The Car Park Ballet

A few years ago, I was sitting in the car waiting for Hubby to return from taking his mother to the bank. I witnessed the most beautiful car parking ballet which coincided with The Blue Danube playing on the radio. That day, everything was in perfect time, nothing was heated, and it was actually quite relaxing to watch.

Fast forward to today, and the supermarket car park was absolutely packed. Drivers were carving each other up as they battled over any vacated spot near the door, horns blaring and looks killing. It was therefore inevitable that somebody would hit somebody else.
And they did.

To be honest, I didn’t see or hear anything when it happened.
I was too busy people watching and trying to identify a ‘normal’ shopping trolley as most that passed me were full of beer, pizza, bread rolls, hot dogs, burgers, chops, chicken breasts, crisps and soft drinks.
Having been in earlier for my french stick, 2 slices of ham, 3 packs of microwave rice, a tin of chilli con carne and a tin of curry (no cooker, only the microwave, kettle and toaster to cook with now that everything else is in store) I’d noticed that the supermarket staff were sporting red and white wigs or other similarly coloured hair decorations (and that was just the men) and many women either had flags for earrings or were ‘under training devils’ having not quite got their full red horns.

Of course with the hot weather, people are getting together for BBQs and to watch England play Italy in the World Cup tonight. Not that I follow the footie, we haven’t got a telly anyway, but the red and white flags are everywhere, and maybe that was what blinded the white van as it reversed out of a parking space smack into the side of a little blue (not red) peugeot belonging to one of the staff who had just finished their shift.

As with all accidents, witnesses are useful, so several names and addresses were supplied and exchanged as the drivers inspected the damage. All I could see was a lot of shaking of heads as the peugeot owner tried to open the passenger door. Out came the mobile phone/camera and photos were taken. Twenty minutes later the peugeot drove away, and the white van driver tried again to reverse out of the parking space, this time assisted by his mate who held up the traffic in both directions for him to do so.

As they drove away, I did notice 2 red and white flags lying on the ground where the incident had happened.  Now whether they had been on the van or the car I have no idea, but you can bet they won’t be in any of the photos!