Tonight, in an organised fashion, I called at the surgery on my way home. It seemed to be a popular time as several other people arrived at the same time. One beat me to the desk and queued behind the woman who was already there.
One didn’t quite beat me to the desk but I held the door and let her go ahead. Before you start criticising me for chavinism reflect on this – I didn’t hold the door because she was a weak and feeble woman: I held the door because my parents brought me up to have good manners.
So, there I was, fourth in the queue. The first woman was one of those people who take a long time over everything, can’t take no for an answer and have no awareness of how many people are queueing behind them thinking of violence.
The second person was unremarkable and finished her enquiry in a couple of minutes.
The third person, the woman I’d held the door for, spent the entire wait hacking and coughing without bothering to cover her mouth. I presume her parents had never told her that coughs and sneezes spread diseases. Fortunately, because I’d let her go first, she was doing it over the people in front. Virtue, as they say, is its own reward.
Eventually I arrived at the front of the line. I picked up my prescription with no problem. The blood test form, however, was another thing altogether. It turned out that there were two of them. One is for blood. This good as the arrangement is that I am having extra samples taken next time I visit phlebotomy.
The other is not for blood. Somehow my agreement to two blood tests on the same day has mutated into a blood test with accompanying urine test. As I can’t see phlebotomy being ecstatic at being presented with a urine sample I suppose I’ll have to go back to the surgery, meaning that doubling up the blood test is saving no time or effort.
I mentioned this to the receptionist, who instantly became blank-faced and started up the Nuremberg Defence. I swear they have a special training school for doctors’ receptionists.
I’m thinking of what I can put in my urine sample to give them a hilarious surprise…
I also hold doors for men and women alike and offer seats to anyone I think needs one more than me. After hearing some of the offensive comments made by some women to polite men I am not surprised by men’s reluctance to be ‘polite and considerate’ towards women.
🙂
I am with Jodie abut holding the door. If I get to the door first and someone is behind me, I always hold it. Doesn’t matter if the person is a man or a woman. Good manners. 😉
🙂
‘O frabjous day’
If I’d had my vorpal sword there would have been a bit of snicker snack…
🙂
The people in a queue that really annoy me are those that don’t realise that they have had their turn and should move on!
Definitely!
I don’t think that you should take the piss…..no, on second thoughts, I think that you should.
Somebody certainly is.
RE: door holding. In my mind it is no longer a male/ female thing. It is a manners thing, as you say. If I get to the door first, I hold it for whomever is close behind me. If someone held the door for me, I would never take offense. In fact, I would be more taken aback if they let the door slam in my face. So, continue to have your good manners and if anyone gives you trouble for it – send her to me.
I will do that. As I get older I find that more people hold doors open for me. 🙂
Well said, Jodie! 🙂
Thank you, Clare!
🙂