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AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

Bizarre Parking Stand-off (with diagram)

96 replies

PossiblyPFB · 14/01/2019 20:58

This afternoon, I parked up in a free 30 minute zone at the end of a long line of street parking in front of a shopping parade. There were several free spots available, and as I was parking facing oncoming traffic, and have a long car, I chose to park in the last space in the zone so that I wouldn’t inadvertently be blocked in if someone parked close, and have a good view to exit.

There was a full space left behind me with ample space for a car of any size to parallel park. After I got out of the car and was physically getting my dc out of the car on the kerbside, I noticed a woman pull up facing me, across an empty (!) space who was smiling, waving and flashing her lights at me. I looked up and she gestured for me to move my car. I ignored and continued helping my dc out of the car and put her on the pavement. The woman then opens her car door (pretty much into traffic) and really smilingly shouts out asking me to shift my car back so that she can park where I had parked.

I didn’t want to make a scene in front of my dc so I gave her a look and said, uh, I’ve already parked, could you not parallel park it behind me, or park it in the space you’re slung across? It was very odd. She said, big smile, ‘no, I’d like to park there, so if you could just bump it back that would be great.’

I was so shocked at her cheek in asking me to move my already parked car while removing a young dc from it- that I decided the best way is to give her the benefit of the doubt and just give in. I told Dd to stay put on the pavement and reversed the car so that she could have the space.

AIBU that this was off the charts bizarre behaviour when there were several alternative spaces, one of which she was slung across and could have reversed into? Not a huge deal in the scheme of things but..... mildly irritating. But....was I in the wrong to take the end space in the first place? I’m questioning everything now! It was so strange!!! Confused

Diagram attached.

WIBU????

Bizarre Parking Stand-off (with diagram)
OP posts:
BoomBoomsCousin · 14/01/2019 21:30

That is bizarre, but I wonder about the assumption she was lazy or couldn't parallel park. It would have been easier for her to park in the space she was slung across (and it would not have required parallel parking). So why did she need the space you were in?

Your diagram is excellent, but you need to have interrogated the CF on why she needed your space in particular. So I can't decide if YABU or not!

TakeMe2Insanity · 14/01/2019 21:31

YWBU to move the car. No way should you listen and leave your 2 year old unattended for you to enable her madness.

I remember years ago I was on a packed train so all luggage space was gone up above and pretty much all around us was luggage. A minute before the train pulled out a woman got on and sat opposite us. She then told not asked told me to move my bag from above, when I asked why she said to put hers up there. So then I asked where I would put mine, she said that wasn’t her problem. I smiled and said her bag wasn’t my problem. She went and told everyone individually to move their bags and everyone said the same no. I admired her persistence but she was 100% cf.

Ironingboard · 14/01/2019 21:33

Would not have moved my car.

AssassinatedBeauty · 14/01/2019 21:34

Year 2, not 2 years old! The child is 7.

PavlovianLunge · 14/01/2019 21:34

Lovely handwriting, OP.

Solo · 14/01/2019 21:35

You should've said "Sorry, I'm a rubbish parallel parker so, I can't move" and looked embarrassed and carried on with your day.

Cheeky cah! And yes, I thought there were mice on your roads! Very cute!

Neverunderfed · 14/01/2019 21:37

Year 2, not 2 yrs old

Sexnotgender · 14/01/2019 21:38

Her child isn’t 2, she’s year 2 and is 7. That’s plenty old enough to stand for 30 seconds while you reverse.

Other lady was obviously a cheeky fucker and unable to park her car!

ComfortablyGlum · 14/01/2019 21:42

Next time, make her wait whilst you draw another beautiful diagram demonstrating what a cheeky fucker she is. Then carry on with your shopping whilst ignoring her.

StealthPolarBear · 14/01/2019 21:43

I feel sorry for your child

carrotflinger · 14/01/2019 21:43

I wouldn't have moved the car. Stupid woman - why couldn't she just park in the space she was already half across? She didn't need to parallel park.
The space she was half across was better for driving out of anyway.

I would have parked in the space you originally parked in - always try to get an end space if I can because there are so many twats round
here who park so bloody close you can't get out (without scratching their paintwork).

I have no idea why you moved - I wouldn't have. Child was already out of car.

mollymawk · 14/01/2019 21:45

I’m thinking microorganisms rather than guinea pigs for some reason.

BEAUTIFUL colouring-in.

lljkk · 14/01/2019 21:46

Amoeba or headlice, I reckon. Wink
You were nice to move your car, OP.

stubbornstains · 14/01/2019 21:46

I think MN need to employ you as Official Parking Diagrammista, OP Grin.

My Bad Neighbour is like this. There's a parking bay outside her house (parallel with the street) and she approaches it by driving along the pavement and plopping into it.

One day Lovely Neighbour's husband ruined her plans by parking next to that bit of pavement (directly outside his house, as he was moving something heavy). She went absolutely psycho batshit at him for blocking her approach.

I've since twigged that she must be incapable of parallel parking.

Bowerbird5 · 14/01/2019 21:47

You were VU to leave your child on the pavement to move for her. I have seen children as old as Yr 4 run across a road. Although there was no reason to run across the road I wouldn’t have trusted the woman to have driven in if she had to request you to move. She might have been under the influence. She might have mounted the pavement.

RosemarysBabyDress · 14/01/2019 21:47

I love your diagram, you deserve a special MN mention for that!

I think you are nuts to have moved, but a friendly nut, so you did nothing wrong!

Bowerbird5 · 14/01/2019 21:50

Great diagram. Labelled, different colours, clear handwriting and love the guinea pigs. Like old VW beetles!

AlexaAmbidextra · 14/01/2019 21:52

I feel sorry for your child

Why?

BendydickCuminsnatch · 14/01/2019 21:54

I am gobsmacked that you moved or car especially after having got your child out of the car!!!!

rosenylund · 14/01/2019 21:55

I'm a bad parker, drive in only, no fancy moves!

I would never in a million years ask someone to move, I just drive round and round till I find one I can move into easily.

I got trapped trying to parallel park in to a space the other week and was surrounded by about ten helpful members of the public trying to direct me in, I was laughing and crying at the same time Blush - and no I didn't get it in!

PossiblyPFB · 14/01/2019 21:56

Glad everyone is loving the diagram! Smile.

I have been thinking about it and when it came to it, I chose to move the car rather than risk getting into a potentially unpleasant altercation in front of dd. It was such strange behaviour that it seemed the most reasonable thing to just do it. Had I been by myself my response would have been different.

We were only 5 mins popping into the shop for 2 items, and she was already gone by the time we got back. She must have spent almost as much time waiting for me to move than she was in the shop I saw her go into!

OP posts:
Lifeofsmiley · 14/01/2019 21:57

The only strange thing about this is that you got back in your car and did what she told you to.

DeaflySilence · 14/01/2019 21:58

I am clearly being VVU, so I apologise in advance for what I'm about to say, but I have been completely irritated by you moving for that woman, given that she had a parking space behind her that she was partly on.

Strangely, she hasn't irritated me at all. Only you, OP. Confused

Am I odd? Should I be worried?

StealthPolarBear · 14/01/2019 21:58

Alexa I'm just joining in the fun. The op is clearly a Bad Mother. But a Good Parker.

nickeltownofbethlehem · 14/01/2019 22:03

Is CF Cunty Fucker or Cheeky Fucker?

She was indeed both versions.
Stupid bint. Why is her parking needs more important than yours?! Shock

I love your diagram.