KO_300D
29th of November 2004 (Mon), 18:47
I'm on a rant so either grab a flask of coffee and a packet of biscuits or go for a less long-winded post :wink:
The scenario:
We no longer have two cars - we part-exed both for a newer estate car to accommodate our expanding family. We live in one city but work in a city 70 miles away. We won't go into reasons but that's our setup and it's worked out ok for us for a long time. Our location is a rural country place off a long country road. Not pedestrianised and totally unsuitable for a pushchair. Too dangerous.
Now then...
Baby has hospital appointment at 10am. Hubby has to be in work at 12pm. Therefore has to leave at 10.30am to get there on time.
No problem. I've packed up all necessities for baby for the day and we're going to accompany Daddy and visit family for the day. I can see my sister who's currently not very well in hospital. Also means he doesn't have to drop us back home and possibly end up late for work.
All going fine so far. We arrive in time for appointment. Only a blood test - should be quick. 10.30 arrives.... and passes.... hubby getting stressed about work. Me getting stressed about making hubby late for work. Hubby goes to move car as our parking has expired.
11.00 arrives and we're avoiding speaking to each other. If hubby goes on to work and I tay here for the day after all, then I've got no means of getting home. If we get a taxi then legally the baby has to have a baby seat which we don't have with us..... so we can't get home.
Hubby rings work to explain he will be a fair bit late....
12.00 arrives... baby's dinner time. Hungry one year old not easy to deal with.
12.30 we're finally seen and we get out.
We head for the car which we've parked in a local fast food restaurant car park.
Nice bright yellow wheel clamp we've acquired!
Hubby goes to local DIY and returns with full clamp removal kit of cutters, hammers.... uh-oh.
baby hungry. Me stressed. Hubby now very late for work.
I manage to persuade him not to remove the clamp himself and I call the company.
I dial the number....
'hello' answers a bright and cheery voice.
'my vehicle has been clamped - get someone here to remove it now before we do it ourselves.' I greet him in a not too bright and cheery voice.
'er.... are you aware of what the release fee is?'
me:'I am 8 months pregnant, I can barely walk, I have a starving one year old in the back seat, a hospital delay kept us waiting for 2 and a half hours and my husband is late for work. I could not give a damn what your release fee is - get someone here now to remove it or we will do it ourselves' Take in some much needed oxygen.
'er.... we'll have someone there in 10 minutes'
So after some debate with the clamp people and a £60 charge the clamp is removed. However the whole morning's scenario has taken so long that now there's little point in going to work.
Excellent. We're stressed, £60 lighter and a whole day's wages worse off.
Needless to say, I haven't dared pick up my camera today.
The scenario:
We no longer have two cars - we part-exed both for a newer estate car to accommodate our expanding family. We live in one city but work in a city 70 miles away. We won't go into reasons but that's our setup and it's worked out ok for us for a long time. Our location is a rural country place off a long country road. Not pedestrianised and totally unsuitable for a pushchair. Too dangerous.
Now then...
Baby has hospital appointment at 10am. Hubby has to be in work at 12pm. Therefore has to leave at 10.30am to get there on time.
No problem. I've packed up all necessities for baby for the day and we're going to accompany Daddy and visit family for the day. I can see my sister who's currently not very well in hospital. Also means he doesn't have to drop us back home and possibly end up late for work.
All going fine so far. We arrive in time for appointment. Only a blood test - should be quick. 10.30 arrives.... and passes.... hubby getting stressed about work. Me getting stressed about making hubby late for work. Hubby goes to move car as our parking has expired.
11.00 arrives and we're avoiding speaking to each other. If hubby goes on to work and I tay here for the day after all, then I've got no means of getting home. If we get a taxi then legally the baby has to have a baby seat which we don't have with us..... so we can't get home.
Hubby rings work to explain he will be a fair bit late....
12.00 arrives... baby's dinner time. Hungry one year old not easy to deal with.
12.30 we're finally seen and we get out.
We head for the car which we've parked in a local fast food restaurant car park.
Nice bright yellow wheel clamp we've acquired!
Hubby goes to local DIY and returns with full clamp removal kit of cutters, hammers.... uh-oh.
baby hungry. Me stressed. Hubby now very late for work.
I manage to persuade him not to remove the clamp himself and I call the company.
I dial the number....
'hello' answers a bright and cheery voice.
'my vehicle has been clamped - get someone here to remove it now before we do it ourselves.' I greet him in a not too bright and cheery voice.
'er.... are you aware of what the release fee is?'
me:'I am 8 months pregnant, I can barely walk, I have a starving one year old in the back seat, a hospital delay kept us waiting for 2 and a half hours and my husband is late for work. I could not give a damn what your release fee is - get someone here now to remove it or we will do it ourselves' Take in some much needed oxygen.
'er.... we'll have someone there in 10 minutes'
So after some debate with the clamp people and a £60 charge the clamp is removed. However the whole morning's scenario has taken so long that now there's little point in going to work.
Excellent. We're stressed, £60 lighter and a whole day's wages worse off.
Needless to say, I haven't dared pick up my camera today.