Nice people thread part 4 - sugar and spice and all things

silvercar

Our chimney sweep only comes every other year, that's all our chimney needs apparently. So no need for a Xmas tip.

I didn't realise such professions still existed until someone mentioned it. I sometimes wonder if there are other things that pass us by that others do.

The only thing that comes to mind is the children's eye tests. After health visitors do the general tests at 18 maths and 3 ish, I assumed that the schools would have visit by some eye testing experts. Or if that slipped through the net, then the kids would say if they couldn't see the blackboard.:o

PasturesNew

silvercar wrote: »

...the kids would say if they couldn't see the blackboard.:o

They probably can't see the blackboard.... I think it's all whiteboards and posh interactive digital thingies nowadays.

tomterm8

PasturesNew wrote: »

So ..... I have absolutely no idea what "good service" actually means.

Them not spitting in your soup because you didn't give them a 10% tip last time you were in the restaurant, generally.

chewmylegoff

PasturesNew wrote: »

I've always been confused by the concept of "good service" in a restaurant - and, in tipping conversations, never knew what it meant. Upon enquiring, I have never been to the type of restaurant where you get service. The best places I've been you get to sit down and there's a tablecloth on the table. The process is: you sit down, waiter gives you a menu, you order, food comes, you eat it, bill comes, you leave. No service there to tip for.

So ..... I have absolutely no idea what "good service" actually means.

you know the bit when they ask you what you want, and then they bring it to your table, and then they clear the mess away. that's the bit they want an extra 10% for.

in a posh restaurant, they want 12.5%, because they have taken a cork out of the wine bottle instead of removed a screw-top, and they come around every ten minutes to refill your water and wine glasses for you, even though you actually would rather they let you do it yourself.

in asia de cuba (a restaurant which thinks it is posh but is in fact is just expensive in a wayne rooneyeseque way) they add 15% onto the bill which is to be distributed between all the staff, and then the waiter expects you to leave another 15% just for him and tells you explicitly that is what you are supposed to do.

i don't know how this is generally received, but it worked out rather badly for him and the kitchen staff when he tried it on me. the only time i can recall not leaving any tip at all somewhere half-decent.

lostinrates

spinathon

lostinrates

I mastered pictures elsewhere.

neverdespairgirl

SingleSue wrote: »

Thanks guys....I've calmed down a little overnight (although there wasn't much sleeping going on!)

Middle son I think is struggling a little with the stress of GCSE years, hormones and the stress of keeping it together at school, which is making him retreat into his rituals and 'safe' zones. This is making life a little eek because if we don't adhere to those rituals and safe zones, then he becomes very aggressive and trying to adhere to them is not conducive to normal life for the rest of us...so he is getting aggressive a lot just lately.

Poor Sue - and everything's so much worse when one's tired, too.

It's a very difficult situation for you, and all your boys. Vent here as much as you like.

Does he do this outside the home? Are your GP and any necessary specialists helping?

vivatifosi

lostinrates wrote: »

I always tip the chimney sweep...is it a tradition, why do I feel compelled to do that?

I so want to ask if you tip them a silver sixpence....

neverdespairgirl

chewmylegoff wrote: »

just look at their names. if they've got ludicrous names like hugo, india or octavia then you know they are going to be trouble.

apologies to those of you who are called hugo, india or octavia.

There's an infant in Isaac's class at school called Octavia. She's rather nice, though. There's also a "Cosmo" and a "Sienna" and a "Rupert", but no Hugo or India.

lostinrates

vivatifosi wrote: »

I so want to ask if you tip them a silver sixpence....

I usually round it up so if we were charged 27:50 I'd make it 35 but if it were 25 I'd make it 30. which is mad. Its only really just occured to me its a csh in hand transation.:o