Wish I'd thought of this

[pharmer]

From The London Times:

A Well-Planned Retirement



Outside England 's Bristol Zoo there is a parking lot for 150 cars and 8 buses. For 25 years, its parking fees were managed by a very pleasant attendant. The fees were 1 pound for cars (about $1.40 USD), 5 pounds for buses (about $7 USD).

Then, one day, after 25 solid years of never missing a day of work, he just didn't show up; so the Zoo Management called the City Council and asked it to send them another parkingagent.

The Council did some research and replied that the parking lot was the Zoo's own responsibility. The Zoo advised the Council that the attendant was a City employee.. The City Council responded that the lot attendant had never been on the City payroll.

Meanwhile, sitting in his villa somewhere on the coast of Spain or France or Italy ... is a man who'd apparently had a ticket machine installed completely on his own and then had simply begun to show up every day, commencing to collect and keep the parking fees, estimated at about $560 per day -- for 25 years.

Assuming 7 days a week, this amounts to just over $7 million dollars ...... and no one even knows his name.

I have no idea if this is true, but I kinda hope so!

I just got this, delete if already posted. Joe

 

[diamonback68]

Joe, from what I had seen before on this guy, it is true. They had pictures of him working the gate and everything. Everybody seemed to know him over the years, but no one really knows who he is.

 

[ladder13]

At least he "worked" for his money

 

[klondike]

aawww great story, but a no go according to snopes. Darn.

snopes.com: Bristol Zoo Carpark Attendant

 

[pharmer]

Snopes is a friend indeed. On a day where the illigitimi have carborundumed my posterior, I needed a lift. Best thing in my inbox today. Joe

 

[klondike]

Is it an urban legend that Snopes is always correct?

 

[Capt Steve]

A couple of years ago while working at the San Diego boat show, parking was in a dirt lot not far from the show. Third world types collecting the $7 to park, the first day I got a a receipt. Days 2 & 3 no receipt given even when I asked, ( I needed it for my expense account), so I called the main office and complained. Day 4 there was a whole new crew and everybody was passing out receipts. (o;