I would like to express my gratitude towards Arriva’s stellar service, which prompted me to invest in a car early on in my adulthood.

I will miss contemplating my life choices as I stood waiting at the bus stops, exposed to the natural elements: wind, wet and shine.

I am indeed disappointed that I will have to seek out new means to express my thoughts and emotions, rather than having to rely on my passive aggressiveness. And I was making great progress too!

I will also be sad to lose my frequent athletic sprints while trying to outrun a bus to the next stop or my practice in new and exotic expletives when said bus duly skips aforementioned stop.

And how can I ever forget the tours of new locations and the surprise of getting to such destinations after boarding one bus and having it change route or going down the wrong way unexpectedly?

I will also miss the aromatic splendours of sweaty armpits as I often squeeze my way to the back of the bus because every one on board is considerate enough to keep the driver company during his long, lacklustre journey.

But most of all, it breaks my heart that I will no longer have to board one of Arriva’s pristine vehicles with its broken bells, collapsing seats, dripping air conditioners and jamming doors.

Farewell Arriva and thank you.