Stuck!

Locked out

I went to a large building today, recording external areas and other data. I drove up and down the road looking for a parking space, without any joy. Three sweeps, each time the automatic gates were open. “Handy” I thought, “they must be left open” so I swung through the gates and into the rear car park. It was sunny and very warm and that means no jacket and therefore no pockets. Camera, disto, tape, clipboard, no I don't need the phone as well. I left that in the car. It wasn't going to take more than an hour to an hour and a half.

I was back out through the gates and measuring up the front when Mr and Mrs High-Security drove out, ensuring the gate was locked shut behind them. “Never mind, there's two pedestrian gates” I thought. Both locked. “Never mind”, I thought, “there's bound to be someone going out soon, it's rush-hour.” I carried on. Better still, two cars pulled out of their parking bays in the road, so as soon as someone went out, I'd get the car and stick it in one of the free bays. No-one went anywhere. All ways back to the car were locked shut. I could get over the wall with the telescopic ladder, but that was in the back of the car. I could phone up for the entry code, but the phone was in the car, too.

Finished to the front I had to get out to the rear to get that data, and retrieve my car. I spotted someone moving and buzzed the door. She was extremely deaf, due to her age, so we had one of those shouted conversations. I explained about the car, and that I needed to get out to the rear of the building.

“You can't get out there dear,” she said, “not unless you pay for a parking space.”

I re-explained.

“Only the people that pay for a parking space can get out there” she said, “you don't live here do you?”

“No” I said and explained again.

“The gates only open for the people that pay for parking spaces. It's an extra charge, you know.”

I tried a different track.

“Can I get out the back? I need to measure up.”

She didn't exactly say “why didn't you say so” but it was there in the shrug and the palms-up.

“Can you hop over the railings?”

“I'm sure I can manage.”

“Follow me.”

Obviously she didn't see me as a security threat of any kind, and I clambered over her balcony guardrail into the car park.

“Could you...” she was starting to close the door, I was now shouting and waving (that's almost multitasking) “can you pass me the clipboard and...”

I'd got her just in time, or it would've been a much more difficult climb back to retrieve the equipment. At least the gates opened automatically to let me back out.