Restored faith in humanity
I managed to leave my car keys in a black cab last week.
I’d been in London for an early meeting, had another meeting to get to before heading out to look at a couple of our jobs in Surrey. That meant I’d taken the car as opposed to the usual train. In a bit of a panic at not finding a car parking space where you could use a credit card (how many pound coins do Kensington and Chelsea think you can carry?) I eneded up in Cadogan Place underground car park. From there, and now in a bit of a hurry, I caught a cab to Pall Mall.
After my meeting I walked back to the car park, paid for my parking and walked to the car only to then realise. – no keys. I called up where I had had the meeting – no joy; so I called up Transport for London lost property. ” Oh yes Sir, theses things normally get returned. It will take three weeks” Great.
I cancel the trips to Surrey and start trudging to the tube to head home and get the spare key when the phone goes: “Did you catch a taxi earlier mate?”. Yes. “Well I gave you the ride. I’m at the entrance to Cadogan Place car park. Where are you?”
It turns out another passenger had found the keys, the cabbie had worked out who must have dropped them, had remembered where he picked me up from, and deduced that that probably meant I had come from the near-by car park. He’d then driven to the car park and wondered around pressing the unlock button until he found my car (a skoda – excellent mpg but hardly a theft target). He then found some paperwork with my name on it for an order with Jewson, called them up and asked if they knew me, expained the situation, got my mobile number and called me up. Brilliant!
Would he take anything for his trouble? No. “All in the call of duty”.
