BEING the ever romantic type of male in his mid 50s. I decided to take my wife for a nostalgic meal on the seafront in Southampton.

There I was one early evening a few months ago and I turned to my lady and said: “Claire, let’s go for a meal by the sea.” “Sounds lovely,” she said.

So we drove to the local chippy and bought Fish and Chips, then shot down to the seafront in the car at Town Quay to enjoy the views of the sea and local boats in the Solent for about an hour.

It was a very nostalgic evening, if I say so myself.

Unfortunately it was also to be the most expensive supper from a chippy, just to pre-warn any romantic male taking his wife to the seafront. I’d forgotten about the “Eye in the Sky”cameras at the Car Park.

What turned out to be a lovely meal unfortunately set us back £67.50 (that being £60 for a parking fine and £7.50 for the fish and chips).

So if you’re considering being a Sotonian romantic, can I just say, take your wife or partner to Weston Shore.

For one the view is much larger and there is no charge for parking!

ANTHONY MOORE, Millbrook