Beautiful in the Borders today. But I think I caused somebody's blood pressure to rise today. Completely unintentional, of course.
Went to Sainsbury in Kelso to put some fuel in the Yamaha XS650. Other brands of fuel are available. The filling station was fairly busy, as seems to be normal on a Sunday. Quick scan and there was an available pump, so I went there and had started entering my card details when Mr Angry showed up.
'I can't believe you just jumped the queue like that!' or words to that effect. He pointed to the huge 4X4 at the pump behind me and said he was patiently (!) waiting for the lady to pay when I just came along and 'cut in front of him'.
I said I did not agree with his interpretation of the situation, I had simply gone to an available pump to fill.
The lady came back from paying and drove off in her 4X4, so he drove forward in his dormobile - too bloody close to the XS - to fill at the pump she vacated but he still wanted to go on about it. I could have pointed out that he had waited no longer just because I was filling up at the pump ahead of that, but instead I just suggested he have a nice day. I was genuinely conciliatory. But he was still stating publicly that he couldn't believe I had done that - when I rode off. Miss November, bless her, started first kick.
I've been using filling stations for at least 46 years and I have always believed everybody is free to go to any available pump.
Some people choose to wait for a pump on the easy side rather than pull the hose around. Some people will drive around a car that is being filled to go to the pump ahead. The most efficient use of the filling station is if every pump is being used? And I'm not aware that most customers spend much time ascertaining the intentions of all the other customers before daring to fill their vehicle.
Have I broken the rules of filling station queues?
