So the 31st of August has finally come around and as we look forward to the moment when the tumbleweed gently bounces down the sand and dust sprinkled roads (maybe not literally but I think you can picture the image), thanking our lucky stars that we are all still alive and have survived another busy and stressful, but successful season, it is time to reflect on some of the funnier “did they leave their brain on the plane” and raised eyebrow moments this year has brought. Here are a few of the stories that have been shared with us.
Merry go Roundabouts…
The clue may be in the name but roundabouts in foreign countries are certainly on the list when it comes to baffling a lost visitor who (forgetting they are not the only person on the road) has been seen to…
- Slowly crawl around on the inside lane, then accelerate suddenly and swerve out towards the exit only to swerve back in again when realising they were turning off too early (no “Keep Your Distance” bumper stickers required here!)
- Stop, then reverse backwards around the roundabout after finding that they have missed their exit (instead of driving round again!)
- Do a 3 point turn on the roundabout and then drive in the opposite direction to the correct flow of traffic, (instead of driving round again!) because they had also missed their exit
Supermarket Sweep….
It is not unusual to see, well let’s just call it ‘poor grocery shopping etiquette’ when visiting the supermarket over the summer holiday season. It feels safe to say I’m sure they ‘do not try this when at home’!
- Someone sporting a ‘much too tight fitting’ pair of swimming shorts and not much else casually strolling up the aisle with their loaded shopping trolley, as clearly nothing else had been considered suitable for doing the grocery shopping! One thought that springs to mind, “please keep away from the fresh produce section!”
- A fellow grocery shopper pushing in at the front of the queue at the fish counter saying “Excuse me…. I just want to ask a quick question” and then proceeding to order enough fish and shellfish for a party of 20, insisting on prodding and touching everything before the purchase is even made….”OK, so no fish for me today then!”
- The baffled look on the cashiers face after dealing with a customer insisting on someone providing a bag packing and carrying to car service for their 4 items at the local “open all hours” supermarket. This left nothing more to be said than to reassure the cashier, “Don´t worry, I can pack and carry my own shopping!” when the customer in front left the store!
More Vehicle Related Confusions, witnessed and experienced…
It’s probably worth mentioning that some of these antics are not necessarily limited to visitors… maybe the hot sun is actually responsible for this ‘foggy brain syndrome’.
- Seeing a car “just nipping in” at a no entry/exit only access to a car park, blatantly driving at speed up the wrong way in a one way only car park, to grab the one empty car park space that has just been vacated, before the person who has been patiently waiting with indicators on for the past 5 minutes, even realises what has happened
- Getting stuck not being able to drive up a road because someone has just finished parking on the corner blocking the 2 way traffic. To make matters worse, they then proceed to get out of the car, wave back at you with a big smile after you’ve raised your hands in frustration at them
- Mopeds being driven around with the drivers balancing their crash helmets on the top of their heads…
- Open top 4 wheel drive cars coming screaming round the corner with multiple children hanging on squealing in delight!
- Parking on roundabouts
- Parking up on verges and actually in the hedges
- Parking in private car park spaces and disappearing to the beach all day
- Parking in the middle of a car park when there are plenty of free spaces.. Well come on, why walk when you can just abandon your vehicle with the rationalisation… “I´m only going to be a few minutes!”
- Just really, really bad parking in general!
We may all laugh and complain at the joys that come with the silly season, but it is worth remembering that your holiday is just around the corner and it will be your time to ‘leave your brain on the plane’, chillout, relax and put normality in a box, not to be opened again until your holiday is over… and of course, you will get to be the source of someone else’s face palming, eyebrow raising and jaw dropping Holiday Property Manager (or hospitality and tourism professional’s) anecdotes!
Well, you can always blame it on the sun. Enjoy!
