Australian Competence

I do like Australians and, as a result, I find what is happening now peculiarly painful. So here, at my expense, is a tribute to their startling competence. On November 2nd I parked illegally on Lawson Street, Byron Bay, New South Wales. I got a ticket. I was, of course, driving a hire car - a Nissan X-Trail, since you ask, not bad but dull - and, living as I do on the other side of the world, I did not pay the fine, complacently assuming that would be that. Today I receive a penalty notice from the State Debt Recovery Office - A$80, since you ask. They had tracked me through the car hire company - Hertz, since you ask - and found me here in the bit of Notting Hill Gate that Nige always claims is actually Kensington. I have ignored parking tickets all over world and this has never previously happened. Good on yer, mates, I'll pay online now.