Northern Ireland Transportation Service

This is my letter to Northern Ireland bus company, Translink. I am not a happy bunny!
Read on...

Dear Sir/Madam
I've been getting the local Metro service for the past 5 weeks and I have to complain about the total lack of respect the drivers have for the public.

I get the 12a from Carlisle Circus to Donegal Place and then the 9b from Donegall Place to the Lisburn Road (City Hospital) and back again (1e from Donegall Square East to Carlisle Circus).

On Friday 4th May I got on the 9a bus at 8.30am (at Donegall Place) which still went to the Lisburn Road. He pulled in at the Donegall Square West and told me I'd have to get off, walk to the proper stop, and pay another fare! I did NOT get off the bus and made it, on time, to the City Hospital. Could you please tell me the reason for this incident?
The drivers are either rude, don't allow you time to sit down before they drive off, or drive (speed) past me completely even when I've put my hand out for them to stop (please note their buses haven't been full when this last one occurred).

To be completely honest, for the money I pay, per month (£80), I don't think it this behaviour is justified and if nothing is done I will take this matter further. If you want people to use public transport may I suggest you don't let the drivers run the show.

The Family Stone

My Dad's headstone finally went up last week and I feel so happy and proud.

Cole.x.

So-called family

My late Dad, Ronnie, was one of 9 brothers and sisters and his mother is still alive and well. However, since his death in June 2006 only one brother and his wife have bothered to step up to the plate and help my mum, my sister and I, out. While NONE of the others have kept in touch. Not even by phone. It's disgusting. My Dad was the oldest boy of all of them and at the time of his death everyone of them paid lip service..."If you need anything.....Call us. We'll be down regularly...." etc etc but none of it transpired.

Then you have the head of the family, my Grandmother. Now she is in a league all of her own. She told me when I went up to her house (to show her a plaque I intended to put on Dad's grave) that no one misses Dad more than she does. How dare she say this to anyone but especially to one of the daughters of the person in question. She later said the same thing to my elder sister.

On the church bulletin, my mum's name was left off the thank you note to the Parish, even though she was my Dad's wife for 32 years and even though people noticed it, only one person said anything to Granny about this.
Lastly, she sent us a Christmas Card which read
"To Jaimee, Colette & Partners - Come see me sometime, Granny"
Now there are several things wrong with this card.1. Where is my mother's name on the card?!?!?!2. Jaimee, Colette & Partners? - She is aware of our "partners" names.3. She has the audacity to write "come see me sometime." This is the woman that cant visit, phone or write in the six months after her eldest son's (my Dad's) death. For someone who pertains to miss him more than anyone else she sure as hell is acting like she couldnt give a toss. Then there are the long list of excuses from her for WHY she HASNT been to see my sister & mum who are living in my Dad's house now.

- wouldnt come down because she cant walk (this is the woman who walks everywhere with her best friend, even to the chapel on the bray which is further away than our house!)
- didnt want to come down incase my mum saw her and it brought back memories. For anyone who isnt aware my mum is brain damaged and has been for the past 19 years all my family and Granny herself, knows this. Mum has no memory past 1970's and has no short term memory so forgets something you told her five minutes ago. So it is safe to assume that she doesnt even know that Dad isnt here anymore.
- in the end said that she didnt feel she had to bother coming down because my sister is taking care full-time of mum so she didnt feel she had to do anything. Nice eh?
Im sorry to anyone (even those family members mentioned) if this seems like an attack but to be honest I am so angry and fed up that for people who were so good at rallying around and taking care of us at the time, can now suddenly act as if my Mum, Sister and I have been ostracised from the MCLISTER family.

No support and no respect for us has made me very ashamed to be called a McLister and I am considering marrying my boyfriend so I can be rid of the name.

Marie, Patrick, Kevin, Alex, Kathleen, Elizabeth, Eamon and the head, Peggie - I hope you are all ashamed of yourselves for the way you have treated us.

Cole McLister (soon to be Burns).

PS: This doesnt include my cousins in any way, shape or form. Dad was their uncle but this is mainly to the 7 siblings who have done bugger all to be supportive.