So, we're out for dinner last night, the missus and me, and we manage to stay out until about half past nine. As parents of a toddler we have lost the ability to eat slowly and savour, instead wolfing food down in case a small person tries to raid the plate.
So, we return home only to find a Hackney Council van parked in my Disabled space outside the house. I toot my horn, but to no avail, and I end up parking down the road. By the time we get to the offending vehicle, there is someone sitting in it, doing paperwork. Upon seeing me, he winds the window down, and says, "I'm really sorry, mate. Really sorry."
"Well, it's a bit late really. I mean it's no help to me. It's a bit inconsiderate."
"Yeah, really sorry."
We turn and start towards the house, whereupon he continues,
"My mother recently passed away, and she was disabled."
What am I supposed to do with that? Is this empathy? Should I feel guilty? Surely he would be even more aware of the issues surrounding disabled parking places?
It's not the first time that I have had people defend their parking by referencing some disabled relative or other, as if this somehow rubs off, and gives them justification to park in a disabled bay.
I'm not trying to establish some kind of 'inner circle' of disability, and I don't care how close I am to the shops, it's just that without a wide bay, I can't get the effing chair our of the car. simple. It's not about Auntie Ethel's gout or Great Uncle Richard's dickie spleen, it's a simple question of access.
So, we return home only to find a Hackney Council van parked in my Disabled space outside the house. I toot my horn, but to no avail, and I end up parking down the road. By the time we get to the offending vehicle, there is someone sitting in it, doing paperwork. Upon seeing me, he winds the window down, and says, "I'm really sorry, mate. Really sorry."
"Well, it's a bit late really. I mean it's no help to me. It's a bit inconsiderate."
"Yeah, really sorry."
We turn and start towards the house, whereupon he continues,
"My mother recently passed away, and she was disabled."
What am I supposed to do with that? Is this empathy? Should I feel guilty? Surely he would be even more aware of the issues surrounding disabled parking places?
It's not the first time that I have had people defend their parking by referencing some disabled relative or other, as if this somehow rubs off, and gives them justification to park in a disabled bay.
I'm not trying to establish some kind of 'inner circle' of disability, and I don't care how close I am to the shops, it's just that without a wide bay, I can't get the effing chair our of the car. simple. It's not about Auntie Ethel's gout or Great Uncle Richard's dickie spleen, it's a simple question of access.
I think you are absolutely spot on. IT drives me crazy when disabled spaces are taken by fraudulent folks. I wish I could get a great big sign saying you stole my space, would you like to steal my disability? A sign that would stick to their car and never come off!
Thanks for writing so well on this topic. And I LOVE the image you posted :)
Hi Tim: apparently about a thousand years ago your parents were neighbours of my beloved's parents in Islington, and so we found ourselves looking at your blog. It is great, and I could say something about an insight into etc etc but that would be crass: it is mordant and informative, which is all I ask for.