Jackie drove me to and from New Milton today for me to lunch with Norman at Tas in The Cut.
The Cut, forming part of the B300 has perforce become a main thoroughfare linking Waterloo and Blackfriars Roads, roughly parallel with Waterloo East Station. Far too narrow for its current usage, this road is severely congested at the best of times. As I walked along it in the direction of the restaurant, I became aware that all traffic was at a complete standstill. A car horn cacophony rose to a crescendo. Perhaps the loudest, more like a fog-horn, emanated from the longest articulated lorry I have ever seen.
At the corner of the unfortunately named Short Street was not a good place for this vehicle to have become stuck. There was no way round the corner until a small white van parked in front of the cab was moved. The fog horn only succeeded in drawing the proprietor of the tapas bar to his doorway. No transport could move in either direction along The Cut. Passers by passed on by. Drivers of both streams of private cars, taxis, and delivery vans turned off their engines and sat and waited.
I told the lorry driver that I would ask the restaurateur, who carried a mobile phone, to phone the police to have the van removed. This man must have had contacts with local police, but was not prepared to do it. He said the driver should do it. Acting as a go-between by now, I conveyed this to the driver. English was not his first language, but he asked me if I could move the traffic, so he could reverse and go by a different route which I was able to give him.
Suddenly feeling like Oliver Hardy, I realised I’d got myself into a fine mess. Nevertheless, I said I could move the traffic.
The solution was clear. The small car immediately behind the lorry had to get round it. The van behind the small car had to stay where it was, leaving the lorry room to reverse.
On the opposite side of the road the taxi at the head of the queue needed to make room for the moving car. This meant reversing into the vacant lane on the left of the picture above. The taxi driver wasn’t prepared to do it. The stalemate continued for what seemed an age, until the taxi mounted the populated pavement and continued on his way. I managed to get the van behind that to stay put so the small car could get round. As I turned to tell the first car he could move off, another private car passed the van and filled the space. I got him out of the way by suggesting he, too, mounted the pavement.
Well, someone had to take charge.
This gave the lorry driver the room he needed. I have to take my hat off to the man for manoeuvring that vehicle in any conditions at all, let alone this one.
Norman and I enjoyed lunch at Tas, an Anatolian restaurant. My choices were calamari and mushroom starters, chicken casserole, and baklava, accompanied by the house red wine, and finally Turkish coffee, without the sugar.
Having a little extra time, I wandered around these little Victorian streets and came across one that reminded me of Mary Tang of Life Is But This, a blog I can warmly recommend.
In a very small plot in Sydney, Mary grows a veritable potted arboretum.
I wondered what she would think of Isabella Street. This is full of restaurants, runs alongside railway arches, and is lined on both sides with huge tubs of trees.
Well done, Derrick! And I can see why you ordered calamari – O Man of Many Arms!
Thanks, Bruce. Probably an accurate image 🙂
I would have loved to see you looking like Oliver Hardy !! O_o But you did a great job of getting everyone organized enough to allow the lorry driver to maneuver!
Thanks, GP
I am reminded of an uncle whose car broke down and the driver behind him kept blaring his horn for my uncle to move. Uncle got out of his car, walked to the fellow behind and said “I’ll continue blowing your horn for you, if you’ll get my car started for me.”
I admire people who venture to take charge in situations like this. You certainly earned that lovely lunch!
Thank you, Cynthia. Great riposte from your uncle. This reminds me of my paternal grandfather who was walking by an open-topped bus. a man gobbed (spat) over the side and his phlegm landed on Grandpa’s sleeve. He jumped on the bus and made the man clean it off.
It seems you come from a long line of wit and derring-do!
Round of standing applause for such derring-do and organisational ability Derrick. I particularly like Bruce’s image of a man of many arms also.
Thank you, Pauline. There, in one of the busiest parts of London, they were all prepared to sit it out. I ask you.
Good for you! I was once stuck behind a stalled car at a light. Everyone went around him. I got out and helped him push it out of the way! Seriously… A woman had to push whilst all the men snarled and drove ’round….
Thanks, Dale. So typical, I’m afraid
That was your good deed for the day! Thank’s for Mary Tang’s link too
Thanks. Mary is lovely
Certainly is
The motto is Carry a hiviz jacket at all times to give you the authority needed, though you seem to have that commanding presence instinctively. Do you remember the author Michael Green and his ‘The Art of Coarse…’ Various sports? In the one on rugby he had ‘that man at the Bar’ being the chap who is always served ahead of you however much you wave at the barman. You are clearly that man!
Thank you, Geoff. Funnily enough, a rugby bar is the only one I do get served at quickly. I find eye contact with the staff is necessary, and at 6′ 3″ (as was), even today that is not always easy.
That helps! I’m a stumpy at 5 foot 10 so well below the eyeline
Neil Back is 5′ 10″
Yes but in which direction….
This world is full of sheep. Thanks for being a herder. Well done and bravo. I image without you, they’d all still be sitting there waiting it out.
Thank you Oscar. A nice analogy
All I can add is, “Oh, my!” 🙂
Thank you, Joanne
You’ve missed your calling! Isabella street looks lovely with all of its potted specimens 🙂
Thanks, Matt. That street is certainly a surprise, given where it is.
Your wonderful lunch was well deserved. Taking charge of traffic seems in character. Glad you could make a difference.
Thank you, Lisa. Even were I still driving, I’d never take a car up there
Well, add traffic director to your list of talents–good job!
Thanks, Cynthia
A right person to take charge, not just someone! Well done. 🙂
Thank you, Amy
Thanks, Derrick. You’ve directed a bit of traffic my way, just as I was having a melt down and a rant on my blog; hahaha. What great timing you have. I love watching traffic jams myself, since I don’t drive and walk everywhere; well, almost everywhere 🙂
Thanks, Mary. I’m glad you got some traffic. So you should.
I think you were very brave to take charge Derrick. I’m imagining you probably incurred a load of abuse from van man and the cabbie, but as you point out, someone has a to take charge. I witnessed a similar incident in our high street recently when the most awful man in a 4×4 absolutely refused to budge an inch to help out an elderly gent driving a Micra got himself wedged between a stationary vehicle and a bollard. 4×4 man caused a tail back snaking right through the town, busses were delayed. All he needed to do was to reverse a smidgen. Oaf!
Thanks, Jenny. Driving in London is hopeless. Unfortunately, you story doesn’t surprise me.
Brilliant bit of work lad.
Thanks, John
Love your description. And Short Street is so funny. Easy Street and Fake Street would be amusing too.
Thanks, Alex. I’m sure you know The Cut
So good of you to step up! Not the most comfortable situation to put yourself in, for sure. I’m sure your actions had a positive impact on those people caught in the jam… you probably saved them heaps of time and aggravation. What goes around comes around, as they say.
I love Mary Tang’s blog too.. Beautifully done with wit, humor, intelligence and a style all of her own.
Thank you Cynthia. Mary is great
Well done indeed. The situation could have gone tragic or comic. You obviously managed to keep everything going in the right direction without a pratfall. 🙂
Saluting you with a happy dance.
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Many thanks, elmediat
Well someone had to take charge. Yes, thanks for stepping up. Few do. Fewer still achieve desired results.
Thank you Timi
Awesome! You gave a lesson to all those drivers and especially the restaurateur. A real man! 🙂
Thank you, Inese