|
CARLA: |
And now let's talk to Tina Watkyns who works
as a bicycle courier round the streets of London. Hello, Tina. |
|
TINA: |
Hello. |
|
CARLA: |
Tell me, what does a bicycle courier do? |
|
TINA: |
Er, I deliver packages. Most of our work is
with photographic and advertising companies. And I deliver
packages for these companies all round central London. And in
the busy traffic a bike's the fastest, most reliable form of
transport. |
|
CARLA: |
Is it a well-paid job, would you say? |
|
TINA: |
It's not bad, I guess, for a first job. My
basic wage is £300 a week, and, and then I get more if I do
overtime. |
|
CARLA: |
Do you need any qualifications to do that kind
of work? |
|
TINA: |
Oh well, you don't need any exam qualifications,
but you do need to be fit. Yeah, I'd say fitness is the prime
qualification. I reckon I pedal at least 80 kilometres a day.
You can't do that unless you're really fit!! And secondly, I
suppose, you have to be reliable. There was one guy left a
package in a telephone box on his first day and he was sacked at
once!! Thirdly, you need to own a bike. Most courier companies
don't provide bikes. Mine cost £360, so that was quite an
investment. |
|
CARLA: |
Isn't there a danger, with such an expensive
bike, that it will get stolen? |
|
TINA: |
Oh yeah!! Bicycle theft is one of the great
disadvantages of the job. I usually chain mine to a tree or a
lamp-post. |
|
CARLA: |
With your sunglasses and your tight shiny
shorts your couriers have a very glamorous image. Do you think
it's a glamorous job? |
|
TINA: |
It's not glamorous at all!! It's extremely hard
work!! And I wear the sunglasses to protect my eyes from the
traffic pollution. If I don't wear them my eyes get all red and
itchy. You just can't get away from the pollution on a bike. |
|
CARLA: |
Any other disadvantages you'd like to mention? |
|
TINA: |
Well, it's dangerous. Accidents are very common,
and there's nothing to protect you on a bike. In fact, I've had
enough. I'm giving up the bike work as soon as the company finds
me a position inside, in the office. |
|
CARLA: |
Well, thank you for talking to us, Tina, and
ride carefully!! Join us at the same time next week for more in
our series on unusual jobs for school-leavers when we will be
talking to ... |
