They
say luck comes in threes don’t they? Usually we are referring
to bad luck because we dwell on it rather whilst with good luck
we are too busy savouring it to properly analyse and quantify
its regularity. Another thing to consider is whether there is
an accepted timescale in which this trio of events occurs, have
you an acquaintance who is forever complaining about his, or her,
lot. After having had two bits of bad luck in a matter of months
do they go on and on saying “Well, there’ll be another
one pretty soon,” and you have been too polite to point
out that a year has gone by since the second?
Well I’m not a grumbler as you well know but my story starts
on the 23rd July and we had gone to Cardiff to attend The Last
Night of the Welsh Proms, a great night out and as you can imagine
with so many Welsh voices in the audience the roof of St David’s
Hall must have been in danger of lifting off on several occasions.
We were staying overnight in the Hilton which, rather inconveniently
does not have its own car park so we had pre-booked a space near
the Marriott hotel. We had a post code so finding it was relatively
easy by means of that amazing and wonderful development, the SatNav
system. We were approaching the City Centre from the Docks area
and when I got to the railway bridge the SatNav told me to turn
left, I’m sure I saw an arrow on my lane pointing me to
the left lane so I took it and after a bit of head scratching
we found the car park. We met our friends Dave and Joan and had
a meal before wandering along to St David’s Hall for our
entertainment. It was splendid and after breakfast on the following
day we made our way back home to Swansea by way of the Royal Mint
in Llantrisant where we had a very informative and interesting
tour around the works.
There was nothing much to complain about until the Wednesday when
the post arrived and I had an envelope containing a request for
£70, reducing to £35 providing I pay within 21 days
of my offence. What was my offence? When I had taken the left
turn under the bridge I happened to be in the bus lane and a very
nice photograph of my car testifies this fact. I had the opportunity
to challenge this but the fact that I did it cannot be doubted,
however I am convinced that there is insufficient signage existing
to prevent someone not completely familiar with the area to make
the same mistake. As it would cost me at least £35 and a
waste of my time to revisit Cardiff to confirm (or not) my suspicions
I remitted them the money with a covering letter which stated
‘I would not do these things knowingly and am not completely
satisfied in my mind that your road markings are sufficiently
clear and will assess the situation on my next visit to Cardiff.’
That must have made them feel uneasy!
So that was one bit of bad luck but it did not make me fear for
another because we don’t, do we, we only forecast a third
after a second, we never forecast a second and a third after a
first. Unless of course you are a fully accredited, sworn pessimist.
So the second bit of bad luck arrived last Friday the 12th August
and I am now living in uncontrollable fear. You see my friend
Dave does a bit of volunteering with the RNLI, passing on his
depth of knowledge to holidaymakers, wandering vagabonds and minstrels,
waifs and strays in fact anyone who is prepared to listen. He
is a volunteer guide and he had said to me that were I to turn
up at about 4.00pm and the afternoon rush had abated he might
be able to actually take me on board. I became very excited about
the prospect until he pointed out to me that we were not going
to launch it and have a bit of a run-about in the bay, what he
meant was that I could actually go inside. There was temporary
disappointment I must admit but what I had been offered was still
a rather exciting prospect. So at about 3.50pm I parked the car
in the car park above the pier, walked down the steps and along
to the end of the pier where the lifeboat station quietly spends
its time. It was absolutely amazing, the technology, its carrying
capacity, its twin engines – everything needed to save lives
and keep them saved was here. State of the art and self righting
it may be but in spite of all that crew members still risk their
lives each time they go out.
Anyway I bought a book about lifeboats from Joan, Dave’s
wife at the shop and walked back to my car. As I was on the last
few of the many steps a little thought crossed my mind, I had
not bought a parking ticket! But what are the chances of being
caught in such a short time I optimistically thought, so it was
with a little joyful skip that I approached the car, can’t
see anything at the moment, no I think I’ve got away with
it! And then I saw the plastic envelope discreetly stuck to the
bottom of the windscreen. £85, reducing to £50 for
prompt payment.
Suddenly I’m a pauper, brought down by these debts for which
I have made no provision! And according to folk-lore there will
be yet another any time soon!
Woe is me!
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