It was a small but beautifully formed contingent - me, Tim (from Derby) and Peter. We arrived at the Shell garage in Marmion Road in Nottingham to find that we were (almost) expected. Following the exploits of other groups who were quicker off the mark than us, Shell must have sent out some communique to all their garages to tell them to expect us to be there. Consequently the manager was very pleasant and took our letter and allowed us to leaflet outside the garage with no complaint. He was however very concerned about our safety and that we weren't wearing hi-viz jackets. It was quiet but then again it was Sunday. Motorists came in fits and starts and on the 'in' road of the garage all hell was let loose - not by us you must realise but by the absolutely appaling driving I witnessed. I don't know if it was to avoid me giving them a leaflet or it was the general method of driving into a petrol station in Carlton in Nottingham but people were queue jumping, honking horns and generally being very assertive in their desire to buy petrol. Windows remained wound up and gazes were fixed ahead but those that did take a leaflet did show some interest - to the point of reading while driving at one point. Scary stuff. As the point of the exercise was a message to Shell we stopped after an hour and I went back in to make sure the Manager knew he had to send the letter off to Shell and tell them we were there only to be told he had gone home but the assistant very kindly asked us to come back tomorrow and when I said we might come back and leaflet again his attitude was 'that's OK it's no skin off my back'. He didn't mind us being there and the manager wasn't that bothered either. So laid back they were virtually horizontal. Tomorrow is another day and another garage. But which one?
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