Cheers drive
With so much happening in this fair and glorious city of ours (it's not just mine, it is all of ours) there's a high chance that you're gonna bump into some "out of towners", especially the next few days as the city fills up with drunk penguins, herds of Elvis-es and not an unwelcome amount of nearly naked people ... the rugby Sevens are on!
Whilst we all know that nearly everything is within walking distance of the Stadium ("It's a very walkable city" was probably only just pipped by "Absolutely Positively Wellington") we at the Towers are sure that there will be a high proportion of these tourists catching buses from 'here' to 'there'.
And once on the bus they will be pleasantly surprised by how, as Wellingtonians leave the bus, there is a hearty, "Cheers drive!"
Well, actually it's likely to be a, "Thank you" or even a, "Thanks driver" but why shouldn't it be, "Cheers drive"?
This small moment of courtesy is something that we polite Wellingtonians take for granted and it's only hearing the comments from "others" that we can realise that we are, in fact, pleasantly different. It doesn't happen in Auckland, Christchurch or Taihape and it certainly doesn't occur in London, Sydney or Suva ... although we have it on good terms it is common in the English city of Bristol ("Cheers drive").
And so, however you say it, say it proud and definitely say it loud as it can be hard for the driver to hear above the singing!
Enjoy the Sevens party everyone, whether you're going or not!
I always like a hearty "TA!" But only if the driver has been good.
Bad drivers get nothing. That'll show 'em.
It always seems to come out as "'Kyadriver". Personally, I usually just say "thank you" or "thanks": adding "driver" seems redundant. Who else might I be thanking? Perhaps its a relic from the days when there were conductors as well as drivers: you'd have to thank them both, then.
I had a very amusing bus ride this morning. One bus cut ours off. So our driver got out and was about to, well, do something to the other driver when he took off. So we met again at the end of Lambton Quay for a very amusing verbal exchange. A pity I could only hear our half. The best bit was when our driver of Island heritage called the other a 'coconut'. I discussed this with a Samoan who works near me, apparantely it is a very fine insult to use in all occasions, without any hint of irony.
My favourite ever bus driver used to do the Mairangi bus in the evenings, and would say "You're Welcome" to every person who thanked him when they left the bus. Even if 10 people got off at once. You would hear 10 "thanks" and 10 replies. Just smashing.
Lovely post Mike. However I beg to differ.. it does happen in Auckland. And are there even public buses in Taihape?!
Thank you :-)
Oh, it does does it, fair enough - was going on the unsubstantiated rumours passed on by my Wellington mates ;-)
Taihape - who knows ...
Here's a theory - it's a hangover from a more class-centric society. I actually cringe a little when I hear a bunch of private schoolboys bristling with their faux-jolliness and camaraderie uttering the regulation "thks driVAH" as they exit the bus.
"Thanks", "thank-you", and/or a quick wave should surely suffice.
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