To think she should know my order by now?

[KatyTheCleaningLady]

(This is sort of lighthearted. I'm not actually bent out of shape over it.)

Every morning (well, about four out of five weekday mornings) I go to my local Greg's and I order the exact same thing. I smile and I say:

"Good morning! I'd like a bacon roll with a little bit of brown sauce, a chocolate eclaire, and a white coffee with three sugars, please."

Most mornings, the same woman takes my order and, even though I've probably said these words to her two dozen times over the past few weeks, she always looks at me as if she's never seen me before, and she has to ask at least once while preparing my order a question like, "Do you want sausage?" or "Do you want brown sauce?" or "How many sugars?"

There's another woman who works there who does seem to remember me, even though she rarely takes my order. She also offered me a loyalty/reward card thing where you get stamps for a free coffee, because she recognized that I'm a daily regular. I must have been in there a dozen times (served by the forgetful woman) before I even knew they existed.

Is the forgetful woman winding me up? Or am I just deluded to think that someone should remember me (the really tall American who has the exact same thing every morning)?

Also, if Greg's is on your Bingo card, you're welcome. I'll try to come back and drip feed something about parking in here, later.

Ta!

[VivaLeBeaver]

Firstly I'm wondering how many teeth you have left?

Bacon buttie, eclair and 3 sugars every morning!


Mmm, some people have very bad facial recognition. I'm one of them - she maybe doesn't recognise you.

[RubyGates]

You get your sugar put in for you?
Our Greggs is a sugar-it-youself establishment.

YABU
(I'd ask anyway even if I knew what you had because a) she's proabably been trained to, and b) you might have changed your mind)

[jacks365]

My sister was mortified when she walk into costa and they had her coffee waiting for her, it made her realise how stuck into a routine she'd got and also how much it costs her, she'd have loved a woman like that. On the flip side if you ever fancy changing your order it will be easier.

[EhricLovesTeamQhuay]

Nothing more annoying than regulars at a busy cafe who expect staff to remember their exact order. I used to hate it and pretend I didn't know just to wind them up. (Unless I liked them. But not much cause for banter in greggs really)
And do you really have a bacon sandwich and an eclair for breakfast every single day?

[CaptainJamesTKirk]

That's one hell of a breakfast... Next time say 'my usual please' and see if she does know.

[Sirzy]

I used to work in Greggs, hundreds of people come through the doors every day so some 'regular' customers and their orders probably aren't remembered.

[Alibabaandthe40nappies]

British serving staff don't seem to do the thing that happens in the US where you go somewhere once and they remember you and what you had the next day.

I think she does recognise you but she just can't be arsed to retain any information. Which is probably why she is working in Greggs

[KatyTheCleaningLady]

I expect to have to state my order upon entering. It's that she looks at me as if she's never seen me before, and then has to clarify something about the order every single time. Like, she often asks if I want sausage. I've never ordered sausage. I just said bacon.

I know some people are bad at faces, but I'm also very tall and have a foreign accent.

[Juniperdewdropofbrandy]

I'm just thinking good job you're tall with that lot!

Or is this a wind up? I mean who'd have that breakfast so often?

[TanteRose]

agree with Alibaba

OTOH, I could just do with a bacon roll and eclair (its late afternoon where I am!)

btw, did you get to go to your music festival, Katy?

[cozietoesie]

I would prefer it that way. I take likings for things but then change after a week or two. I get quite put out when someone tries to anticipate what I want because you feel so mean when they're all pleased at remembering your order and you want to say No Thanks.

[musicposy]

You have bacon roll, a chocolate eclair and three sugars in your coffee, all for breakfast?
And yet I'm the one with hardly any teeth left. There's no justice in this world

Whilst I have my judgey pants on , do tell us about the parking!

[Alibabaandthe40nappies]

Blimey stop having a go at the women about her breakfast! If she is about to spend the day doing housework at a ferocious pace then I expect it is all burnt off pretty fast

[KatyTheCleaningLady]

Alibababa, I think maybe I'm bringing my American expecations into it! I waitressed for years and knowing what the regulars wanted was very much expected. It would be bad to assume that's what they want, but to ask "the usual?" is the norm. To be honest, to do what she does in an American diner would probably make customers mad enough that they might even complain. Or at least request that they are never served by that person, again.

I wouldn't go that far. I don't think she has any obligation to remember me and she serves me what I want just fine. I just think it's weird.

[KatyTheCleaningLady]

Yes! I eat that every day! And I'm thin. I have a very physical job.

[TanteRose]

again , agree with Alibaba

Katy's an American - her teeth will be shining, bright Hollywood style gnashers with no cavities

[KatyTheCleaningLady]

tante Bloodstock is in August and I'm definitely going!

About the parking: well, it's not that interesting. Except that I cross over a bunch of empty handicapped spots in order to enter a parking lot from a one-way street that I would otherwise have to drive a long way around the block to get to. I'm not even sure that's illegal.

[TanteRose]

yay, have a great time

[VivaLeBeaver]

I'm just jealous, I wish I could have an eclair for breakfast every day.

[Hamwidge]

Yanbu. I use the same taxi firm 6 days a week. They have my name and number saved. I do the same journey every day. I'm on first name terms with every driver, yet the woman who answers the phone seems completely unable to remember who or where I am. Grrr.

Otoh, I ring my local takeaway and they say 'hi Ham, are you having the usual? Are you at home or work?'

[TheCatcherInTheRye]

I went into a restaurant in England with English friends, we were served by an American waitress. I thought it was great, a relief to feel welcomed and looked after. My English friends felt uncomfortable. Your woman is probably meeting the expectations of the majority of her customers, sadly.

[CaptainJamesTKirk]

In sure she recognises you and knows your order... Bit just can't be bothered, or she has memory issues.
The coffee shop lady at my local train station knows exactly how everyone takes their coffee... And I mean virtually everyone. You get to the front of the queue and she'll say 'it's a medium latte, no sugar is it?' and then immediately look to the people behind 'tea, 2 sugars for you'. She amazes me!

[raisah]

Change your order to throw her off track next time. Ask for a.coffee 2 sugars and a porridge, see if she wakes up.

Im just as bad, pret almond croissant (yummy) or porridge & a coffee.

[MrsOakenshield]

it does sound a tad odd. However, I think all it does is highlight the difference between US and UK waiting staff (or similar) - she will be paid minimum wage, regardless of whether she does a good job or not, an American waitress or server will also be paid minimum wage, but if she does a good job could earn a decent amount in tips.

I actually wish we could have Amercian standards in our shops and cafes, it is so depressing the service and attitude you get in many places.

[wigglesrock]

I used to have a breakfast like that before I did my cleaning job. Can't do it anymore but, I'm

I'm not one for over familiarity, I know I'm a bit rude - maybe you have a doppelganger and she's not sure which one you are