Bill P. Godfrey et al


Tuesday, September 19, 2006

Have it your way?

Whomever has the gold, makes the rules.

So I was in a cafe in a seaside town and I fancied a breakfast. They had an English breakfast which I ordered at the counter. She asked if I wanted baked beans or tomato (tomato), toast or friend bread (toast) and how I'd like my tea.

I was about to give my usual preference (white with one sugar) but I wasn't really in the mood for a hot drink. So I asked if I could have a cold drink instead.

Apparantly, I couldn't not have the tea. It was part of the breakfast and thou shalt not modify the breakfast. I was given two choices already and that should be enough choice for anyone!

I asked how much the cold drinks are and she ran through the price list. Somewhere around the price of a cola can, my enthusiasm for the breakfast left me and I told her not to worry about it and I motioned towards the door.

With the prospect of losing business, suddenly, we could be flexible. "Would you like an orange juice instead of the tea?" With that, my custom was saved! Hurrah!

But really, why not allow anyone to make reasonable substitutions? Is inflexibility such a virtue?

(Note for my American buddies: In England, tea is typically served as a hot drink.)

4 Comments:

  • Was this is Bournemouth?

    By Blogger GammaGoblin, At 10:29 AM, September 19, 2006  

  • Near Grimsby.

    By Anonymous Bill P. Godfrey, At 7:24 PM, September 19, 2006  

  • Interesting, interesting!

    By Blogger GammaGoblin, At 4:00 AM, September 20, 2006  

  •      (Note for my American buddies: In England, tea is typically served as a hot drink.)

    In fact, we distinguish the difference between the hot and cold varieties typically by adding the word "Iced" in front of the cold teas should we ever partake of them... although there is that lipton tea thing that comes in bottles and is served cold... never tried the stuff... not sure I want to to be honest either...

    hmm... of course, was there a selection of teas available; from common black, green to the many flavoured infusions that flood the market - or was it simply a "with or without sugar/milk" ?

    In future, go for the "I'd like my tea looking and tasting like orange juice... or... if you can't do that... I'd just have an orange juice instead - and we can let it be our little secret...<wink>"

    By Blogger M., At 10:00 AM, September 21, 2006  

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