An irrate driver swearing steadily at a parking meter in his fruitless effort to pay by phone. Having verbally abused the uncooperative mechanism he returns to his car to field a call for assistance. Drawing another blank, the industrial language is then transferred to his only link with this ‘instant’ but remote system. The feeding of coins, as with animals at the zoo, an outdated practice that, at this moment in time, seems to have both its charms and a reassurance.