IN THE evening of the day before my Registry of Marriages
wedding ceremony on June 2, I booked a taxi to pick up our
solemniser and take her to the service. Confirmation was made and
the taxi number given. We were totally unprepared, therefore, when
the taxi failed to turn up at the appointed and booked time.
Frantic phone calls were then exchanged between the solemniser, us
and the taxi service to make alternative arrangements as well as
find out what had happened and why the taxi did not turn up. By
then, our solemniser was very anxious and frustrated and quite
rightly furious at not being picked up on time.
This frustration and anxiety was felt most keenly by my bride, who
while ironing out last minute details, was also trying to arrange
alternative transport for the solemniser. All this caused her mood
to deteriorate rapidly. Imagine having everything organised and
then watching as it threatened to fall apart at the seams because
of a taxi.
Our solemniser even went out to the main road to flag down a
passing taxi. In the end, the alternative taxi we arranged picked
her up. All this caused our ceremony to be delayed longer and
longer.
Luckily, at the Furama Riverfront Hotel, our event manager Jason
Ang and staff were by now aware of what had happened. They
reassured us everything would turn out just fine and not to worry.
They took great pains to ensure the guests were comfortable and had
drinks and nibbles.
The solemniser turned up and we proceeded with the ceremony, but
the stress caused by this had disastrous consequences. My bride and
I had no time to enjoy what was supposed to be our big day and it
turned out to be memorable for all the wrong reasons. It is hard to
enjoy something this important when you are still getting over the
close brush with disaster you have just had.
Only through prompt action by our friends and excellent service
from Mr Ang and the staff at Furama Riverfront Hotel did our day
proceed at all, and we gratefully acknowledge their special efforts
for us.
So, all brides and grooms- to-be, ensure you not only book your
taxi and confirm it, but also check again a couple of hours before
it is due to ensure it will actually turn up.
John Tunstall
Queensland, Australia
(20 June, Straits Times)
The groundswell of discontent is rising....bring in foreign
cabbies. Singaporean drivers are too lazy and do not provide a good
service. Let the foreigners drive cabs and force these lazy uncles
to work harder.
