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Original poster

Holiday CF parking thread

81 replies

Freefalling123 · 27/08/2018 09:57

I love a good parking thread, and never thought I’d be able to do my own!

We’re on holiday in a Devon seaside location, we have a holiday cottage with parking up on a hill above the harbour. Parking in said seaside town is quite a challenge, and I chose a cottage for me and 2DC (teens) with parking for this reason.

Parking is a supposedly double space (both belong to house) but I’ve parked dead centre across both spaces as I have a mid size 4x4. Spaces are cut into the garden, and house is up some steps. So large walls either side of spaces, no pavement so straight onto the road. Road is narrow (just about passable for two cars). Directly in front of house on other side of the road and then to the right is double yellows. To the left is no doubles, so cars park here (this house is a row of terraces and the only one with parking).

I know the rules and have done a diagram! Red Cross is our house. Black c is my car. Green lines show other houses gardens. Blue car is parked legally. Pink car is right opposite drive on double yellows.

Because of the high sided walls, I need to swing out and avoid the pillars either side - but there’s no room to! No idea who the CF car belongs to, we don’t need to get out right now but will do in a while.

Ps. I have reversed in so car is facing outwards as I thought this would be easier!

AIBU to think this is a proper CF?!

Holiday CF parking thread
OP posts:
BewareOfDragons · 27/08/2018 14:39

I agree with crosstalk now that you know who was parked there.

I think visiting nurses/carers have a terrible, terrible time, especially carers. They are in a low paid job that doesn't reimburse them fully for their travel time/expenses, their schedules are insane, and a lot of people live in places without adequate parking. And parking from distance would cut into even more of their carer time ... but they'll get griped at and complained about if they have to cut down their actual are time because of it.

Impossible situation for them. Yes, she should have apologized. BUt I suspect she's just exhausted from the job she has and does, and knows it's likely to happen again.

Decent people don't complain about firetrucks, ambulances and police cars having t park to do their jobs effectively ... but lowly paid carers whose jobs are just as essential ... hell yes we'll complain! We have two homes on our street that have carers/end of life carers coming in ... and one has parked inappropriately before ... I immediately zipped off my inner rant when I realized who it was and who it was for ... the family is going through hell. Me having to go another way wasn't an inconvenience in comparison.

Again, no, she shouldn't have parked there. But I possibly get why she did, and she should have apologised for making it hard to get out of your driveway. She may not have realised you couldn't get out.

cholka · 27/08/2018 14:42

I dunno, I kind of think 4x4 drivers deserve what's coming to them. I'd happily block you in, and I never let 4x4s out. Just a little bit of karma for your contribution to the environment.

Original poster
Freefalling123 · 27/08/2018 14:46

Wherever she was, whoever she was seeing, she was there 2.5 hours, which is a long time for a visit. Perhaps there were more than one she had to see, but equally, about 3-4 mins walk around the corner is a long road with unrestricted parking.

I do understand she had a job to do. But she was rude. And what if I’d needed my car out in an emergency?!

Plus her car was a nice Mini only 18 months old according to DS, so maybe not overly hard up!

OP posts:
SimonBridges · 27/08/2018 14:47

Parking is a supposedly double space (both belong to house) but I’ve parked dead centre across both spaces as I have a mid size 4x4

Could one of these cars belong to the owner of the house who wanted to park in the double space?

Original poster
Freefalling123 · 27/08/2018 14:48

Choika my car is an eco diesel actually, which costs me £0 a year in tax as it’s ultra low emissions.

Most cars would have struggled to get out, yes mine is slightly larger than average, but equally a long wheelbase car such as an estate would have had the same issue as me

OP posts:
rookiemere · 27/08/2018 14:51

It doesn't matter if the driver was Tiny Tim's DM - she was parked illegally on a double yellow line.

For all we know OP may also have a worthy profession like nurse or ambulance worker and also be entitled to enjoy her own holiday unlike the rest of us plebs with normal jobs.

Original poster
Freefalling123 · 27/08/2018 14:51

Simon Owner doesn’t live locally apparently and house is described on the website as having two spaces available. So therefore I am using both. You may squeeze two small hatchbacks on the spaces, although not sure how you’d open doors.

OP posts:
Original poster
Freefalling123 · 27/08/2018 14:52

Not at all worthy I’m afraid Rookie but I still work bloody hard all year for a week off with my DC!

OP posts:
Kelsoooo · 27/08/2018 14:53

@cholka

How absurd. I drive a four x four as it’s my company vehicle. Hardly my fault it’s what they provide as it’s suitable for my job role. Also has low emmisioms, and stop start technology which my mothers hatchback doesn’t have. So I’d say mine is better for the environment.

Stop being a dick for the sake of it.

HolyMountain · 27/08/2018 14:54

cholka what a twattish thing to say, they pay their road tax and insurance like everyone else.

We had an elderly man close by who required a carer, she parked right across our drive one afternoon because she couldn’t be arsed to park too far up the road. I don’t care whether she’s poorly paid , she had no bloody right to park over my drive.

Original poster
Freefalling123 · 27/08/2018 14:55

Thanks Kelsoo !

OP posts:
sprinklesandsauce · 27/08/2018 14:56

I agree that carers have a very limited time to tend to people, but this one was there for 2.5 hours..... and it still doesn't give her the right to park illegally. Ambulance, police, fire, yes. Carers... no. My Gran's carer has to walk the whole street sometimes if she can't park closer, but she never parks illegally.

70isaLimitNotaTarget · 27/08/2018 14:58

Did you take her Reg number - it doesn't matter if she's a Carer or a Nurse she cannot just park where she likes (and I say this as an NHS HCP with no Permits)

If she had knocked before or left a note on your car then you might've been made aware.
(But you know for next time , no doubt she'll be back)

MimiSunshine · 27/08/2018 15:00

I was on holiday in Devon recently, the amount of locals we saw parking on double yellows near our apartment was amazing.

We could tell they were local as they were a) not laden down with half the house like all other holiday makers and b) clearly felt confident that no parking warden was going to bother climbing the hill above the town when it was 29degrees

Didn’t bother us as we had off road parking but to park on double yellows and on a sharp bend was stupid and dangerous.

MrMeSeeks · 27/08/2018 15:06

I dunno, I kind of think 4x4 drivers deserve what's coming to them. I'd happily block you in, and I never let 4x4s out. Just a little bit of karma for your contribution to the environment.*

Wow Shock
That says more about you than 4*4 drivers, and certainly nothing good.

yips · 27/08/2018 15:06

Gosh why do some CFs think "I often park here" is a reasonable response when they get caught out? Like you're going to say "oh do you really? My apologies then, carry on" Hmm

KingLooieCatz · 27/08/2018 15:22

From where the widespread belief that the police have the phone numbers and can ring up the driver of a given vehicle?

Has anyone ever known it to happen?

abigailsnan · 27/08/2018 15:22

She probably parks in one of the spaces outside your holiday cottage when its empty ?

sashh · 27/08/2018 15:34

How would 101 have the car owner's phone number? I've never given mine to DVLA.

But you probably have to the insurance company.

I called 101 when a cf parked on my drive, they called, no answer so sent an SMS.

WillowKnicks · 27/08/2018 15:37

dunno, I kind of think 4x4 drivers deserve what's coming to them. I'd happily block you in, and I never let 4x4s out. Just a little bit of karma for your contribution to the environment.

What a bitter little person you sound! Grin

DoinItForTheKids · 27/08/2018 15:40

If she was a carer she wouldn't have been there for more than 30 minutes absolutely maximum - most appointments they're meant to be in and out in 10! She may have been doing that at some point in the day, but unless she parked there and walked to about eight different properties on foot to see her patients, then that's not what she was doing.

ilovegin112 · 27/08/2018 16:16

Most of the nurses/carer around here have notes they place in their cars to say they are working,

PrivateDoor · 27/08/2018 18:33

I think op said the car was there when she first looked out in the morning, so maybe it was there all night and she was just heading off to work? There is really no point in assuming she can do no harm just because she had a healthcare uniform on. When I worked in the community, I had to carry loads of stuff into visits (large bag with clinical equipment and also baby scales) but I still took great care to now cause any obstruction when parking - as most caring people would.... Hmm

Original poster
Freefalling123 · 27/08/2018 20:42

It wasn’t there at 1130pm when I went to bed, but was when I woke up at 9am, so not sure what time it arrived

Nothing parked out there at the moment! Fingers crossed that’s it.

OP posts:
Gersemi · 28/08/2018 01:12

How would 101 have the car owner's phone number? I've never given mine to DVLA.

But you probably have to the insurance company.

They don't have either my work or mobile numbers. And even if they had, they're not authorised to give it to anyone who phones and claims to be the police.