western australia

number plate recognition

A solution was much closer than I thought

@JudyEv (381760)

Rockingham, Australia

January 8, 2022 6:39pm CST

I’ve written about getting lost trying to get out of a big hospital. By the time I got back to the car park it was getting on towards nightfall. We live in a gated community and I’d forgotten that the gates shut at 6 pm. There is supposed to be number plate recognition, there is also a code you can use and everyone has a little device with two buttons, one of which activates each gate. Although I drove up slowly, the recognition thing didn’t work so I backed up to the code machine. That number had recently been changed and, although I thought I knew it, I couldn’t get it right. I’d completely forgotten about the device with the buttons. I was just getting out my phone to ring our friends for the code (they were staying away from the village) when there was a tap on the car-window and a village couple who were out walking asked if they could help. I was very relieved to see them. The stupid thing was that the device with the buttons was within reach in the console of the car. Oh well, hopefully it’s another mistake that I won’t make again. Photo of a native Christmas tree

28 people like this

27 responses

@kaylachan (84699)

• Daytona Beach, Florida

9 Jan 22

I'm glad you were doing okay, and you managed to get home safely. Gates can be a real pain, sometimes. I lived in a gated complex for five years.

4 people like this

@JudyEv (381760)

• Rockingham, Australia

9 Jan 22

We haven't been here all that long and prior to moving here, we'd lived out of town on an acreage for years.

3 people like this

@kaylachan (84699)

• Daytona Beach, Florida

9 Jan 22

@JudyEv Yeah. I think you wrote about that, didn't you?

2 people like this

@JudyEv (381760)

• Rockingham, Australia

9 Jan 22

@kaylachan Yes, I've written quite a bit about both places.

1 person likes this

@RubyHawk (99367)

• Atlanta, Georgia

9 Jan 22

We can make some stupid mistakes especially when we’re shaken up as you were. I probably couldn’t have found my way home under the same circumstance.

4 people like this

@JudyEv (381760)

• Rockingham, Australia

9 Jan 22

At least I will know for next time. We have one in each car but I'd completely forgotten about them.

3 people like this

@RubyHawk (99367)

• Atlanta, Georgia

9 Jan 22

@JudyEv Hopefully you won’t be in this situation again.

1 person likes this

@snowy22315 (208746)

• United States

9 Jan 22

When it rains it pours! At least you got back in...

4 people like this

@JudyEv (381760)

• Rockingham, Australia

9 Jan 22

Yep, I got back in and now I'll know for next time.

3 people like this

@jstory07 (148720)

• Roseburg, Oregon

9 Jan 22

You were probably still upset over your husband being in the hospital. How is he doing now.

3 people like this

@JudyEv (381760)

• Rockingham, Australia

9 Jan 22

He is doing well thanks. He has an appointment in a couple of weeks.

2 people like this

@DaddyEvil (174208)

• United States

9 Jan 22

One reason I take Pretty with me when I go to the doctor is because I forget things the doctor tells me. I'm paying attention, at the time, but not enough that I can remember what she says when Pretty asks me later. I hate forgetting things. I'm glad the nice couple were out walking and could help you.

3 people like this

show previous comments

@DaddyEvil (174208)

• United States

9 Jan 22

@JudyEv Pretty and I remind each other of stuff all the time. She gets mad when I remember something she doesn't. *shrug*

1 person likes this

@JudyEv (381760)

• Rockingham, Australia

9 Jan 22

I think I'll be able to remember things but then a bit later, I've forgotten again. I often say it's getting to the stage where it takes both of us to function.

2 people like this

Show more comments

@wolfgirl569 (135583)

• Marion, Ohio

9 Jan 22

You will get used to it in time. You had a lot on your mind that evening

4 people like this

@JudyEv (381760)

• Rockingham, Australia

9 Jan 22

That's true but I'll be ready for the gate in future. One less thing to worry about.

3 people like this

@rebelann (117199)

• El Paso, Texas

10 Jan 22

What a beautiful tree. It's just going to take time to get used to all those new fangled gadgets and codes, it's not like you had those where you lived before.

1 person likes this

show previous comments

@rebelann (117199)

• El Paso, Texas

10 Jan 22

That's a lot of new things to get used to, it takes time and you haven't been there that long so be patient with yourself.

1 person likes this

@JudyEv (381760)

• Rockingham, Australia

10 Jan 22

Half the time, I don't even think about needing them but I'm getting better. We have a card to get into the clubhouse, a key to the back gate, remotes in each car to raise the garage door. It just goes on and on.

1 person likes this

@JudyEv (381760)

• Rockingham, Australia

10 Jan 22

Thanks. I'll try to do that.

1 person likes this

@LadyDuck (502180)

• Italy

9 Jan 22

We had a two button device to open the door of the garage of my Mom in Italy, not always it worked and I usually forgot the code to enter.

1 person likes this

show previous comments

@LadyDuck (502180)

• Italy

9 Jan 22

@JudyEv - Those codes are difficult to remember and our two button devices not always worked well.

1 person likes this

@JudyEv (381760)

• Rockingham, Australia

9 Jan 22

This is a very simple thing to use but I simply forgot it was there.

1 person likes this

@JudyEv (381760)

• Rockingham, Australia

9 Jan 22

@LadyDuck The number plate recognition doesn't work very well either.

1 person likes this

Show more comments

Vicki, #1 Creek Girl

@1creekgirl (44560)

• United States

9 Jan 22

I'm sure you were worried and stressed about Vince. That was nice of them to help you. Hope Vince is still improving.

2 people like this

show previous comments

Vicki, #1 Creek Girl

@1creekgirl (44560)

• United States

9 Jan 22

1 person likes this

@JudyEv (381760)

• Rockingham, Australia

9 Jan 22

He is fine now thanks. I'll be more prepared if it happens again.

2 people like this

Show more comments

@Fleura (34927)

• United Kingdom

9 Jan 22

That's the catch of living in a gated community! What happens if you have a power cut due to a wildfire or something like that?

1 person likes this

show previous comments

@Fleura (34927)

• United Kingdom

9 Jan 22

@JudyEv I am not a fan of electric doors, windows, gates etc. I keep a hammer in my car just in case I need to break the electric windows in some emergency!

1 person likes this

@JudyEv (381760)

• Rockingham, Australia

9 Jan 22

@Fleura I'm not a fan either but you can't avoid them mostly. I worry about electric windows.

1 person likes this

@JudyEv (381760)

• Rockingham, Australia

9 Jan 22

I'm really not sure but it's a very good question. I'll make some inquiries.

1 person likes this

Show more comments

@TheHorse (238268)

• Walnut Creek, California

9 Jan 22

Glad you got some help.

1 person likes this

show previous comments

@TheHorse (238268)

• Walnut Creek, California

9 Jan 22

@JudyEv Heh. They changed the password at Guitar Center yesterday but nobody told me. I couldn't log in.

1 person likes this

@JudyEv (381760)

• Rockingham, Australia

10 Jan 22

@TheHorse Well, not much you can do if you're not given the information.

1 person likes this

@JudyEv (381760)

• Rockingham, Australia

9 Jan 22

Yes. I was about to ring my friend to find out the right code.

1 person likes this

Show more comments

@Dena91 (17029)

• United States

9 Jan 22

It's understandable you had some trouble with the codes trying to get back home. You were very shaken up by what you had been through.

2 people like this

@JudyEv (381760)

• Rockingham, Australia

9 Jan 22

Thanks and you're quite right. I was just starting to relax thinking I would soon be home when the locked gates loomed up.

2 people like this

@LindaOHio (222222)

• United States

9 Jan 22

It's OK. You will know for next time. Beautiful tree.

1 person likes this

@JudyEv (381760)

• Rockingham, Australia

9 Jan 22

That's true. I'll be ready next time I need to get in after dark.

1 person likes this

@JudyEv (381760)

• Rockingham, Australia

11 Jan 22

@LindaOHio Maybe they're not all the same. But here they're locked. I think there is a back-up system if the power goes out because that would be huge problem if there was a fire inside or some other catastrophe.

1 person likes this

@LindaOHio (222222)

• United States

10 Jan 22

@JudyEv I didn't realize that they locked the gates in a gated community. I just thought there was a gate and perhaps a security person there.

1 person likes this

Show more comments

Krissttina Isobe

@oahuwriter (26773)

• United States

10 Jan 22

That's good! Glad you live in a nice place. When you're worried, so much too, it's good to live with nice neighbors.

1 person likes this

@JudyEv (381760)

• Rockingham, Australia

10 Jan 22

Everyone within this community is very caring and helpful.

1 person likes this

@JudyEv (381760)

• Rockingham, Australia

11 Jan 22

@oahuwriter I'm fine thanks. All is well at the moment.

1 person likes this

Krissttina Isobe

@oahuwriter (26773)

• United States

10 Jan 22

@JudyEv Wonderful! How you holding up?

1 person likes this

Show more comments

@GardenGerty (169406)

• United States

10 Jan 22

I have ended up in a similar situation with a coded door that quit working at a certain time of the evening, when my first husband was in a long term care facility. I was so tired I could not figure out a logical way to get out of the locked lobby. To this day I do not remember how I managed, it was before cell phones. When your loved one is sick even things that you know cease to come to mind. I am so glad someone was willing to help you.

1 person likes this

@JudyEv (381760)

• Rockingham, Australia

10 Jan 22

You poor soul. That would be awful. I wonder how you got out?

@BarBaraPrz (51811)

• St. Catharines, Ontario

9 Jan 22

You're learning all sorts of things. How does it feel? (Nice tree.)

1 person likes this

show previous comments

@BarBaraPrz (51811)

• St. Catharines, Ontario

9 Jan 22

@JudyEv Well, you're used to hubby driving all the time, aren't you?

1 person likes this

@JudyEv (381760)

• Rockingham, Australia

9 Jan 22

@BarBaraPrz True and if you're not driving, you don't take so much notice.

1 person likes this

@JudyEv (381760)

• Rockingham, Australia

9 Jan 22

I feel a bit stupid for not realising it was there.

1 person likes this

Show more comments

@ptrikha_2 (49753)

• India

9 Jan 22

At times, little things engross our minds so much that we forget about things we should not. Hopefully, things are more settled at your wnd now.

1 person likes this

@JudyEv (381760)

• Rockingham, Australia

9 Jan 22

We're back to a normal routine and I'll be more prepared if and when there is a next time. Thanks.

2 people like this

@ptrikha_2 (49753)

• India

9 Jan 22

@JudyEv Yes some experiences make us better prepared.

1 person likes this

@Aquitaine24 (12000)

• San Jose, California

9 Jan 22

That’s a beautiful plant. Is that the real name

1 person likes this

@JudyEv (381760)

• Rockingham, Australia

9 Jan 22

Its fancy name is Nuytsia floribunda. It is a parasite and takes over a host tree.

1 person likes this

@Aquitaine24 (12000)

• San Jose, California

9 Jan 22

@JudyEv I see.

1 person likes this

@CarolDM (203396)

• Nashville, Tennessee

9 Jan 22

A learning process it sounds like. I have been there with these issues. Lovely tree you shared.

1 person likes this

@JudyEv (381760)

• Rockingham, Australia

9 Jan 22

The tree is a parasite and takes over a host tree. They bloom around Christmas time.

1 person likes this

@CarolDM (203396)

• Nashville, Tennessee

9 Jan 22

@JudyEv Nature is amazing for sure.

1 person likes this

@DocAndersen (54399)

• United States

9 Jan 22

wow so i will say one more time, all of that plus stress - you are amazing!

1 person likes this

@JudyEv (381760)

• Rockingham, Australia

9 Jan 22

Thanks. You're so kind.

1 person likes this

@DocAndersen (54399)

• United States

9 Jan 22

@JudyEv i just calls it as I sees it

1 person likes this