Friday 22 July 2016

An old man speaks

A whole year has past, and now it is almost time for H.I. to begin the first Summer School again. I wish I could show you pictures of the church, but until I find a way of getting all 2500 photos out of the old iPhoto and into the new, this will not be possible. Any suggestions?

This year, I have selected the (fully clothed) model - she is a young friend who also just happens to work in the pub. Our pub has the (unjust these days) reputation of the bar-staff ignoring customers, so at least I know she can sit still without moving for an hour at a stretch. That was an in-joke.

57% of the running costs of our pub are wages, so the bar staff have some justification in believing that the place is there for their benefit, but the days of lolling around or looking at their phones have been curtailed by the board, who have cut their hours but not their workload down.

Since Britain turned into a nation reliant on service industries, I cannot decide if I prefer the dauntingly efficient and humourless manners of a professional French waiter, or the endearing - if irritating - British waiter/waitress who has to go to the kitchen to ask the chef to describe one of the dishes on the menu when you ask about it.

What I can't stand is the way that nothing is 'a problem' to some young waiters here, and they wait until you have just put a forkfull of food into your mouth before asking, "Is everything alright for you today?"

No, on balance I'll have the surly Parisian waiters in restaurants, and the no-nonsense, buxom blondes (of myth) in British pubs. Now I sound like Nigel Farage.

16 comments:

  1. I'm sick of overly attentive waiters. It is considered rude to simply order a meal and eat it in the company of one's chosen companion. Sometimes I stay in simply because I don't have the psychic energy to engage with the waiter.

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    1. I try not to be rude to the poor bastards. They know no better.

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  2. If you take a new photograph of the church, won't it go into the right place when you load it ?
    I can't bear over-attentive waiters ...... there is a woman waitress at our local pub who virtually sits down with us and joins in the conversation .... I don't think that that is part of the job description ! XXXX

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    1. I probably will, but that's not the pressing issue for me right now. Could you bring yourself to consider that waitress as a friend?

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    2. ....... Nor would you if you met her !!! XXXX

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  3. I like it when they are attentive.
    Less I like the salespersons habitually chirping "Have a nice day!" - that came up about 10 years ago, and I'm sure they don't care a fig.

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  4. Why not ask Google about the photos. It mas as well be called Guru.

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    1. I have, Joanne, but nobody truly seems to understand. Not even the forums.

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  5. I was thinking about those servers, hedging their bets, trudging as quickly as possible through another night of schlepping armloads of plates and remembering to return for a satisfaction check. I like to think when they are on the other end of the question, they will groan inwardly, think "Gawd," and reply with a smile, "Fine, thank you."

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    1. It is only a fill-in job for them, which is why the professional French waiters are so miserable. They know they have a lifetime of it.

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  6. Many waiters here are university-going students and, as a norm, they do not get tips from customers. My son paid his university fees on a €7,00 per hour wage,and working from 7pm to 1am.
    Greetings Maria x

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    1. A lot of restaurants here add a 10% optional 'gratuity' on to the bill, then take it themselves. I always leave cash tips.

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  7. Staff in bars and restaurants around here are generally very good; one can't always say the same about the food.

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    1. The consistantly good waiters here are Eastern European. Efficient and friendly, without being obsequious.

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