‘Ask Me Anything…’ ?

Emma Thompson made me a cup of tea once, AMA

I once bought tea for Wopie Goldberg AMA

I’m a lorry driver and sleep in the cab all week. AMA

No matching knickers, Doodle. But, husband was with me and the bra was the right size!

Doodle

Kitty in Switzerland they have picture notices in the toilets for the Japanese visitors indicating they should sit on the seats to use the toilet and not stand on them and crouch down. As you were using a Japanese toilet did you adopt the local custom? ?

Doodle, there is no option as, in Japan, the loos are level with the floor and squatting over an open toilet is the only way.

Kitty oh ?.

OP - what is your ‘owl story’?

Dame Diana Rigg shook my hand when I was about 16. It was like a wet fish ? AMA

Kitty ohh, heavens. ?
I’m terrible with toilets. If there is anything out of the ordinary, I just can’t go (I’m sure we’re mostly like that - unlike men)
When I was recently in hospital, the poor nurse had to stand outside the door for absolutely ages, holding my drip, waiting for me to wee. What a job, eh?

Leanetta

I’m a lorry driver and sleep in the cab all week. AMA

Leanetta
Oh, that’s really interesting.
Do you know many other women drivers?
What is your cab like?
Do you have any fancy furnishings or home comforts?

I live in Germany. AMA.

Leanetta
Your driving skills must be top notch - it’s such a responsible job. I think I’d find it nerve wracking.

Any special tips for car drivers ? I’m thinking in terms of motorway driving, bad weather, thinking ahead.

What’s really hard about being a woman lorry driver?

What’s the best side to it?

I launched a ship AMA

Leanetta

I’m a lorry driver and sleep in the cab all week. AMA

Has anyone ever tried to get into your cab when you're in your bunk and locked up for the night? ?

I've lived in the USA, China, Spain and Switzerland. AMA

Lucca

I launched a ship AMA

Ooh! Do tell!
How come?
Where was is?
Was there champagne involved?

Please tell us about the ship Lucca

My dad was on the board of a ship company (the name would out me ) they asked my mum but she was too worried about making a speech. My sister was pregnant so i did it. I was 1
I8

Dont remember champagne apart from the obvious launching bottle but I received a very nice ruby/diamond bracelet and earrings !

I was v proud that I cracked a joke in my speech at the lunch do and got laughs !

Amazing! How utterly fabulous!
Thanks Lucca
I hope that you still have the jewellery
What did you wear?

I live in Germany as well JackyB AMA

FannyCornforth

Leanetta

I’m a lorry driver and sleep in the cab all week. AMA

Leanetta
Oh, that’s really interesting.
Do you know many other women drivers?
What is your cab like?
Do you have any fancy furnishings or home comforts?

Oh crikey - I didn’t think anyone would be interested

I don’t know any other women drivers but I see quite a lot out and about. But people don’t usually look into the cab to see who’s driving, it’s just assumed that it will be a man.

My cab is okay - I can stand up in it and stretch my arms above my head. It has a narrow bunk behind the seats, and curtains to pull all the way around. It has a night heater, and a small fridge under the bunk. I don’t really take anything I don’t need as it just takes up space and time loading it up. But I do insist on taking my feather filled duvet!

How fabulous Lucca.

Cs783

Leanetta
Your driving skills must be top notch - it’s such a responsible job. I think I’d find it nerve wracking.

Any special tips for car drivers ? I’m thinking in terms of motorway driving, bad weather, thinking ahead.

What’s really hard about being a woman lorry driver?

What’s the best side to it?

I’m an adequate driver - if you think you’ve nothing left to learn, you’re in trouble. I get the load there safely, and get home safely at the end of the week. And yes it is nerve-wracking. Especially if you take a wrong turning and then see signs for a low bridge

Tips for car drivers - look further ahead than you normally do, it gives you so much more time to react. If a lorry has mirrors (some have cameras these days) look to see if you can see the driver in them. If you can’t, he can’t see you either! Beware of entering a roundabout next to a lorry - it may need two lanes. In rain, plan your overtake of large vehicles so that you can get past in one go, otherwise you end up with lots of spray straight into your line of sight from the lorry wheels.

It’s not that much harder being a female lorry driver. Although you are under more pressure to get things right. If a bloke messes up a reverse, then it was a tough manoeuvre, but if a woman messes it up - it’s because she’s female. Having said that, it usually takes me so long to reverse that I get out and take a bow when I’m done. Needing the loo can be complicated. I take what I can my en-suite facility. This consists of a bottle and a funnel…

Being out on the road, listening to the radio, drinking coffee. Other drivers are brilliant. I’ve done other jobs. And was a DVSA driving examiner for five years. But I always come back to the lorry driving. Longer hours (often 15hrs a day) sleeping in a tin box, peeing in a bottle. No idea why I keep doing it - but I love it