We’ve all been there, concentrating on the driving, staying alert to what’s going on around us and focus on the bollard! What? Focus on the bollard? Look at the photo above and you’ll see the Ford Focus well and truly on the bollard. It’s not going anywhere, not forwards, not backwards, not anywhere except the scrap yard.
Dastardly Lumps Of Concrete
You often see these phallic lumps of concrete lying about the place, probably broken off by a passing lorry, unbeknown to its driver of the damage he has caused. I doubt any humans are capable of pulling them out of the ground, they are solid and weigh an absolute ton! This one was definitely broken off at ground level.
Waiting For A Victim
This particular bollard was situated outside a local fish and chip shop, to stop people parking and driving on the space immediately outside the shop. There was a row of the things, lined up along the pavement with a gap, like a missing tooth, that was the culprit, lying innocently in the road, waiting patiently for a victim!
Friday!!!
It was Friday and we always enjoyed fish and chips on a Friday evening which wifey used to collect on her way home from the local shopping centre. As you can imagine, it gets quite busy around 6:00 pm, so when she arrived at ‘The Fish Plaice‘, there was already a considerable amount of traffic moving in and out, yet there was one space right outside the shop. I wonder why?
My Chips Were Cold
It was dark and apart from the huge crunching sound and the car seemingly lifting off the ground, all seemed well. Just another happy Friday evening. Obviously, the car came to a complete halt and despite managing a few feet in reverse, it was the ‘end of the road’ for this particular Ford Focus. The innocent concrete shark had just found its victim and ripped the belly out of him. I was annoyed, not because of the damage, but because my fish and chips were cold when I got to eat them!
It’s How We Learn
These things happen and to be honest, how would we learn if we didn’t make such mistakes? Luckily, the insurance company came, collected the car and disposed of it as a ‘write off.’ There was enough to go and buy a smaller car, affectionately known as the ‘Ninky Nonk‘, (eyes roll around my head) which, I’m happy to say, survived all concrete bollard infested roads and kerbsides. I forgot to add that this happened about 8 or 9 years ago.
Who knew you could buy these things online? Here’s where.
And here’s a random link to another post of mine. Day At The Seaside.
Lou Carreras
March 1, 2022What’s the repair bill look like Trev? Is it really totaled?
Jim Flanigan
March 1, 2022Bollard? New word for me. I always called them the post-thingys. Thanks for the education.
Trev
March 1, 2022Thanks, Jim. You learn something new every day. 😊
Trev
March 1, 2022Thanks, Lou. Yeah, it was about 8 or 9 years ago and the insurance company just wrote it off, but they did give us a good pay out on it. I suppose if you were in that game, you could have replaced the sump, but I think there was other damage with the steering. 😊
John
March 1, 2022Those things should be removed, that’s terrible!
Trev
March 1, 2022They are everywhere and people in bigger vehicles rarely see them until it’s too late. Thank you, John. 😊
pIEdTyPe
March 1, 2022Our parking lots are infested with these things — as my granddaughter found out during her first attempt at driving. I think my son said the damage was some $4,000.
Trev
March 1, 2022Oh my, they are unforgiving. Sorry to hear about your Granddaughter. Thank you. 😊
Peter's pondering
March 1, 2022I always thought they were aiming points for heavy goods vehicles!
Trev
March 1, 2022Whatever they are, they create havoc with some drivers. Thank you, Peter 😊
Yetismith
March 1, 2022Goodness. I had no idea you could actually buy one. As for totaling a car…yes, I did that. On a curb that jumped out at me. Outrageous.
Trev
March 1, 2022No, I never knew you could buy them until I wrote the post. I know the feeling of the curb jumping out at you, people do it too. Thank you, Yeti. 😊
June Lorraine Roberts
March 1, 2022Have fun driving Ninky Nonk 🙂
Trev
March 1, 2022Thank you, June. 😊
Smelly Socks and Garden Peas
March 1, 2022I once walked into a concrete bollard as a student, there wasn’t even beer involved. My knee was swollen and bruised for weeks. Evil bustards.
Trev
March 1, 2022Ooh, that would hurt. Thank you 😊
SueW
March 1, 2022Oh, I loved this
Trev
March 1, 2022Thank you as always, Sue. 🙂
Going Batty in Wales
March 2, 2022Arund here it isn’t bollards which catch me out but unusually high curbs or things stickking out from a hadgebank – a stone covered in moss or a branch that is stronger than it looks – invisible until you generouisly pull over to let something pass and hear that ‘nails down a blackboard noise’ and realise you have got another deep long dent!
Trev
March 2, 2022Ooh, those moss covered stones!! I know exactly what you mean. Thank you 😊
Libby
March 2, 2022Oh dear! It reminds me of the time my Dad was watching me backwards, waving me on saying ‘Keep coming’ – straight into a bollard!
Trev
March 2, 2022That really is oh dear! I hope the damage wasn’t too bad and your Dad didn’t feel too bad afterwards. Thank you, Libby. 😊
Cheryl, Gulf Coast Poet
March 7, 2022It would also take me another eight or nine years to be able to laugh about this incident, Trev. It could happen to any of us! Have a great week! <3
Trev
March 7, 2022Thank you, Cheryl. There wasn’t much else I could do but laugh. 😊
Hope
April 19, 2022Hi Trev, sorry about you Focus. I learned what the word “bollard” means. Thanks I now can add that word to “my” dictionary.
Trev
April 20, 2022That’s great, I am pleased to have played a part in your education. 😉Thank you, Hope. 😊