If,
like me, you went to a Church comprehensive school in Northamptonshire then
these words will sound familiar.
It
was a favourite saying of one of the Deputy Heads.
He
was a stickler for good manners, and that saying has stuck with me.
I
thought of him the other day when I was whacked very hard in the leg in
Waitrose.
It
was Christmas Eve Eve (the day formerly known as 23rd December) and the shop
was very busy.
I
was searching the wine aisle for my Mum's favourite tipple - Lambrusco - which
I couldn't find anywhere. I'm guessing
it's become deeply unfashionable, but she likes it, so I was on a quest.
A
gentleman tried to manoeuvre his groaning trolley past my husband's basket (we
only go there for Dickinson & Morris pork pies at Christmas and Easter,
it's become a tradition) but hit it full tilt, whacking it into my knee.
As
I crumpled, clutching my wounded knee (not exaggerating, it really did hurt,
I've got a massive bruise, but then again I do bruise like a peach), the
gentleman, on realizing he was the cause, stopped to see if I was OK,
apologized profusely, before continuing on with his trolley once I'd assured
him that I would survive (cue Gloria Gaynor soundtrack).
Now,
although I was still hurt, I felt slightly better that he'd bothered to check if
I was OK and say sorry.
I
just wish that people were always this polite.
I read some horrendous things people say to each other on social media,
and hope that they aren't that rude in real life.
But
this then leads me to ask, if they wouldn't say that in person, what makes them
think it's OK to say it online?
Wouldn't
it be good if people remembered their manners no matter where they were - or is
that just me being old-fashioned?
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