Divine intervention in Bath
It is simply impossible to park in Bath on a Saturday. My rehearsal for the Mozart Requiem was at 2pm in Bath Abbey, and I was running late as usual. Why does the last little bit, once you are off the M4, take double the time of the rest of the journey? I do realise a much reduced speed limit might play a part. So, even though I managed for once in my life to navigate successfully the one-way system of a city I don’t live in, I then couldn’t find a car park vaguely near the Abbey with spaces in it. Eventually I found a space on the dot of 2pm.
“Phew, only going to be 10 minutes late,” I thought.
But as I opened my purse for some coins to put in the parking machine, I remembered I only had a £20 note. How come Bath can be so busy but when you need some change there is not a soul to be seen? Turns out I’d have needed over 12 pound coins anyway. HOW MUCH? I don’t think I’ve possessed that many pound coins together in my purse since a busking trip in York aged 17, and I’m not telling how long ago that was…
A sign stated that the fine for not having a ticket was £35. So, I decided that if I didn’t have the £12:50 to park anyway, I would effectively only be paying a fine of £22:50 which would be worth not having to get in the car again, find a shop to change my note, then find another free space and end up more like 45mins late, stressed and out of breath.
Once I got to the rehearsal in the Abbey, (it was just 2:15) the conductor told me I wouldn’t be needed until 3.15.
So, it would seem there is a God, and he was in Bath on Saturday.
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david
8:58 pm, June 29, 2011
No wonder novbody wants to park in city centers!…hope the concert went well
D
Lee
8:51 am, June 30, 2011
Ah, well you see, I can’t really comment on parking fees as I never pay them EVER!!!
I have in my possession, a gold bar! It is the key to all parking meters, double yellow lines and most pay display car parks.
As long as I do not park in “Resident only” slots, where there are unbroken white lines in the middle of the road, unloading slots or on the pavement, or on a clearway, I am am legal.
My gold bar is not for sale as it is literally worth it’s weight in gold.
It’s common name is Blue Badge.
I do sympathise with anyone trying to park in city centers though. Just to add insult to in jury. I don’t pay the congestion charge in London or bridge tolls (as long as I have applied for the free tickets).
David Cowlishaw
8:57 am, June 30, 2011
Hi Juliette,
all that stress just before the anticipated rehearsal time is not good for the constitution.
God apart, I would have expected the Abbey authorities to have some parking arrangements for those having official duties at Bath Abbey; maybe they expected you to park on a rung of Jacob’s ladder!
Ps. Gill and I are still recovering from the wonderful Belton House event!!!
David x
Alf
6:00 pm, June 30, 2011
Our roads were made for horses and carts, one piece of advice – don’t buy an house near an hospital if it doesn’t have a drive or garage, you won’t be able to park anywhere near the property.