Weekly Chat (Non-Osprey), 11 February 2018

Well, you seem to be coping very well AQ. Hat's off to you.

Lovely set of photos, Clare.

Been a very pleasant day here and more forecast although they say it might turn wintry again by Tuesday next.

Another stunning set of pics, Clare.

Lindy, love that pic of the puppy, he's gorgeous.

Annette - hope you enjoyed your birthday meal. Glad to hear that the whales are numerous.

OG - looks like you are really looking forward to your new car with all its fitments suitable for making things easier for getting about.

Shopping being delivered tomorrow - usually do this every Friday, saves the hastle of going round the supermarket.

Evening all:  B/day dinner was good (fish for me/pasta for OH/shared warm chocolate cake w/ice cream/whipped cream and berries for dessert. A glass and a half of wine each.  However, that restaurant was not our first choice.  We arrived at first choice restaurant soon after they opened for dinner. It's a large restaurant and had just a few tables occupied. We asked for a table for two by a wall (not out in the middle of the restaurant where no privacy).  Well, there were a few of those but they all had reserved signs on them. OK, so we point out a table for four in a corner that has no reserved sign. No. Can't have that one says the lady; you're only a party of two. But says I, the restaurant is almost empty and it's still early. Yes, she says, but we're fully booked tonight. But, says I, that table for four hasn't got a reserved notice on it, it's early and we aren't going to here for that long.  Doesn't matter, says the lady, we don't have many tables for four. (Apparently this restaurant doesn't believe in putting two tables for two together to make one table for four - maybe they also have trouble with math?). We didn't like the other options but what was so very exasperating was the  "No, you can't sit there. No, we can't do that. No, we can't accommodate you" attitude of this person, which was the main reason I finally turned to my OH and said "I don't want to eat here after all."  So we left and went across the road to a newly opened restaurant (a second location for a popular one downtown) and ate there. We'd go back to the second one, though I'd order something different. Not sure how I feel about going back to the first choice, though I will post of comment about our experience on the local dining out website.  Another restaurant we like also avoids sitting two people at tables for four, but it's a teeny tiny restaurant where space is minimal, so its understandable there. Other than that, a good day.   Just check the whale website - only four today.

Annette – When I was travelling UK & Ireland – alone – sometimes I would have trouble getting a table for one. I ate early evening, often almost the only table in use. Sometimes with only my book to slow me down, I would finish in record time and be gone before the rush. Some places were just too snooty to accept me, one in Brighton. Another hazard was the owner’s wife who feared I was going to race off with her dearly beloved. No way. That was in north of England. It all adds to the experience!!!

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OH does not do solo nanny duty, mainly because Little People have minds of their own and they exhaust him, also he rarely drives now.

Good Morning, All.  

Annette, what a disappointment for you both. The inflexibility of arrangements in restaurants is always annoying. They can't seem to see that there will inevitably be some couples, and that sometimes it's better to sit a couple at a table for four rather than turn them away. I hope you complain online, so that they can see that they're losing customers. Hope you enjoyed what you had elsewhere, eventually.

Today's pic:

AQ - I can relate to your experiences traveling alone in UK.  I almost always have lunch in a restaurant and then cheese and fruit in my room in the evening.  I find it really difficult to eat alone in a restaurant in the evening, even with a book.  I get odd looks, as though people on their own shouldn't be in a world of couples!  So I do whatever I can to avoid those uncomfortable situations.

Annette - So sorry you were met with such negativity at your restaurant of choice.  I do hope you record this on both your local website and perhaps also TripAdvisor.  I have recorded negative things on TA and it is usually met with thanks from the people concerned, and certainly on two occasions vast improvements experienced on later visits.  We are often reluctant to complain, but it does work.  I am quick to praise when it's due as well.

Lindy - thanks for the horses.  Reminder of better weather to come ... hopefully!

Pat – What a shame you feel you have to miss dinner to avoid uncomfortable situations. I pretended I didn’t notice the odd looks. After a hearty English, or Irish or Scottish, breakfast, lunch was an apple & savoury bics snack. I enjoyed my dinners, especially dessert, a must. LOL. Restaurants & pubs probably thought I was a strange creature from DownUnder. Who cares, I rarely went to same place twice.

ANNETTE  I definitely wouldn't be going back to your first choice.  What a dreadful attitude. I hope none of their reservations didn't turn up.  We often eat out as a 2 and never have a problem I am glad to say.  Pleasant morning now so Benson is out with OH. I am going for my 3rd swim this week and will hopefully walk him this afternoon if underfoot isn't too slippy.