Private Sector Monopoly

First Bus can be held up as a local Aberdeen based company who have expanded internationally and been a success story.  It's a real pity that in the city where it all began for them (with a buy out of the old corporation bus company) their reputation is somewhere akin to Margaret Thatcher's in the Govan Working Man's Bowling Club.

Both the management and the unions have managed to make decisions over the past year that beggar belief.  Firstly the Unions decided in their wisdom to hold a series of strikes in the middle of a recession.  The management have now decided to cut services to the Bridge of Don, the largest private housing estate in Europe.  You wonder what goes through these people's heads.

First have a monopoly in Aberdeen and it really is time some competition was introduced to gee them out of their arrogant complacency.  Regardless of whether it's the private or public service a monopoly is an unhealthy state of affairs.


Thank goodness I have no requirement or wish to use public transport.  I agree with Jeremy Clarkson on this - it should only be used by people with eye infections who cannot drive temporarily!

Up until Christmas I'll be recommending my favourite Xmas music.  Tonight I go for one of my top three of all time, The Pogues with Kirsty MacColl, "Fairytale of New York".  Their voices shouldn't complement each other, but they do.  Listen to the lyrics, they are heartbreaking.  Shane McGowan's finest hour.