Norman Nicholson is not what one might call a run-of-the-mill minibus operator. He is sixty five, retired from the public service and owns a seven-year-old 15-seater minibus which, though well past its prime is still entirely roadworthy. He bought it five years ago with the gratuity he received on his retirement. Norman is a creature of habit. He starts his day at 5 am with two contracts to ferry early morning workers from the lower East Coast to the city. After that he joins the ‘bump and grind’