h2g2 The Hitchhiker's Guide to the Galaxy: Earth Edition

I hope you had a nice day!



(Sorry it's a bit late)

all the best for a super year, I hope it's very special!

Thank you very much. I must admit, I got a bit when I thought all my h2g2 friends had forgotten about me. I didn't really mark the day in any particular way but I was given the first Dr Who DVD by Sunshine and Moonlight.

I came over to say I'm sorry I missed your birthday and how gulty I felt, and now I feel worse! I'm so sorry. Can you forgive me?

All forgiven! You've had quite enough on your plate recently, one thing after another, so don't feel guilty.

I got let off the parking ticket by the way! After "carefully considering the circumstances" they decided to waive the charge.

Thank you! I nearly missed my step-nephew's birthday at the weekend, but was saved in the nick of time by first class postage!

Glad you got let off, I won't be trying that in my new car, although apparently it's shorter than a rover metro, and defintely skinnier than my fiesta!

I wasn't trying anything. I parked in the same space I've done for several years, a space where loads of other people have parked too in that time. Someone decided to raise some extra revenue.

There was a story in my local paper. The wardens have been given a target of 30,000 tickets, which will raise £1million for the "cash strapped" council. However, due to the "problem" of successful appeals (and non payments) only 60% of the money is raised. Someone from the coucil is quoted as being disappointed by this. It doesn't take too much brain to work out how they've decided to try and raise a bit more. So do you think they want me to feel guilty about appealing after suddenly being ticketed for parking in a space that has been used for years, isn't marked by hatching or signs to say it's not a space?

Actually what was odd was that on the outside of the ticket the warden had written that it wasn't a space, but the ticket itself was issued for going over the bay markings. I argued that they could hardly fine me for going over bay markings if they say it's not a bay. There is another offence of not parking in a designated space but I wasn't charged with it.

Sorry to rant! I was let off, after all.

I saw one of your new car at my garage and looked at the picture in the other thread. It seems ideal for you. Have to funky it up a bit though. Grey is very... well, grey.

I meant that I won't try to squueze it into small spaces - it looks bigger than it is because its tall. Although with sliding doors I could park it in very small spaces and squeeze out much easier.

Have they done anything with the space that you parked in? I don't like the idea of 'targets' for parking tickets! Actually I think the target of 'none' would be the best target, because it would mean that everyone was parking properly.

I think it's supposed to be silver - from the reviews I've read the silver colour always flakes off (like mine is doing). I think that the repairs to it for the MOT are going to take up all the cash I got from my last car, so there might not be any left over for a fab paint job.

I might ask my brother if he'll spray paint it for me. He did my old XR2 matt black from cans for me. I loved that car... I think for this one - baby pink? With J's name down the passenger side, and mine down the driver's side in hot pink. Whaddya think?

Same thing happened to a friend of mine! We took photos and measurements and wrote a letter of huge complexity. Inevitably they caved in because of our teamwork. I haven't checked to see what they've done with their 'bait' parking place.
PS Sorry about your birthday.

Oops...sorry you couldn't make the meet, it would have been nice to meet you.

Baby pink...mmmmmmm not sure it would suit you honey. My KA is sparkling silver.