Tuesday 31 October 2017

#298 Is a cake fork required with afternoon tea?

My mother and her partner recently enjoyed afternoon tea at the Waldorf. Except they didn't enjoy it. The pot of cream was too deep for its spoon. What's more, cake forks had not been provided.

I am unaware of the necessity of cake forks with afternoon tea, however my mother was most disappointed at their omission. I am told that once tea had been served, the waiter courteously asked whether anything else at all was required. The question displeased my mother, who thought it unreasonable that she should be asked to communicate her feelings. What if she were to appear fussy?

The trouble with bottling discontent is that it remains. In fact it spreads. I was no less put out at having to listen to her complaint a week later than she had been at the time of the event. That's not quite true, I didn't mind it much. Plus it gave me something to write about. The buck has to stop somewhere though.

"Ask me if there's anything else I'd like" I said after she'd finished the anecdote. "Is there anything else you'd like?" she recited, without cottoning on. "Could I have a cake fork please?" I asked in as unintimidating a tone as I could manage. I then asked if I had sounded fussy. She replied that I hadn't and then realised for herself that she could have asked the question.

4 comments

Fizzfan said...

Your Mums not alone. I wrote rather a long blog about a similarly posh afternoon experience that had nosedived for different reasons.
I too didn’t complain.
I think maybe the posher the place, the more pressure you feel to be polite.

Profound Familiarity said...

The posher the place, the less sure I'd feel of what constituted socially acceptable etiquette.

I feel grateful that you comment on the blog. I don't think you will do always just because nothing lasts forever. If it did, there'd be no reason to be grateful.

Fizzfan said...

Youre right, nothing lasts forever, but although I guess I should like the ‘g’ word reference, I think if anyone should be, it should be me, cos you’re doing pretty much all the work. I’m just feeding off of it.
See how I’ve transformed myself into a vulture now?
Depends on your perspective.......

I actually have a real problem with that word.......but thanks, although don’t be, but that was nice, but......not, although I know you meant it to be.....and it was, but.....

So that cleared that up huh.

Suffice to say, writing’s pretty hard and you’re just good at bringing up interesting stuff:)
If you stop writing, I definitely won’t answer :)

Profound Familiarity said...

You'e almost as messed up as I am.

Cool.

If you could be any animal, what would it be?

I tend to think of myself as a cat.

Yes, I will keep writing daily, at least until I'm working again, at which point I might revert to weekly. Not sure.