Airline passenger news and views

I spent a very pleasant few weeks with my parents in Italy.

The fiancé, Marcus, came out for the last few days, which was good until we (he) got involved with the intricacies of short-term airport parking. 

To be fair to Marcus, he was only trying to help an elderly couple in distress. Sadly, I was the damsel and no one seemed to care a damn about my distress.

Being a barrister, Marcus tends to see things in stereoscopic black and white. The car park attendant was wrong, the elderlies were being bullied and Marcus was a bit bored after his days of relaxation.

In reality, the elderlies were actually the ones at fault. They had failed to recognise the link between short-term and very-expensive parking. Nevertheless, they did not deserve the treatment that they were getting.

It was late, they were tired, and were being asked to pay more to park their car than they had paid for their house all those years ago. The attendant was unsympathetic and actually bloody rude. He took the view that they could not leave until they had paid the parking fee.

I am not sure what he actually intended, perhaps to impound their car or to imprison them in his control hut. Whatever it was, he had the lady in tears and the gentleman visibly frightened.

Marcus explained to them that they had parked and had incurred the debt and would, in all likelihood, have to pay. However, it was a civil matter. They should give their names and address and the very worst that could happen was that the parking firm would get a County Court judgment for the payment.

He then, rather pompously explained to the attendant that demanding money with menaces, false imprisonment and a few other things that I swear he made up on the spot were criminal offences and he, Marcus wanted the police, here now, this moment.

Of course, to the elderlies, Marcus was a hero. After a long day, I would rather have been back at home with a drink in my hand.