Car park news: November #2
20 November 2011
Even by Tenandahalf car parking standards last week held a new low.
Early for an early afternoon meeting with a major law firm in Birmingham I left the car in what looked like a handy spot next to Chinatown. It was one of those ‘let’s make quick cash off an old bit or derelict land’ jobs with a surly colossus of a 'client care' agent swinging a leather satchel of cash in your direction as he directs you toward the nearest paintwork threatening pothole.
I popped in for a bit of dim sum thinking I’d just pick the car up and move it closer to Colmore Row in time for my meeting but no – when I got back I was fenced in. The cars either side were too close, the one behind not leaving enough space to back out and turn at the same time.
Help arrived in the form of a bemused (or maybe ‘amused’ would be more accurate) white van man who gave me 5 minutes of ‘left hand down a bit …. whoaaah!” before shaking his head and telling me I was knackered (or words to that effect) and should leave the car until later.
I sprinted off to my meeting (having deposited a bit more cash into Gigantor’s leather satchel) and made it just in time. Having righted the business development wrongs of that particular professional service I got back to the gravel pit at twilight, fearing the worst but thankfully the parking gods had been kind and I was finally able to escape.
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