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AIBU?

to have absolutely no idea what this man's problem is.

115 replies

TandB · 06/12/2012 09:19

I need the collective overactive imagination of Mumsnet to help me work this out!

DS1 goes to a pre-school attached to a school on a residential road. All the houses have large driveways so none of the residents park on the road. If there is an event on at the school or if you are trying to drop off around school drop-off time, you tend to have to park a long way away, but if you do an 8am drop-off and a 6pm pick-up like I do, there is no problem.

The driveways are all two large car lengths apart, so as long as everyone parks normally, you can fit several cars very close to the gate. You then have to walk through the school grounds so it doesn't make much difference whether you are the first car or the sixth car in line - it adds about 10 seconds onto a two or three minute walk.

There are some pre-school parents who always park right in the middle of the two spaces so that everyone else gets pushed further and further back down the road, but it still isn't a problem at that time of the morning. I am generally one of the first people there so I am usually the closest to the gate anyway.

Yesterday morning I dropped DS1 off and went back to the car. As I got in, a man pulled into the space behind me and sat there with the engine running. I didn't particularly register what he was doing as some of the older children for the breakfast club just get dropped at the gate so their parents don't get out of the car. I turned the engine on and then suddenly realised I had left my bag in the boot with my bottle of water, so I got out and walked round to the boot. The dad and the two children were still sitting in the car. At this point I did notice him as he was stopped so close to me that I couldn't actually get between him and my car and had to lean over to open the boot. He was staring at me and tapping his fingers on the wheel. I thought his kids might have been faffing around and he was in a hurry to get going. I got back in the car and pulled forward to turn round.

At this point he drove forwards about 4 feet so that he was half in my space and half in his and parked. I turned round and found I couldn't get past because he had opened his driver door fully and left it open - it is a narrow road. I waited, expecting him to close it, whereupon he looked at me, smirked and gave me a sort of "ha!" nod, and made no attempt to close the door. He eventually did close it and I drove off with him glaring and shaking his head at me.

I was bemused but put it down to him having a bad morning and focussing on some complete non-event - although I still couldn't work out why he was so desperate to park 4 feet further forward.

I passed him in the school grounds at pick up time and got another glare and a head-shake which was a bit bizarre, but no further parking shenanigans as he had managed to secure the front parking space this time.

Anyway, this morning I was again the first one there and when I came back to the car, the same man was already sitting in the space behind me, engine running, kids in the car. I did a bit of a double-take, because it looked suspiciously as though he was actually waiting for me to come back and move the car. Sure enough, I got in and drove out, at which point he once again moved forward so that he was right in the middle of the two spaces. And again, there was glaring and head-shaking as I drove back past him, although no silly buggers with the door.

I have wracked my brains about what the parking issue could be, that is so major that he has to actually wait for me to come out so that he can move into the space. The distance involved is so negligible that it can't possibly be a mobility issue - he and his children appear to have no difficulties in walking up to the pre-school, and even if there were issues in that respect, a distance of 4 feet is going to make no difference whatsoever. The only thing I can possibly think of is that he is precious about his car (a jag) and wants to park in the middle of the spaces so no-one can park too close and bump the car, but is too lazy to park in the next pair of spaces. Or has he always parked there before and now thinks of it as HIS space?

Am I uneasonable to continue to park in this space? And can anyone think of any explanation at all?! And why do I attract the driving/reversing/parking lunatics?

OP posts:
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TantrumsAndBalloons · 06/12/2012 09:22

Explanation?

He is a twat.

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Sparklingbrook · 06/12/2012 09:22

kungfu that is bizarre. Confused You know you will have to ask him don't you? Carry on parking there. Do you have to dash off when you get back in the car? Could it be 'get the newspaper out' time again? Grin

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SouthernComforts · 06/12/2012 09:23

He's a loon. Ignore him and carry on parking properly.

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SugaricePlumFairy · 06/12/2012 09:24

Keep parking there!,

Give him a cheery smile when you make eye contact but in your mind say 'yes you are a parking twat' then drive off still smiling at him! Xmas Grin

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KenLeeeeeee · 06/12/2012 09:25

He sounds very odd indeed. The evil side of me would entertain the idea of 'accidentally' bumping his precious Jag... Probably wouldn't actually do it, but would enjoy thinking about it.

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Sparklingbrook · 06/12/2012 09:26

I would have to know though because of the glaring and head shaking. Intimidating. Sad

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SuffolkNWhat · 06/12/2012 09:27

This reply has been deleted

Message withdrawn at poster's request.

Sparklingbrook · 06/12/2012 09:28

Or a very long phone call?

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YoucanringmySleighBells · 06/12/2012 09:28

Oh bloody hell what a knob!! He sounds like an absolute pig. I would have to ask what his problem was - it would kill me not knowing...

Please ask him what his problem is - in a nice manner - don't want you starting a scene. This is bugging me let alone you!
Here Thanks

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tallwivglasses · 06/12/2012 09:28

I'd get in first with the tutting and head shaking. Roll your eyes too. Better still, smile, wave and wish him a merry 'Good morning'.

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fatcuntroller · 06/12/2012 09:32

Absolutely keep parking there. And arrange for a friend to phone you for a nice long chat once you're back at your car.

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ImperialSantaKnickers · 06/12/2012 09:33

I've been known to decide to check my emails on my phone when someone was trying to intimidate me into moving.

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EleanorGiftbasket · 06/12/2012 09:35

This reply has been deleted

Message withdrawn at poster's request.

FolkElf · 06/12/2012 09:35

He is Man.

He is not letting Woman get the better of him, or control him, or dictate to him.

He will be in charge even if all that means is he will attempt to intimidate you in order to park 4feet further forwards and then unnecessarily inconvenience you.

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FolkElf · 06/12/2012 09:36

He was either having a shit morning and taking it out on you, or exerting his perceived authority over you.

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Cantbelieveitsnotbutter · 06/12/2012 09:37

I'd give it 'MORNING' super cheerily, every single day!!! Maybe even a 'we are lucky that if your the first or last person here we all get to park close unlike other schools'

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wannabedomesticgoddess · 06/12/2012 09:37

You could have a very urgent need to rearrange the seats in your car (if your car has that function) or root around aimlessly in the back seat for ages while he taps his bloody fingers.

Hes a self important twat OP. But if it was me I would take pleasure in winding him up!

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wewereherefirst · 06/12/2012 09:38

Take your time getting into your car, read a paper. Make a phone call, tidy the inside of your car.

Don't let the bugger intimidate you, wish him a good day

Grin

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Sokmonsta · 06/12/2012 09:39

Park there and then go back with a friend for coffee.

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WankbadgersBauble · 06/12/2012 09:40

Get back to your car, recline the seat, put your feet on the steering wheel and pull out a good book. Angle the rear-view mirror to have a good giggle from time to time.

Gawd, what a douchecanoe.

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TandB · 06/12/2012 09:41

I feared as much! I was hoping that someone would come up with a brilliant and obvious explanation, but it would appear that he is just a twat.

He isn't at all intimidating - he just looks like a slightly smug tit with the smirking and head shaking.

Unfortunately checking emails or making phone calls is a non-starter because this particular road is a phone signal blackspot of doom.

I think it might be a good idea if I established what the family's name is I case I inadvertently accept an invitation to play, or to a party, and find myself offending his parking sensibilities outside his own house!

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3b1g · 06/12/2012 09:41

Parking really does bring out the worst in people. I think that for some people it's a territorial issue. I have also come across one or two men that are really sensitive to the idea of a woman taking 'their' parking space or commenting on where they should park.

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threesocksfullofchocs · 06/12/2012 09:42

I would so be sitting texting just to annoy him

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TandB · 06/12/2012 09:42

Douchecanoe. Grin

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TandB · 06/12/2012 09:46

I may need to take a morning off in order to have time to try one of these suggestions.....

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