A small moment of joy and togetherness: giving or receiving a parking ticket
Wednesday, February 29, 2012 at 12:00PM 
Parking your car in a car park or metered space is, generally, a miserable experience. The act itself is often difficult, the charges extortionate, the chances of getting nicked for going over the time limit never far from your mind. I was feeling all this one day last week as I struggled with a new and incomprehensible Pay-And-Display machine in out-of-season Scarborough, but then, suddenly, a man driving towards the exit stopped and handed me his all-day ticket. It was only worth £3 in monetary value, but of course the warm and grateful feeling was more suited to something worth hundreds.
Funny isn’t it? I think it’s because although we British can be stand-offish, we absolutely LOVE moments of pulling together, especially if it’s against unpleasant authorities, which anyone who runs a car park is. It’s not limited to being middle class, but it may exemplify what one MCH contributor calls the Titanic Dance (meaning the Kate-Leo jigging below decks) factor – i.e. the principle that we always feel good when spontaneity and fun override stiffness and thoughts of social standing.
Reader Comments (1)
It's also rather gratifying when drivers flash you to let you know there's a speed trap ahead isn't it? Contrary to Road Rage stories, driving seems to be a more civilised way to travel!