Wednesday, October 21, 2009

Cool and Uncool

A few days ago, I went grocery shopping. Exciting, eh?

I don't mind the actually food shopping bit but having to negotiate parking lots or car parks as I had to say in Britain (which still, after five years of saying it, conjured up images of pick-up trucks sliding down playground slides with big smiles on their grills) is less than fun. Yet, I'm strangely fascinated by them... they are great places to sit and people watch and sometimes I see neato cars.

I thought this one was kinda groovy.



I have no idea what it is but it made a gorgeous rumble went it left.



Returning with a load of groceries, I find this boat parked beside me. Nice parking job. I was surprised that my car remained unscathed!



That decal that the red arrow is pointing to a C.A.T. combat auto theft thingy... telling cops that this car is not driven at night. It's deterrent to thieves apparently. I would have thought that it being an ugly, mid-80's, polluting old Buick was deterrent enough. ;-)

17 comments:

  1. You have illustrated the worst parking lot in Victoria!!:) I use to shop here and it is nothing short of auto warfare just attempting to enter and leave this lot. Still, I can appreciate the people watching potential as it is at an interesting juncture of dynamic neighborhoods.

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  2. It never occurred to me to think of 'car park' in that way. The idea is rather sweet, if not the reality.

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  3. I'd frankly rather drive a hearse than that monstrosity..... on the other hand the orange thingy is so cool it's wearing shades.
    (It is orange eh?) lol

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  4. While you were parked in the car park did you load your "messages" into the "boot" out of your shopping "trolley"? I like the hubcaps on the yellow car.

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  5. What a great looking car! I wonder though, how of it is original and what are add-ons. Regardless, at least that beast will still be around longer than "the boat".

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  6. Agreed Kathreen, that place is a bitch for parking!

    Yep Neil, tis orange. Kind of an odd colour but it works... imo.

    I have never heard the term 'messages' Chris! (I'll be googling in a moment!)... but yeah the boot and brolly! I remember my first day in Britain and getting a taxi and the driver saying something along the lines of needing a quick fag first and that I should mind my bum bag, luv... what the? I might as well have been in Japan! lol...

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  7. Sure is a groovy orange(y) motor. I'm diggin the Ben Hur stylee spikes on the wheels.

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  8. I'm googled out... can someone explain 'messages' please? :-)

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  9. Where I stay people go to the shop for their "messages" eg shopping, I had never heard of it until I came here either.

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  10. It's a Scottish term for grocery shopping. Hadn't come across it anywhere else in the UK.

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  11. Thanks you two!

    I couldn't find the term on any of my "British slang, British English" websites.. or anywhere else for that matter... though it's an odd combination of words to google.

    After chatting more with people in Scotland (Hi Neil) and reading Scottish blogs (hello again, Neil), I'm beginning to think that many of the 'British Words' websites are actually English Words websites that are misnamed as British... or maybe 'messages' is very limited geographically...?

    I know that lovely Jayne is from gorgeous Wales, where are you from Chris.. if you don't mind me asking... another part of Scotland? Or elsewhere?

    I love how words can be so unique to a place!

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  12. Great post Marny, the first old car is great. Parking lots are such a menace. Here on the Charlottes there are no parking rules and you can park anywhere and any which way....talk about scary. That's why I like to walk and if I am feeling brave take the scooter. Have a great weekend.
    Smiles

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  13. I learnt a word a day when I moved up here, the language is very different to down south.

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  14. http://www.mudcat.org/scots/display_all.cfm

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  15. I can visualise that old orange car rocking, bumping and grinding to some loud rock n roll, cartoon-like. Like doing some kind of body wave!

    As for that other heap - well it can carry on down the slip way and sink!

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  16. The yellow car would be nice for Jessica Rabbit´s gangsta boyfriend or somebody else from the imaginary wonderland. Just lovely.

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