This is the person who, usually on Saturdays, or on post-Christmas sales days or both if you are really really unlucky, drives around and around for hours trying to second guess and spot from a distance, someone who has finished shopping and is going to leave. It can also happen on really cold rainy days where, although there are spaces within yards of the entrance, everyone wants to park as close as possible so as not to experience the
unpleasantness of the climate.
This can be very annoying if you are merely dropping off cumbersome bags in order to resume
retail therapy/madness without having to carry the stuff around. By the time you get to your car, you realise creepily that someone has been watching you for at least 10 minutes, maybe longer if the stalker has telescopic equipment, and they are already there, watching with squinty eyes and the signal light blinking to warn others that the
car parking space belongs to them and to let you know in a non-verbal way, that you had better get the hell out quickly!
This is particularly annoying if you are starving, have picked up something to eat, and just want a few minutes peace and quiet to nosh in the privacy of your own
little space. You feel obligated but annoyed to see someone waiting. You either pretend not to see them, or signal that you have food, signal that you aren't actually leaving if that's the case, or if you're really a pushover, just leave even if you didn't want to.
Also known as a
Parking Lot Stalker.
Most people have sat on both sides of the fence in this situation so most of the time both parties handle it in a civilised way.
Get ready for a confrontation - there's at least 3
irate Car Park Stalkers waiting for our space. If we're lucky, they will just fight amongst themselves without us having to get involved - give us a chance to eat our Big Macs before they get cold and be entertained at the same time!
