Active discussions

Please or to access all these features

Talk
Mumsnet classics

Relive the funniest, most unforgettable threads. For a daily dose of Mumsnet’s best bits, sign up for Mumsnet's daily newsletter.

Original poster

to make a little sign for this woman?

862 replies

TandB · 15/04/2011 09:00

I have ranted on a previous occasion about the morning rat-run through our village so very quick summary:

Single track roads - short-cut to city - I am apparently only person who needs to go opposite direction during rush-hour - majority of people coming the other way clearly think I am unreasonable for driving through my own village and glare and head-shake at me - I am cross.

Obviously it is the holidays now, so the school run traffic is missing which makes life much easier. However, there is one woman who I see every single time. She drives very fast on a narrow, twisty road with several blind bends so I finish up crawling around corners in case she comes hurtling the other way. She flatly refuses to back up even a couple of feet to the nearest passing space, and she makes no attempt to move over so that both cars can pass without scraping through the hedge. So I finish up reversing to the next passing space with her driving about 6 inches off my front bumper with a face like thunder, and then as soon as the road widens at all, she squeezes past, glaring at me all the time and shaking her head.

Bearing in mind the following:

  1. I live here and have as much right to leave the village as she does to cut through it.

  2. I drive a very small car which causes minimal obstruction.

  3. I don't drive dangerously fast.

  4. I am the one reversing and getting off the road.

would I be unreasonable to make a little sign saying "The next time you shake your head at me will be the last time I reverse for you. I can sit here all day - how about you?"

Would probably be unreasonable to add "cowbag" at the end, I suppose.

OP posts:
Rockmaiden · 17/04/2011 11:15

Marking my place.

Can't wait to see how this turns out :)

Original poster
TandB · 16/04/2011 15:17

PigeonPie - do a deal with your DH. Leave him the car and you can be a passenger in mine.

We could have radios and callsigns like on Smoky and the Bandit!

OP posts:
olderandwider · 16/04/2011 12:48

Could you hire a large caravan to tow behind you?
After she has been forced to reverse, you crawl past her so she gets an excellent view of the helpful posters you have thoughtfully plastered on the sides of the caravan (NB a horse trailer could do if the lane is too small for a real whoppa/Winnebago).

"The countryside welcomes careful female drivers in xxx (insert make and model of her car)."

"Reversing - easier than you might think."

"Thank you for not driving like an a*rse"

ScarlettWalking · 16/04/2011 12:40

so funny

PigeonPie · 16/04/2011 12:31

I want to come [wails]. Do you think I could get DH to do the school and playgroup run (without a car as I'll have it!)? [vigilante emoticon]

seeksnewnamewithgsoh · 16/04/2011 11:48

Make a sign!!

If you lived by me I'd be pretty sure I know the woman you are talking about. Do you think she has a sister?

I could be a zombie for the day, and I fancy a day trip Grin

nickelbaalamb · 16/04/2011 11:43

well, someone's got to!

iirc, at christmas, there were not enough.

ExitPursuedByALamb · 16/04/2011 11:39

Shall I bring the pombears?

everybodysang · 16/04/2011 10:48

makes zombie costume
bakes biscuits

nickelbaalamb · 16/04/2011 10:43

sorry, the point of that was a) to re-mark my place
and
b) to give you some ammunition.
Maybe you could present her with a copy?

nickelbaalamb · 16/04/2011 10:38

Country roads
154

Take extra care on country roads and reduce your speed at approaches to bends, which can be sharper than they appear, and at junctions and turnings, which may be partially hidden. Be prepared for pedestrians, horse riders, cyclists, slow-moving farm vehicles or mud on the road surface. Make sure you can stop within the distance you can see to be clear. You should also reduce your speed where country roads enter villages.
155

Single-track roads. These are only wide enough for one vehicle. They may have special passing places. If you see a vehicle coming towards you, or the driver behind wants to overtake, pull into a passing place on your left, or wait opposite a passing place on your right. Give way to vehicles coming uphill whenever you can. If necessary, reverse until you reach a passing place to let the other vehicle pass. Slow down when passing pedestrians, cyclists and horse riders.
156

Do not park in passing places.

The Higway code : from direct gov website

MigratingCoconuts · 16/04/2011 10:26

Grin at Quiettiger!

EggyChick · 16/04/2011 10:18

Me too, we ALL know how annoying this is.

SolarPanel · 16/04/2011 10:09

Love it QuietTiger :o

QuietTiger · 16/04/2011 09:41

I once had a woman stop in her Freelander and give me a mouth full of abuse because my horse was blocking the lane, my border collie was running loose "out of control" behind my horse and she was on a terribly important mission and using the lane as a rat run to cut through somewhere.

I took great delight in making her back-up for 1 1/2 miles because she was on a private farm lane and she pissed me off. She looked a bit sick when I told her that she was tresspassing on private land and could be prosecuted as she had no right of way. That'll teach her to call me a "stuck-up horsie riding cunt". Grin

IhateMarlo · 16/04/2011 09:34

ROADTRIP ROADTRIP ROADTRIP!!!
grew up in a small village which due to extended roadworks when I was a teen became full of wankers like this. Wasn't driving at the time but the amount of times me and my bike ended up in a hedge to avoid been knocked down, well I still have scars [mental and physical]Please for the sake of my long gone teen self and my oor old bike teach this cow some manners....

legspinner · 16/04/2011 09:03

Marking my place OP. Too far for me to join you with biccies and flask mob, but am behind you all the way!

caramelwaffle · 16/04/2011 08:53

Flouuuuuuunce
Grin

follyfoot · 16/04/2011 08:52

Late to this thread. I once drove over the crown of a humpback bridge (single lane) to find a man in a van carrying on straight at me. He thought I would reverse back over the bridge and let him through.

I turned the car off and sat and smiled at him. After a few minutes he gave in.

Childish I know but oh so satisfying.

Dlamis · 16/04/2011 08:52

I have wanted something like that for years. Never realised you could actually get one!

Original poster
TandB · 16/04/2011 08:47

Caramel - I reckon it would be one of those classic threads where everyone says YABU and the OP won't accept it and has a massive flounce:

AIBU to be annoyed that my lovely clear short-cut to work is always interrupted by a woman coming the other way who sometimes looks as though she thinks I should reverse. She is the only one wanting to drive in the opposite direction so surely she should give way to everyone else. I refuse to reverse and I always give her a pointed glare and a shake of the head. AIBU?

YABU
YABU
YABVU
YABU and rude

Oh right, so none of you lot would find it annoying. I guess you must all be perfect. I KNOW IANBU and I shall keep doing it.

YABU
YABU

Fine. I thought MN was about support. I shall delete my account and never post again.

OP posts:
stillfrazzled · 16/04/2011 08:40

Sign! Sign! Sign! But make sure you hold it up with a big encouraging smile - miles more irritating. And also zombie thriller dance, of course. :-)

caramelwaffle · 16/04/2011 08:39

The question is this;

What would the original post be if SheWhoCannotBeArsedToReverse, were to write an AIBU post?

"I am so, soooo important. I believe every villager should recognise my wonderous importance and move their cars out of my way. AIBU? (martyred sigh)

Perhaps

Original poster
TandB · 16/04/2011 08:34

Ooh! I want one of the LED things.

I reeeeeally want the flash mob/road trip to happen. I reckon we could get the local pensioners to join in as well. And maybe the sheep.

There is actually a circular route we could take - we might be able to get the front of the convoy to meet the back!

OP posts:
etyksm · 16/04/2011 08:25

YANBU

(shameless placemarking!)