Reading difficulties

I am officially voting Reading as the most unhospitable place in the South.

I had the misfortune to attend an event in the town this week (great event, shame about the choice of location) and stupidly went to the nearest taxi rank expecting the driver to take me where I needed to go.

Instead he looked at me as if I was something he dragged in on his shoe and refused to take me, saying "you can walk, its over there". He lazily swept his hand in an arc and went back to reading his paper.

As I stood there dumbfounded I thought I would try another driver.

"Never heard of the place," he said before shutting his window.

I'm amazed any tourists actually visit Reading if that is the welcome they get.

In case you were wondering - I did manage to get a taxi to take me to my destination. Although he did take me round the houses and charged me an arm and a leg.

I walked back to the station that evening.