I Don't Know What I don't Know

And why this fuels my rage...

WARNING - This is my Sunday ‘Rage on a Page’ moment

Am I the only person in the UK not aware of the Bristol ‘Clean Air Zones’?!

I don’t watch the news, read the newspapers, click onto Bristol Council website or scroll down Twitter or ‘X’ or whatever it’s now called. So I am not aware of the charges that are now in place when driving through Bristol Clean Air Zones.

I know some of you might be reading this and saying, but Tanya there are signs everywhere! Really? Well they are not visible to a midlife woman, with a car full of family and luggage, who’s just got off a flight, landed in Bristol airport, tired and trying to help navigate her partner out of the city centre traffic.

I saw zero signs! but then I wasn’t looking for any particular sign, just the M4 to South Wales.

Maybe just maybe, Bristol Council could have kindly sent me a letter to remind me I have recently travelled through the ‘Clean Air Zone’ in a city I don’t live in. Giving me at one weeks grace to pay the charges and thanking me for my visit to Bristol, hoping that one day soon I shall return.

That would be a nice letter to receive on a Bank Holiday weekend.
Not a fine for £129 reduced by £60 if I pay within 14 days.

Pardon me whilst I’m trying my best to be a good eco friendly citizen.

All whilst running a small business in a volatile economy; keeping a cool head as a parent whilst going through menopause; walking the dogs with a backpack full of dog shit bags so not to pollute the countryside; cleaning the house with eco friendly products; doing the laundry, again on ‘eco’ so not really achieving clean clothes status; dealing with the endless ‘to do’ list of life admin with no printer (saving the trees); working out which effing energy company won’t screw me over; spending at least 2 hours a day splitting the god damn recycling into a billion different bags and boxes and praying I get it right this week or I’ll be summoned with a fine oh and now making sure when I’m driving, I’m to adhere to the 20mph speed limit. Wondering if it’s safer to look at my speedometer every 3 seconds or the road?! As god forbid I drive over pedestrian because I’m too busy checking if I’m keeping to the 20mph speed limit!!!!  

Arrrggghhhhh!

So this is how it goes, I get the wrap for not being up to date with ‘clean air zone’ charges in a city I don’t live in. Whilst most councillors and politicians travel in their big f@*@ off expensive electric cars with not a care in the world if little Miss Tantrum Lynch here has to pay a ‘clean air zone’ charge of £129…

Give me strength!!

Why this whole situation makes my blood boil is that I would happily pay the emissions fee for my slightly out of date Volvo.

But it’s all my fault isn’t it, for not being aware of the obviously well publicised ‘clean air zone’ charges. I only have myself to blame ! Lesson well and truly learnt.

Note to self - must try harder next time and remind myself before leaving the house at 8am - to check the air pressure in car tyres, check oil and water levels, refuel, check the weather forecast, be aware of the speed limits,  the roadworks, the emissions charges, the public transport strikes oh and the clean air zone charges!!! If you’re lucky Tan, you might get to your destination by 2pm !

I’m off to WALK my dogs
If you see me this morning best you take a wide birth 🤣

Until the next time
Take care & stay safe