"They say in life it is better to give than to receive. On just one night while on holiday in Sydney over Christmas, I scattered almost $285 of goodwill across four different road toll booths, City of Sydney parking, the Office of State Revenue and a local pub. In return for that 'investment', I received one solitary $10 pint of mid-strength beer.

Mr Gaudry has since returned to the US - but not before firing a parting salvo at the city he once called home.

"The City has long been lobbying the state government to introduce kerbside line markings - as used in many cities around the world - to reduce the confusion that multiple signs create," said a spokeswoman, who added that 2000 signs had been removed since 2004 to "reduce clutter and make signs clearer".

The confusing parking sign which is located on Pyrmont Street, near the corner of Pyrmont Bridge Road. Credit:Tony Walters

"Staying at my parents' place in the west of Sydney, I ventured into Pyrmont two days before Christmas eager to get out of the house and catch up with old friends whom I hadn't seen for two years. Driving was the only option and road tolls were a necessary evil I couldn't dodge. The 40-minute drive from Kellyville racked up four tolls; M7, M2, Lane Cove Tunnel and Harbour Bridge. Each 'bleep' on the roam tag was like a tiny kidney punch to my wallet. Upon arriving in Pyrmont, I aimlessly circled the streets for 30 minutes trying to find a parking space. It felt like I was in a Hunger Games race for car space sanctuary. Eventually I found a spot. Or was it? Rubbing my eyes to ensure it wasn't a mirage, I was confronted by four ambiguous, conflicting parking signs all piled on top of each other to create one monstrous 'super sign'.

"I checked it again and again. Not having the mathematical problem-solving capability of Alan Turing, I deduced it was OK to park there. My confidence was validated when I purchased a ticket and displayed it on the dashboard.

"While sipping on my overpriced pint, old friendships were resumed with some deep debate about the order in which one should watch the Star Wars movies if you hadn't seen any before. I left the conversation to go and pay for more parking. I found an infringement ticket flapping under the windscreen wiper like a fish taking its final breaths. $248 for "disobeying a no stopping sign". $248!! My first response was one of indignation. Does the punishment fit the crime? Further to my irritation, the charge of "disobeying" surely infers a level of intent to commit that crime. Surely paying and displaying the one hour $2.70 ticket was evidence I was not willingly committing any crime at all.

"I kinda lost my Ho, Ho, Ho at that point. Further insult followed with a 'free' toll back over the bridge The Grinch in me saw it as a slap on the arse as I was sent back to the wild west... 'and don't come back'. Humbug.