The down turn in UK trade has now hit home and with regret the firm had to make some lay offs,a line was drawn on the earnings of the lorrys and the least profitable units were laid off last week.In the premiership table of profitable drivers I used to be sitting pretty in mid table,now however I am now in a relegation dogfight! It was not a case of first in last out , it was all down to economics and some of the drivers laid off had been with the firm for years.As DCL is a small family firm it was even more hard hitting as the relationship between drivers and the owners is a very good one,you are not just treated as a fleet number there is a genuine concern for driver welfare.

I had taken a lot of time off this year with all the stuff going on at home so this had made a big dent in my units earnings along with the fact that I was no longer earning the big bucks over in Ireland so I now need to watch how I go in order to get back up the table.As things are still pretty shit at home I have said that should they need to lay people off in the future then dont loose any sleep choosing me.As my dad is being ruined financialy by idiots and getting ripped off left right and centre by the same woman and her freaky mates,maybe a full time stint with him could be better in the long run.On this subject I have now involved the police as it is now beyond a joke.He is off down to Wales soon so I am planning to go down aswell and see him and make sure hes ok.

In 1848, William White's Gazetteer of Essex described Manningtree as "...an improving market town, and forms with Mistley, a port.... pleasantly situated on the south side of the Stour..."Today, Manningtree and Mistley combine the virtues of the intimacy of two picturesque adjoining villages with the many benefits of comprehensive amenities normally only available in much larger towns.

This all went on the Friday before the Bank Holiday,as soon as I had loaded I had to park up.So it was a lay by on the A421 for me.I also stopped next door to a Mosque this week,and got my hands on an English version of the Quran.Now as this is deemed as a Holy book I have only to read it once my hands are clean and treat it with reverance,a small price to pay.

As everyone seems to be banging on about it on the radio I thought I had better read it to better understand it.Now as you may well know I am the most pagan of people so watch this space?

Jon bloody Gaunt on Talk Sport radio is now starting to bug me more than Moto showers,what a complete idiot.I now find myself listening just waiting for the day he is pulled off air.How on gods earth can someone spout crap like that and get paid to do it,the station must be in melt down.

Who on gods earth would encourage someone whos not allowed to drive to drive? it beggars me.More to the point who would advise someone to buy a sports car to pull a caravan? more to the point who would buy a caravan when they hate driving? - well all that worry of tax,insurance and petrol is out of the way now.There is someone who keeps telling my dad that he has'nt got two pennies to rub together and he needs money - well I think he has a caravan that he could sell if push comes to shove.

God I hate some people.

He will quarter a field in search of tracks to follow,and loves to dig moles.We took him down to the big hand and he loved the river.He also likes to munch on the cow pat,but then thats choice,you can only tell dog so many times that if something looks like crap,tastes like crap then it must be crap.