Recently had cause to visit Papworth Hospital. Situated in the overflow car-park of Papworth Everard (The locals might think it’s a village, but it isn’t really. Not judging by all the cars parked in the street.) It’s a nice hospital, as far as the staff go. Friendly, helpful, hard working. An OK hospital. Not all hospitals qualify. They are going to build a new one, some day. There is a countdown clock on a building (or it could be a James Bond style bomb). When the new one is built, I hope that someone remembers that the motor car exists, and puts in a few more parking spaces. At £2.50 minimum, for parking, it has to be a big earner.
Now for the but …
Dear Mister Lorry Driver. Literacy is a useful addition to a driver’s working life. Then you would be able to read ‘NO ENTRY’ written on the exit of the car park. Being colour blind and missing the red ‘NO ENTRY’ signs must be a handicap, surely? As for the arrows that adorn the narrow road, well, we can put that down to ignorance. But we will award you the ‘Determined Driver of the Year’ for your insistent driving against the flow of cars trying to get out of the exit. The next time you shred your load (identity clue!), please shred your driving licence (if, indeed, you possess one!)
Now for the saddest idiot. The arrogant old fool that double parked his Volvo, blocking at least three cars in the process. When informed that he could not park where he was, he came out with the typical answer of the privileged – “I need to park here. I am dropping of my disabled wife!”
True. His wife did look a little fragile, and I did feel a little sympathy for her. Especially being married to a pompous old git. I would have been slightly more impressed by his selfish rantings if it had not been for two simple facts. He did not have a blue badge on display, and one of the cars that he was blocking – correctly parked in a bay, and with a fresh £2.50 parking ticket – did have a blue badge.
Still, you can’t blame the hospital for the patients that they are obliged to help. Even if they have a rancid old twit for a husband.
Thing is, now I have to explain to people that the massive bruises – visible on my wife’s arms – are not the fault of a violent husband. Just the result of visiting those friendly medical types in Papworth Everard.