It’s nearly time! I can hardly wait! Only a couple of days to go but there’s probably just about enough time to get a card into the post or order that perfect gift. Don’t delay though – whatever you’re sending needs to be here by first post tomorrow. In time for my birthday, of course – what did you think I was talking about?
It’s been a decent sort of week, the highlight of which was the all-day journey to Gatwick airport and back to collect our wandering family – Adam and Ava and the girls are home after a year’s travelling around the far east.
I’ve told them but I might as well tell you all as well – I am not going to Gatwick to collect visitors ever again. If you fly into Gatwick you’ll have to make your own way. Not only is it substantially further than Heathrow, Luton or even Birmingham, it also necessitates negotiating the world’s largest car park, otherwise known as the M25 motorway. Rush hour traffic doesn’t help either but, then again, it always seems to be rush hour on the M25.
In spite of my moaning, I did enjoy a particularly uplifting experience while waiting for the wanderers to clear customs and immigration. I arrived at Gatwick just a couple of minutes after their flight had landed. So, I had time to get myself a coffee and almond croissant from the Pret which was just adjacent to the doors from which they would eventually emerge.
As I always do, when it was my turn to be served, I greeted the server, “Good afternoon. How are you?” I think the French have got the right idea on this – when you go into a shop, boulangerie, pâtisserie or whatever – you always greet the shopkeeper with a hearty Bonjour! It’s considered rude not to. Sadly, that sort of interaction is relatively rare in the UK, I think.
Most serving staff react with surprise when I greet them but they almost always smile and say, “Fine, thank you. And how are you?” which starts us off with a positive interaction leading to a successful interchange. This time, though, I was surprised.
The server did respond in a positive manner, took my order and, when she handed me the coffee and croissant, she said, “It’s on the house.” I was somewhat taken aback and asked why? She said, “You asked me how I am, didn’t you?” I replied that I had indeed enquired of her health and well-being and she said that was the reason. Clearly, not many other people do.
That simple interaction landed me with a free coffee and croissant. If you’re not in the habit of doing something similar, try it sometime. You may not get a free coffee and croissant but you’ll probably get a smile at the very least. And that’s not bad.
Most of you will already have received our Christmas newsletter via email. If you haven’t had yours, you must be on the naughty list. Penny and I did discuss whether or not to do one this year – this year has been pretty much a rollercoaster. And, Round Robin newsletters are considered crass and vulgar (according to the Guardian) and are generally “boastful” or “miserable.” Yep, all that sums me up pretty succinctly.
If you’re feeling neglected, you can find this year’s nonsense here.
And, I think that’s about it for this week. Hope you all enjoy whatever festivities you might have coming up – I know we will. And, hold your loved ones close.
Meanwhile, keep breathing, keep happy, keep smiling, keep exercising, be good, be careful, and keep safe. And be gentle to wasps and bees – we need all the pollinators we can get.
Lots of love to you all,
Greg