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CaliforniaPeggy

(149,310 posts)
Sat Aug 29, 2020, 12:13 AM Aug 2020

A Well-Planned Retirement from The London Times:

Outside England's Bristol Zoo there is a parking lot for 150 cars and 8 buses. For 25 years, its parking fees were managed by a very pleasant attendant. The fees for cars ($1.40), for buses (about $7).

Then, one day, after 25 solid years of never missing a day of work, he just didn't show up; so the zoo management called the city council and asked it to send them another parking agent.
The council did some research and replied that the parking lot was the zoo's own responsibility. The zoo advised the council that the attendant was a city employee.

The city council responded that the lot attendant had never been on the city payroll.

Meanwhile, sitting in his villa somewhere on the coast of Spain, or France, or Italy, is a man who'd apparently had a ticket booth installed completely on his own and then had simply begun to show up every day, commencing to collect and keep the parking fees, estimated at about $560 per day -- for 25 years. Assuming 7 days a week, this amounts to just over $7 million dollars..... And no one even knows his name.

I think this is my favorite e-mail ever!


11 replies = new reply since forum marked as read
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A Well-Planned Retirement from The London Times: (Original Post) CaliforniaPeggy Aug 2020 OP
An inspiration to all. NCjack Aug 2020 #1
I do hope this is not urban legend. PoindexterOglethorpe Aug 2020 #2
I have no idea. I hope not too. CaliforniaPeggy Aug 2020 #4
LOL! I thought of Googling, which I almost always do PoindexterOglethorpe Aug 2020 #7
I love it.... Dan Aug 2020 #3
Okaaaay. Not bad at all. And $1.40 for cars & $7 for buses is sooo reasonable. catrose Aug 2020 #5
This is about three years old. demosincebirth Aug 2020 #6
Too good to be true... Old Crank Aug 2020 #8
OK, I tracked it down- It appeared in the June 13, 2009 issue of the Evening Post, about April Fools NBachers Aug 2020 #9
Bob and Ray cyclonefence Aug 2020 #10
That would make a doggone good movie... Talitha Aug 2020 #11

PoindexterOglethorpe

(25,752 posts)
2. I do hope this is not urban legend.
Sat Aug 29, 2020, 12:45 AM
Aug 2020

I want to think that someone was this enterprising and had such a wonderful work ethic that he worked every day for 25 years. He richly deserves his retirement.

Plus, those parking fees do seem remarkably reasonable.

CaliforniaPeggy

(149,310 posts)
4. I have no idea. I hope not too.
Sat Aug 29, 2020, 01:03 AM
Aug 2020

If one were truly motivated (which I'm not!) you could Google it and find out.

PoindexterOglethorpe

(25,752 posts)
7. LOL! I thought of Googling, which I almost always do
Sat Aug 29, 2020, 02:04 AM
Aug 2020

when something seems too good or too bad to be true, but likewise haven't in this case.

catrose

(5,050 posts)
5. Okaaaay. Not bad at all. And $1.40 for cars & $7 for buses is sooo reasonable.
Sat Aug 29, 2020, 01:10 AM
Aug 2020

May he enjoy a fabulous retirement.

NBachers

(17,007 posts)
9. OK, I tracked it down- It appeared in the June 13, 2009 issue of the Evening Post, about April Fools
Sat Aug 29, 2020, 03:16 AM
Aug 2020

myths.

https://www.liveabout.com/the-bristol-zoo-parking-attendant-3299515

I'd still like to imagine that this rascal was living the good life somewhere, but, alas, 'twas not to be.

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