People

People never cease to amaze me, just when I think they can't surprise me anymore, that I've SEEN it all....One person will always come along and prove me wrong, always.

Helping out in the family restaurant has taught me to look beyond the surface of an individual, to do otherwise would lose you a tip (although I must add that over here in the UK there are no laws saying you should give a tip, in fact most don't). Its incredibly important to remember to look at the customer when they first come into the restaurant, to smile and say hello. It is those first few seconds that are most crucial. Here you can learn an awful lot from them.

I must urge you dear reader to remember this piece of advice, whether your married, have a partner, or a girlfriend/boyfriend. NEVER EVER go out to eat after you have had an argument. During my 13 years of working in the catering sector I have had more then my fair share of unhappy customers, mostly through no fault of my own...or anyone elses. The simple fact of the matter is, is that the customers were unhappy before they even entered the building. Now quite frankly, once this has happened, the staff have absolutely NO chance of making you happy.

It has always been the same scenario as well and, unfortunately, its the women who tend to create the most problems (sad but true nonetheless, and as a female myself I find myself in a bit of a conundrum). Men, you will find will always act like nothing happened, that everything is fine, women on the other hand will sulk and have a tendency to keep very quiet. However, they will be the ones who will be the ones who will pick at everything. The reason why I urge you dear reader, not to go out when your in a bad mood is because you will, inevitably, blame the innocent staff, and it will always be the waiting on staff that get the brunt of your frustration and anger, and it will always be the most inane circumstance that will break the camels back. Something which under any other situation you probably wouldn't even notice. As a consequence, the poor waiter or waitress will end up with the short straw and bear the brunt of your displeasure.

What I find amazing, something that never ceases to amaze me, is that for the most port, the general public tend to forget that we who serve, also have feelings and brains. In fact many a time I have had a customer surprised that I actually went to university, let alone did a degree in International Relations. Which always begs the question...why are you surprised by all this? No offence but doesn't that strike you as, well, ignorant?

So, as a parting to you, I urge you to remember, if indeed you are in a bad mood and insist on still eating out, please take that extra few seconds to think about the people who have to serve you, because inevitably it will be them who will bear the brunt of your anger (unless of course the staff did something so outrageous that to not complain would make it a travesty).