Get your own Free Home Page Darcy from Pennsylvania told me in Christmas 1999 that she was to come to London in March 2000 for a school trip as part of her English literature course. I said something about meeting up. I was half hoping that she'd come to see me, cause I was worried about parking in the city centre (or near to it, as I presumed it to be).
Time passed by, March 2000 arrived, and Darcy came with it. We arranged a date to meet up, and I decided to be brave and drive there after all. I had to conquer my fear of driving in the city sometime, didn't I? :o/
The 'big day' arrived. I was so nervous, I was having trouble finding enough things to do to help pass the time before leaving! (I wasn't to meet Darcy until 5pm. As I presumed I'd only need to allow 2 hours to get there and find the hotel she was staying in, I had a LOT of time to kill!)
I left earlier than I'd originally intended to, as I gave up on finding things to do for the last hour before my 'designated' leaving time. The journey was good, the weather was fine, and I was making good time... I thought.
I spent 1/2 hour driving up and down one road in London wondering how the HECK I could make it onto the one I could see but hadn't realised how to reach, but otherwise the journey was easy enough... even if it took me 3 hours to get there! :o/
I eventually found the hotel after asking somewhere where it was and realising I was right outside it! I parked in the space outside the hotel and walked inside. I was so nervous, that I started to ask at the desk after Darcy, despite a tiresome sounding 'Julie' being heard resounding. On turning and looking, I saw Darcy sitting there! :)
She hadn't been feeling too good, and so had stayed behind when the others went out for the day. We sat and chatted in the lobby, and during that time saw some of them return. We found they were planning to go to an Indian restaurant which had an offer, and so decided to join them, as Darcy was feeling better by then. Afterwards there was to be a lecture on a book they were studying, and I was invited to join them. I decided it would be an experience, and that I'd take up the kind offer. It wasn't to be though...
On returning from the Indian restaurant (via the patisserie nearby!), I saw my car was gone. I've never been so scared in all my life! Initially I thought it had been stolen, but the lady on the reception desk at the hotel didn't think so and asked about where I parked. I said I wasn't on a yellow line (which you can only park on at certain times in England for you foreigners information!), and so couldn't see why it would be towed away! The lady on reception phoned round for me anyway and was really helpful, even if the people on the other end of the line weren't! We eventually got the phone number for Paddington pound, and they said they did indeed have my car. Apparently I was parked in a residents only zone without a permit. Oops! I was just relieved it hadn't been stolen!!! :)
I managed to get my car back OK, after eventually finding my way into the pound (which is no-where near as easy as it sounds), and paying a hefty fine. (I expected expence from London, but not as much as I had to pay to get my car back!!!) :o/
I parked in a car-park I managed to find, writing directions down as I made my way back to the hotel, in order to locate the car again. When I found the others, they were all concerned about what had happened to me. They were all really nice people in Darcy's group, and Cindy, the lecturer, is included in that! Shame I missed all but the last 5 minutes of the lecture, but these things happen! :o/
I stayed and chatted to Darcy and her room-mate for an hour or so before leaving the hotel. By the time I left, I was starting to get tired, and hoped I'd have a safe journey back...
My directions to the car failed me :( There was a barrier up at the entrance I left at, and on phoning the number left on it for help, they said to go in the entrance I drove in. Another half hour passed before I managed to find that entrance!!!
I think I relaxed a bit too much on the way back. I started going down one road the opposite direction that I'd intended to, but luckily I had my London A-Z, and found a way round that onto the next road I needed :) After that, the journey was fine.
I think I learned many things from driving in London. The first is it isn't as scary as I thought it would be (but then I DID manage to avoid the M25!), and the second is that things aren't always as they seem! I'm looking forward to driving in London again, but next time, I think I'll stick to parking in car-parks!!! :))
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