The continuing diaries of an Englishman abroad visiting such exotic places as Spain, USA, Malta and heaven knows where. Tagging along are his wife Pauline and daughter Emma.

Everything you are about to read is based on true events and real people. It may have been embellished beyond recognition for a cheap laugh but everything happened to a greater or lesser degree. Apart from the bits I made up. OK, and apart from the jokes. And apart from the fantasy sequences. But all the characters are real, believe me.


Exciting isn't it?


Wednesday, 18 January 2012

Spain 2002 - Day 9


Two coffees, a Martini Rosso and two brandies - £3.
 
The Spanish way of life’s not bad is it?
 
The trouble is the UK is not tip orientated is it? Anywhere abroad, including the US, gratuities are a way of life and there’s nothing wrong with that. If you know the rules. The trouble with the UK is that we don’t. Abroad it’s clear and straight forward. Any service industry gets a tip and why not? In Britain it’s all very iffy. Do I tip or not? We all tip in restaurants, hotels, hairdressers and the milkman at Christmas but should we or do we tip in cafes or McDonalds or the Marks and Spencer cafeteria? Possibly not and I think we should. Those extra pence and Euros make all the difference between a basic living and a tolerable one. It’s a day long grind of work, work, work for these people and if we can throw a few Euros or pence into their pot then that’s all for the good. I’m all for it, we don’t realise how lucky we are.
 
That waiter over there has just given me a funny look, the bastard. Well he can whistle for any bloody tips from me. He’s not getting a cent for the rest of the bloody holiday, not that I had any intention of giving him anything anyway, lazy sod.

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