Free parking
Grandad August 9th, 2008
I had to go into town yesterday.
As you may have gathered, I hate driving into town. I hate the traffic, and I hate all the traffic lights. But most of all I hate finding parking.
Parking in town is a nightmare, as they have removed all the car parks. And then they have the gall to charge me if I do find a spare space.
I cruised around and actually found a space just outside the opticians.
This was fairly lucky, as it was the opticians I was going to, to pick up the first of my pairs of glasses.
I was going to nip in and collect them, and not bother with paying for the parking, but then I realised there was a warden sniffing around.
I hate parking wardens.
He was an ugly brute, but I went up to him and said “excuse me”.
He glowered at me, because I presume he thought I was going to pick a fight.
I gave him my most endearing smile, which isn’t easy when faced with a parking warden, and told him I had no change for the meter. I said I was just going to nip into the nearest shop and get some, and would he mind looking after the car while I was gone.
He must have been relieved that there wasn’t a row in the offing, because he agreed to do it.
I nipped into the opticians, and collected my glasses. They are my prescription sunglasses, but they haven’t put the tint on yet, so I don’t have to look like someone from the CIA all the time.
I came out of the shop and the warden was still there, looking after the car and chatting to Sandy, who by now was sitting in the driver’s seat.
I thanked him profusely, and said that the shop wouldn’t give me change, and that I was too honest to park without paying so I would have to go home and come back another day. This impressed him, and he said that was no problem and wished me a safe journey.
The glasses are nice. I can see better than ever.
I like them.
But most of all, I like parking wardens.
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