One spring morning I left Lutsk for Kyiv. All the passangers gathered near the Hotel Versailles. It was raining and I didn't want to leave Lutsk because of it, but I had to because Blablacar was fully booked.
- Oh, you have a women's company today, - the passenger states
Yes, there are three older women. First, we talk about the road. It seemed to them that I had somehow gone wrong. But I go by GPS - it knows better! This is my first time in Lutsk, and the navigator knows what new roads and detours there are. At the end, everyone confirmed that the road I drove, although at times worse in quality, was faster. We would have traveled to Kyiv in less than 5 hours, but we drove a little longer because we often stopped at gas stations.
How is your music? - I ask somewhere in the middle of the road
Honestly, it would be good to put something more fun, - says one of the passengers
Verdi, Puccini, Grieg, Wagner - we listened to their music during the road. But what can you do - then I did not have a multimedia system and I listened to CDs that I bought on Petrivka in Kyiv, somewhere in the middle of the book market. I think what else is among the discs - Mozart's Requiem will not work, Bach too - there is nothing fun! I put Debussy, but I soon realized that his music is not fun at all. Therefore, in order not to get a rating less than 5 - I turned on the radio.
We stopped often because one passenger has to get out, then another. One of the passengers at each gas station ate a hot dog. And every time she said, "Oh, I've never eaten so many hot dogs before." And others said with a smile, "Yes, yes, sometimes you can afford it," and as if they were willing to say, "Don't make excuses, we know you're a glutton, you always eat so many hot dogs."
- Before Kyiv we will stop at my favorite gas station. Try a hot dog there. You ate a hot dog at OKKO, ate at WOG, now it's time to eat at KLO.
And the woman confirmed that the most delicious hot dog is on KLO. Some readers may think that this is an advertisement. But other passengers will not give way to lie - this was the result of a hot dog tasting.
Although, this episode reminded me that I really almost always stop at this KLO gas station in the village of Kocheriv, on the edge of Zhytomyr region, near Kyiv region. There is a lot of space at this gas station. It is never as crowded as some others. Nearby is a forest.
Once I even came up with the idea of designing the first bookstore-coffee shop at a gas station. There is a place to do it! Once upon a time, it is clear that there was a cafe "Borsch" - the room remained, but apparently, it has been empty for many years. So I described this idea in a letter and even received a response from the top manager of KLO: “In general, the idea is interesting. But I am interested in the feasibility study of the project: what is the amount of investment, what are the operating costs, operating profit, and payback period. Without this, any investor will be "uncomfortable" to consider any business ideas for investing. "
In response, I offered to meet, but the second letter was not answered. Of course, I could call, look for meetings, but I thought that they would need this idea more, but at the same time idea is too small, as for the whole network of gas stations.
But here, reader, it's all up to you! If this book becomes popular, it will be sold at gas stations, and then the manager of KLO or OKKO will be able to read about this idea and possibly take it into account. And the essence of this story is that if there is an idea, you should try to implement it. And even hot dogs are worth a try if you really want to…