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AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

to think this was the most outrageous breach of ferry etiquette? I am outraged!

66 replies

northernlurker · 18/08/2013 19:34

Yesterday we caught the ferry home from our Scottish Island holiday (sob). The ferrys aren't that big and there's not much space between cars. If a car door is open you can't get past. Therefore you need to move quickly but you also need to be patient. The loading is done quickly and the ferry guys shout quite a bit whilst trying to direct umpteen clueless tourists to park as effectively as possible. Therefore you don't try and get out of your car and walk across the deck till all the cars near you are parked up.
Yesterday the car in front of us was occupied by Howard and Hilda from Ever Decreasing circles. They got straight out and walked right in front of the cal mac guy directing the car in the lane next door - which caused some fruity language and a shake of the head from him. That was nothing to what she did when getting back in. Having three dcs to load we are always at the front of the queue to get back down. Dcs were in and I was climbing in to my seat when I felt my car door hit my thigh and bottom. Yes Hilda was on the way back to her car and had simply slammed my door shut so she could get passed - even though my body was not fully in the car. I was LIVID. So rude. She then stood for some minutes unzipping Howard's anorak for him Hmm and generally pratting about. AIBU to consider her a rude person? There was loads of time btw. The ferry didn't dock for several minutes and then the other side of cars got off first so it wasn't as if she was under pressure of time.

OP posts:
chocoluvva · 18/08/2013 19:42

NBU but you are going to the wrong islands!

No-one shouts at you on the ferries to the north isles.

(though once the cars were parked in so closely I had to take the baby out through the sun-roof)!

ArrowofApollo · 18/08/2013 19:45

Having travelled on CalMac ferries myself (and we'll be doing so when we go on on our hols next week!) YADNBU!! Silly woman! I had someone try and do the same to me when loading DD back into her car seat - I just curtly told her to wait a moment.

northernlurker · 18/08/2013 19:46

I make dh drive on to the ferry so he can deal with the scary cal mac men directing him to park three cm away from the bumper in front Grin We did pretty well this time - could access kids from both doors. Doing it with two dc in the back of a three door vauxhall corsa a decade ago wasn't fun though!

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valiumredhead · 18/08/2013 19:47

You should sees the isle of wight ferry-it's a complete free for allGrin

valiumredhead · 18/08/2013 19:47

See

northernlurker · 18/08/2013 19:47

Arrow - I would have told her the same given the chance - but she basically shut me in my own car! I wanted to get out and give her a piece of my mind really - but was dissauded by dc.

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Shlurpbop · 18/08/2013 19:49

Valium - definately agree about the iw ferries!

northernlurker · 18/08/2013 19:51

Tell me more about I of W!

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valiumredhead · 18/08/2013 19:53

Last time I was on it I got trapped between the wall and a coach that was trying to shut it's doors, it was the stuff of night mares. Shock

This year was marginally better but still like a rugby scrum!

valiumredhead · 18/08/2013 19:54

Its

kim147 · 18/08/2013 19:55

This reply has been deleted

Message withdrawn at poster's request.

MrsMcEnroe · 18/08/2013 19:55

ROFL @ Howard & Hilda

OP - YANBU. Come to Dorset & try the Sandbanks-Shell Bay ferry next time, much more genteel Grin

strawberrie · 18/08/2013 20:00

Waaaah, this thread has reminded me of our trip to Arran - we were due to return late Sunday but the weather turned really bad and it was looking likely that the later sailing would be cancelled. So us (along with every other man and dog) made for the early sailing, and the CalMac guys were absolutely shoehorning cars in the ferry.

I was 6 months pregnant and had what felt like about 4 inches to open the passenger door. I really thought i was going to have to sit out the sailing on the car floor!

northernlurker · 18/08/2013 20:03

Going over a couple of weeks ago cal mac guys made my sil and every other parent of dcs walk them on to the ferry leaving only the drivers with the cars so that they could pack more on. Apparently you had to be frail or elderly to stay in the car.
I bet the practioners of bad ferry etiqutte practice bad driving on single track roads etiquette too. As in not understanding what their reverse gear is for for example.....

(Two weeks on Mull and I have zero tolerance for people who won't reverse two feet even when there's a line of traffic/a coach/ a huge lorry coming the other way.)

OP posts:
buttermellow · 18/08/2013 20:06

Mum is sitting opposite me pointing out that at least they can be called ferries :D

She says when she travelled from John O Groats to Orkney in 77, they travelled on a "ferry" - a rockety, smoking fishing boat. She says 99% of the people on board were throwing up over the side as the boat tipped to 45 degrees, or hiding in the "lower deck" knocking back brandy!

CrystalQueen · 18/08/2013 20:06

I nearly squashed the ferry guy last week as he told me to keep coming towards him. Luckily I have quick reactions as it was "keep coming, keep coming STOP STOP STOP" with about 1 mm space left. DH and DD ended up walking off the ferry and I picked them up along the road - they could barely get out the car and there was no way they would have got bakc in!

Inncogneetow · 18/08/2013 20:11

Did you love Mull! We've been on most of the Calmac routes over the years. But the most amazing parking/loading I've seen is on the new fast cat service to (?St Mary's) on Orkney from up by John O Groats.

northernlurker · 18/08/2013 20:13

I would have been in the throwing up group!

Yes we love Mull - that was our 12th family holiday there......

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Namechangingislandlassie · 18/08/2013 20:13

Hope you had fun up here with us OP. Sorry you missed the best part of our weather this last couple of weeks

cozietoesie · 18/08/2013 20:19

They allowed you a 3 cms gap, Northernlurker ? Shock

Obviously young trainees. The seasoned Calmac guys would be embarrassed at anything more than a hair's thickness.

boatclub · 18/08/2013 20:21

Lucky you going to Mull. Had a great holiday there a few years ago with my folks. I'd love to go again with my kids but have ferry fear and suspect my driving/manoeuvering would leave to much fruity language from the lovely cal Mac men. However I do love a good passing place stand off!

northernlurker · 18/08/2013 20:34

Weather wasn't too bad namechanging. We had a great day on iona last Monday and dh got sunburnt on Calgary the monday before. We know to check the forecast and then head out anyway.

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MadeOfStarDust · 18/08/2013 20:41

last time we took a ferry to Orkney, you got out of the car and went up the metal stairs to the boat, whilst they put a sling under the car wheels and lifted it into the hold..... oh yes, I am that old.... but to be fair I was only 5....

ClutchingPearls · 18/08/2013 20:49

I once had a heated 'disagreement' with a guy on IOW ferries years ago. I had to reverse into the back. He kept on telling me to reverse more but on my camera I was very nearly touching the next car.

After refusing to move any more, I got out to hands gap. He still felt IWBU not to go closer.Hmm
I have become very used to removing and inserting DC into the car via an opened window. They actually expect it now; which is difficult now DD1 is nearly 6.

expatinscotland · 18/08/2013 20:52

YANBU