoons, we've been to everyone in the North East and we always have our lunch there when we go. When I did go there was a bunch of foul mouthed middle aged men that were being very inconsiderate towards me eating my gammon and chips!  

(10 Aug 2015, 6:45 pm)Jackamcardle wrote I had my grandad along with me today and he absolutely loves Weatherspoons, we've been to everyone in the North East and we always have our lunch there when we go. When I did go there was a bunch of foul mouthed middle aged men that were being very inconsiderate towards me eating my gammon and chips!  

If it's the Water House, then it's generally full of binge drinkers throughout the day. If I pop out for a lunch time pint with a few colleagues, we tend to head over to the one at millennium place (Bishops Mill). Bigger, cleaner, and generally arsehole-free.

(10 Aug 2015, 6:48 pm)aureolin wrote If it's the Water House, then it's generally full of binge drinkers throughout the day. If I pop out for a lunch time pint with a few colleagues, we tend to head over to the one at millennium place (Bishops Mill). Bigger, cleaner, and generally arsehole-free.

Might try that sometime, thanks

(10 Aug 2015, 6:16 pm)Jackamcardle wrote Wasn't the best was it, I was on it with you, sitting a few seats ahead of you and it wasn't perfect. I wanted to get a photo at High Pittington when he stopped but I decided not to

(10 Aug 2015, 6:29 pm)Jimmi wrote The weather didn't help, after I got photos of the two IndiGo Solo SR's on the 204/265 I decided to head home because the rain just came down for a little bit. Also I was a bit sick by this point.

I was originally going to get the X7 to Seaham then 202 to Dalton Park then 265 to Durham but later thought I'd get the 202 to Dalton Park then 265 to Durham but when 547 turned up on the 202 in Peterlee I decided I was not getting on that after already having it earlier in the day.

You guys missed the battle of the Wing Mirrors on the 2pm 265...

Only been out a few hours and that happened

(10 Aug 2015, 6:54 pm)MrFozz wrote You guys missed the battle of the Wing Mirrors on the 2pm 265...

Only been out a few hours and that happened

Oh god, what happened?

This

http://northeastbuses.co.uk/forum/showth...#pid121973

(10 Aug 2015, 6:48 pm)aureolin wrote If it's the Water House, then it's generally full of binge drinkers throughout the day. If I pop out for a lunch time pint with a few colleagues, we tend to head over to the one at millennium place (Bishops Mill). Bigger, cleaner, and generally arsehole-free.

I often walk past there and I have to agree, it's always got people who like they've been drinking all day when it's only something like 2pm. Always look pretty rough people to.

Suddenly started to feel light headed and cold whilst I was sat at my laptop a few minutes ago. Sometimes this can happen to me.

citaro5284 refusing to spill the beans about his own bus
Such a tease...

(10 Aug 2015, 6:56 pm)MrFozz wrote This

http://northeastbuses.co.uk/forum/showth...#pid121973

And I wasn't even on either of them!

Wing mirrors seem to be a bit of an issue with new buses. Though these ones don't even have the excuse of sticking out 2' from the body of the bus.

(10 Aug 2015, 8:45 pm)S813 FVK wrote citaro5284 refusing to spill the beans about his own bus
Such a tease...

Howay Robert you should know what he's like by now

(11 Aug 2015, 11:01 am)Davie wrote Howay Robert you should know what he's like by now  

Luckily, i am getting out of the house today so may bump into it. Might aswell look for 5400 too.

The arsehole respite workers have lost my brother in the Whickham area, he's been found by police in the MetroCentre bus station extremely distressed. Me and my mam were in Morpeth waiting for the 35, which was running late at the worst possible time. He's on his way home now with the police.

(11 Aug 2015, 12:28 pm)GX03 SVC wrote The arsehole respite workers have lost my brother in the Whickham area, he's been found by police in the MetroCentre bus station extremely distressed. Me and my mam were in Morpeth waiting for the 35, which was running late at the worst possible time. He's on his way home now with the police.

Blardy hell. How old is he?

This is why I have no external involvement with the boys. The lack of consistent, good quality care from people who know what they are doing is shocking. (and nationwide)

(11 Aug 2015, 2:31 pm)BusLoverMum wrote Blardy hell. How old is he?

This is why I have no external involvement with the boys. The lack of consistent, good quality care from people who know what they are doing is shocking. (and nationwide)

He's ten years old, the story from the respite workers and the respite workers' boss are completely different. He's managed to get on the 49 from "Pitz Soccer TFA/B" (where's that?) to the MetroCentre before being escorted by a "bus man" "not the driver" to the police station... (his words)

(11 Aug 2015, 3:57 pm)GX03 SVC wrote He's ten years old, the story from the respite workers and the respite workers' boss are completely different. He's managed to get on the 49 from "Pitz Soccer TFA/B" (where's that?) to the MetroCentre before being escorted by a "bus man" "not the driver" to the police station... (his words)

Pitz Soccer is in Dunston I think.

(11 Aug 2015, 3:59 pm)Tom wrote Pitz Soccer is in Dunston I think.

Looking on Google Maps it seems like it's in Dunston/Teams area (providing this is the same place I found on Google Maps).

(11 Aug 2015, 3:57 pm)GX03 SVC wrote He's ten years old, the story from the respite workers and the respite workers' boss are completely different. He's managed to get on the 49 from "Pitz Soccer TFA/B" (where's that?) to the MetroCentre before being escorted by a "bus man" "not the driver" to the police station... (his words)

Managed? With respite workerS? WFT were they doing when he "managed" to do that?

Heck, I have some hairy moments trying to keep my two near me, but that's because they outnumber me. We rehearse and rehearse situations where we're likely to get separated with what to do. I've not actually lost one, yet!

I trust your mum is putting in a formal written complaint. She needs to ask to see a copy of the risk assessment, since there absolutely should be one.

(11 Aug 2015, 4:15 pm)BusLoverMum wrote Managed? With respite workerS? WFT were they doing when he "managed" to do that?

Heck, I have some hairy moments trying to keep my two near me, but that's because they outnumber me. We rehearse and rehearse situations where we're likely to get separated with what to do. I've not actually lost one, yet!

I trust your mum is putting in a formal written complaint. She needs to ask to see a copy of the risk assessment, since there absolutely should be one.

I've managed to get from Durham-Ashington while with the respite workers, they wished me the best of luck on my journey "as they couldn't afford to follow me". 

As my brother can't read, has little knowledge of the buses in that area he saw a red Mercedes and jumped on it as he "knew it went to the MetroCentre". 

You should know what the respite workers I & my brother have, LeeCalder has witnessed one of them threaten to embarrass me in front of my friends and has actually stood in front of my camera lens shouting at me.

(11 Aug 2015, 4:29 pm)GX03 SVC wrote You should know what the respite workers I & my brother have, LeeCalder has witnessed one of them threaten to embarrass me in front of my friends and has actually stood in front of my camera lens shouting at me.

That's pretty awful. If they did that to Big'un he'd either run away or throw a chair at them. He's highly anxious and not known for taking things in his stride. (He goes to a school for kids who are highly anxious and not known for taking things in their stride, too, and they are utterly wonderful with him. They even travel all over Yorkshire and Teesside at least once a week and even they haven't lost him, yet, even in a group!)

(11 Aug 2015, 3:59 pm)Tom wrote Pitz Soccer is in Dunston I think.

The Teams...

Did you know The Pitz is partly built on what used to be Redheugh Park where Gateshead used to play

(11 Aug 2015, 4:29 pm)GX03 SVC wrote I've managed to get from Durham-Ashington while with the respite workers, they wished me the best of luck on my journey "as they couldn't afford to follow me". 

As my brother can't read, has little knowledge of the buses in that area he saw a red Mercedes and jumped on it as he "knew it went to the MetroCentre". 

You should know what the respite workers I & my brother have, LeeCalder has witnessed one of them threaten to embarrass me in front of my friends and has actually stood in front of my camera lens shouting at me.

I have said it loads, you need better respite workers, nothing will improve if you keep having run-ins, if there threatening you, belittling you then that is wrong, there not doing there job...

I was in and out of care for five years man and boy between 1996 and 2001, as for your respite I probably did the work on the guidelines of how you should be treat...I did work around Every Child Matters, Blueprint and Article 12, I can tell you nobody should treat you like that...If those respite workers worked with the people I was involved with? They would not last 5 minutes

(11 Aug 2015, 7:23 pm)MrFozz wrote I have said it loads, you need better respite workers, nothing will improve if you keep having run-ins, if there threatening you, belittling you then that is wrong, there not doing there job...

I was in and out of care for five years man and boy between 1996 and 2001, as for your respite I probably did the work on the guidelines of how you should be treat...I did work around Every Child Matters, Blueprint and Article 12, I can tell you nobody should treat you like that...If those respite workers worked with the people I was involved with? They would not last 5 minutes

It's scandalous that respite care for children and young people is provided by the same profit driven agencies as care for the elderly. Respite care, in particlar, for people of any age, is hard won, and the people in receipt of it are all, in some way, vulnerable, so when it's provided by immature, abusive t***ts (usually poorly qualified and experienced for minimum wage) it's criminal, really. I know someone with a quadriplegic and autistic child who fought hard to even get weekly help with bathing them. The carer changed every few weeks and often didn't even turn up.

It actually makes me genuinely terrified for my youngest as he grows up. We've found a good situation to guide big'un through his teens - also incredibly hard won, but totally worth it. He's got a lot of potential and they're the people who can truly help him realise it. The fees make Eton look cheap, but the council didn't have any other suitable option for him.

Youngest will probably never live independently, though. Anyone who has spotted us about will know why. Give it 4 years from now and he'll be bigger than me. He's already stronger and faster.

And if I even suspected that anyone who was supposed to be CARING for either of them was taking the piss or trying to wind them up they might not want to hang around to make up answers to questions....

(11 Aug 2015, 7:14 pm)MrFozz wrote The Teams...

Did you know The Pitz is partly built on what used to be Redheugh Park where Gateshead used to play

Yeah my dad used to watch Gateshead play there.

That's a bad place to get lost, its right next to the main road and the Teams is not the best of places for a 10 year old child to be wandering about in.

Charles

(12 Aug 2015, 10:29 am)Charles41 wrote That's a bad place to get lost, its right next to the main road and the Teams is not the best of places for a 10 year old child to be wandering about in.  

Charles

I agree that it's a bad place to get lost, he had no idea where he was other than he was near the MetroCentre, he had no idea what buses went through the area. 

He got on the first bus that he saw, obviously distressed if the bus driver had called for assistance at the MetroCentre.

If I was able to walk from the Royal Quays area to Percy Main Metro station and board a Metro, then get a bus to Rothbury from the Regent Centre, when they've only followed me halfway up a street before they returned to their "base", how can they ensure my brothers safety? If I was able to get from Durham to Ashington via bus with them at Durham bus station wishing me the best of luck on my journey? Something needs to be sorted out with these people.