🚗 I Should Have Thought Twice…

My Parking Adventure

Last Friday started like any other day. I was heading to my dance class full of energy and ready to learn some new choreography. I was just about to park in my “regular” spot near the studio.

But something seemed strange…

Normally, it’s hard to find a parking space in that area. On that Friday the street was unusually empty, which should've been a warning sign for me! But I was in a rush. I didn’t want to be late. So I ignored my gut feeling, left my car, and ran to class.

Big mistake...

When I came back an hour later, ready to drive back home, my car was gone. Not just moved. Not hiding. Gone. For a second, I thought someone had stolen it, but then I realised how mistaken I'd been ignoring my intuition😳

Desperate, I spotted some municipal officers nearby, who confirmed that my car had been towed away because I had parked in a restricted area. The thing is that the area was excluded from parking only temporarily, due to planned road works. Apparently, there was a "No Parking" sign that I'd completely ignored - I simply hadn't expected it to be there. The officer was very sympathetic, but he wouldn't listen to my explanation. Obviously, the city really goes by the book when it comes to parking violations. No mercy.

And that was not the end.

To get the car back, I had to go to the city car station and fill in some documents. But guess what? I didn’t have the car registration paper with me. So… I had to call my husband and ask him to bring it, and it's worth mentioning here that we live on the other side of the city. You can imagine how happy he was. (Spoiler: not very.)

Eventually, we got the car back, but the whole evening was ruined. I had to pay a fine for illegal parking, and also the fee for towing. That was an expensive dance class. I should have thought twice before leaving my car there. But of course, it was too late.

So what’s the lesson?

1. I shouldn't have ignored my gut instinct.

2. I should've thought twice before leaving the car.

3. And maybe… I should've taken the bike?

   
   

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🧩 Glossary - idioms & expressions

to think twice to think carefully before deciding to do something

"I should have thought twice before leaving my car there."

by the book - following rules and instructions in a very strict w

"The city really goes by the book when it comes to parking violations."

to learn (sth) the hard way - to learn from mistakes or bad experiences

"Well, I learned the hard way."

to bend the rules - to change the rules to suit a situation

"Sometimes people try to bend the rules, but it doesn’t end well."