Santa's Head Reindeer Gets Fined in Parking App Mix-up
Can Hounslow Parking Services learn a lesson from Scrooge?
Rudoplh with his parking ticket and earlier at the carol singing on Chiswick High Road
December 8, 2024
It is the season of goodwill to all men, women and local residents – or is it?
On the evening of the Chiswick Lights Switch-on, taking a detour from their usual very busy pre-Christmas present-wrapping at the North Pole, Santa and Rudolph flew in and parked in the town’s main car park. They had volunteered to bring festive cheer and mince pies to local children and Chiswick School singers.
Unfortunately, on entering Chiswick’s rarefied atmosphere, Rudolph’s PaybyPhone App froze mid-way through booking. With the Christmas Tree and lights event commencing any minute, his attempts to un-freeze the app were in vain. To make matters worse, he had dropped and lost the sleigh keys! Rudolph was caught on the horns of a dilemma. He could neither complete payment nor move the sleigh! So, whilst bringing joy and fun to the children of Chiswick, a parking fine was slapped on Santa’s sleigh-mobile.
The minute Rudolph completed his duties, he rushed back to the sleigh. Time was of the essence – Santa and Rudolph feared they might never get back to the North Pole in time for Christmas Eve night. Never fear, as Rudolph was then overjoyed to find that the good people of Chiswick had found his sleigh keys and handed them into the estate agent, Kinleigh Folkard & Hayward. (Many thanks).
However, we have subsequently learnt that Hounslow Parking Services have declined his appeal for leniency, despite the extenuating circumstances, and not forgetting that Parking Apps do not exist at the North Pole.
We are now nearing Christmas Eve – will the miserly Scrooges at the council be visited by the spirits of Christmas past, present & future and reverse their decision, in order to show kindness and leniency to Rudolph? Will the Scrooges experience self-redemption? Will there be a Christmas Miracle? The elves want it! The children want it! Santa wants it! Dasher, Dancer, Prancer and the other reindeer want it!
PARDON OUR REINDEER!
Ps Hurry, hurry, hurry. Children aged 5 – 11 are reminded to make haste to join in the Chiswick Christmas Scavenger Hunt. One week only to go! Find the unexpected/weird items in participating shop windows. Over 50 exciting prizes on offer for the lucky winners. Collect an entry form from Penny, Chiswick Lighting Company, 30 Devonshire Road W4 2HD or click here and start scavenging! Completed forms must be submitted by 5 pm, Friday 13 December.
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