Sunday 21 February 2010

mates

Call me a grumpy old man if you like but I would like to mention a little thing that annoys me.  I get really fed up with young lads that serve me in supermarkets and call me "mate".  "Alright mate?  Got a dividend card, mate?  Need a bag mate?  Can I be your mate, mate?"

Pipsqueaks.

Anyway just to pre-empt the forthcoming flood of comments about not shopping in supermarkets - living in a small town means that one has to use them.  For example, Tesco is the only place I can get Orecchiette pasta from.  Just because I can't pronounce it doesn't mean to say I can't enjoy it. Tesco is one of my least favourite supermarkets, too (after Asda and Lidl).  And they employ kids that call me mate, did I mention that?  Oh well.  Here's another Private Eye cartoon from the 70s:

Talking of little things - there are some little things that bring great joy into my life.  One of them is the Rotring Artpen that I finally bought recently.  Probably the best drawing pen I've ever owned.  More of that later.

8 comments:

Brendini said...

The amazing John Glashan. He used to have an incredible cartoon spot in the Observer, called Genius. He drew tiny pen and ink figures against beautifully grandiose watercolours. Genius indeed!
You alright, mate?

Dave Leeke said...

Indeed I am - I'm sure you've read of this week's exploits. I must admit to finding the boot/Blacks incident rather amusing.

Anyway - get off Facebook and get more onto your blog.

You might find my new posting to your liking.

Mike C. said...

I'm having the opposite problem: I'm OK with "mate", but it annoys me that people have started calling me "sir" in shops. You just know they're taking the piss... By "Sir" they clearly mean "grey-haired old twit".

Mike

Dave Leeke said...

Speaking as a grey-haired old twit I quite like "sir", especially as most students seem to have forgotten that term.

Try reading a register out with about thirty unemotional replies of "yes" - it's like Cyberman school.

Brendini said...

*Sigh*
Nobody addresses me as "Majesty" anymore.

Dave Leeke said...

Thank you for sharing that with us, your Majesty.

Brendini said...

Just "Majesty" will do, mate.

Dave Leeke said...

Ah yes,I see what you did there . . .