Active discussions

Meet the Other Phone. A phone that grows with your child.

Meet the Other Phone.
A phone that grows with your child.

Buy now

Please or to access all these features

Talk
AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

Original poster

To pick up on another cafe third world issue?

72 replies

Vycount · 09/01/2015 20:47

One person goes and sits down while the other orders the food etc and then brings it over to them?
I can see both sides of that one. However, one thing my Mum and I really enjoy is going out shopping together. When we stop for a break I do leave her sat at a table surrounded by bags while I go and get the necessary. This is for two reasons, firstly, we've got bags of shopping and it's maybe not the best plan for us both to be in the queue when we don't need to be carting that lot around. But the main reason is that my Mum needs to sit down quite regularly, and can be a bit unreliable carrying a tray.
So I'm on the fence with this one.

OP posts:
Shakey1500 · 09/01/2015 20:48

Sorry what? What's the problem? Has someone scowled because your Mum is taking up a table but not yet partaking in tea and scone?

Um. YABU ( but not for the topic)

Hassled · 09/01/2015 20:49

I think you mean First World.

I think if you have very small children/babies and/or someone elderly and infirm, it's sort of fair enough to grab a table while you don't actually have your food. But those are the only exceptions.

CaspoFungin · 09/01/2015 20:50

I think you mean first world.

londonrach · 09/01/2015 20:50

Dont understand. Is there a problem? I do the same with my mil as she cant walk.

joanne1947 · 09/01/2015 20:50

sounds like the best way to get your food and a seat for your mum.

ThereIsACarInTheKitchen · 09/01/2015 20:51

So what's your question?

sharonthewaspandthewineywall · 09/01/2015 20:52

Actual LOL in real life at 'third world issue'

Original poster
Vycount · 09/01/2015 20:52

Yeah, shame that we can't edit threads innit?
I picked this up from another thread, and as I started that thread, thought why not open up this one so people could air their views. It appears that a lot of people get quite irate about this, what they view as table-saving behaviour. Because they might have been in the queue alone in front of me and then not been able to sit down. Or they might have been there in the queue with their children and not been able to sit down. And anyway, how can anyone know if the person left at the table waiting for their friend needs to sit down or not? It's not always obvious.

OP posts:
SnoringMonkeys · 09/01/2015 20:53

First world. Yanbu.

ThereIsACarInTheKitchen · 09/01/2015 20:54

OP, I don't have a problem with it. Seems like such a petty thing to get annoyed about.

hazeyjane · 09/01/2015 20:55

I posted on the other thread about me and ds in a cafe the other day - whilst waiting to pay for coffee, a great long queue behind us, 2 women came in, one queued and the other breezed over to the only free table. Leaving me and ds with nowhere to sit.

I wouldn't mind if there were loads of tables, or if someone really needed to sit down. I suppose I just find it a bit galling to queue for something to sit and drink, and then not be able to sit and drink it!

Original poster
Vycount · 09/01/2015 20:56

Yes... in case people haven't noticed, I know it should be first world, but this forum doesn't have an edit function. Until it does there will continue to be typos and absent-minded mistakes in threads. Grin

OP posts:
WooWooOwl · 09/01/2015 20:58

Saving tables when you are buying food is fine.

WD41 · 09/01/2015 20:58

I think one person sitting down at free table whilst other queues is absolutely fine and normal.

QuintlessShadows · 09/01/2015 20:59

I vote for "second world".

Shakey1500 · 09/01/2015 21:00

I don't know anyone that wouldn't save the table by one sitting, one queuing. It makes complete sense Smile

hazeyjane · 09/01/2015 21:02

But what if it means the person who has been queueing (how many eu's?) can't sit down because you've just cme in and taken the last table?

FightOrFlight · 09/01/2015 21:03

I fully understand why people do it but it does annoy me.

I take a lady with learning disabilities out to lunch every few weeks. The cafe is invariably really busy and tables are like gold dust. It pisses me off when the last couple of tables are taken by people who are partnered by the people behind me in the queue, leaving us nowhere to sit once we are served.

I cannot leave this lady to sit by herself while I get our food as she is very (overly) sociable and would be off kissing random babies and talking to strangers so she has to queue with me. Having said that, if she was okay to sit by herself for a bit then I would do the same thing which would piss off the people in front of me.

So YABU whilst simultaneously NBU. If you see what I mean Confused

Original poster
Vycount · 09/01/2015 21:03

I was thinking Fourth World had a certain ring to it... Grin

OP posts:
WooWooOwl · 09/01/2015 21:03

If they've been queuing then it's likely that someone ahead of them in the queue will take the last free table first anyway.

Cobain · 09/01/2015 21:03

The problem is I do not want to purchase food to find I have nowhere to eat it. It's a bit of a vicious circle I do not like doing it but as every once else does it is the only way to ensure I have one.

fatherpeeweestairmaster · 09/01/2015 21:05

hazey that happened to me yesterday. I'd queued on my own for ages, had spotted a table (for 2) about to be free in a very busy cafe, but just as I was about to get there, a woman and her mate swanned in, one dumped her bag down and the other went to join the queue, saying, 'Ooh, isn't busy, good job we got here when we did...' as she went.

Annoying.

fatherpeeweestairmaster · 09/01/2015 21:06

Sorry, that (for 2) was to indicate that had it been a table for 4, I could have smiled sweetly and said, 'Mind if I sit here as it's very busy' but I couldn't even do that.

hazeyjane · 09/01/2015 21:09

fatherpeewee - I wanted to push ds over, and rest my tray on one of the women's head and say, 'you don't mind if I rest this here do you, it's just that there are no other tables free'

Original poster
Vycount · 09/01/2015 21:14

A friend and I have a bit of a daydream/plan about opening a cafe when we retire. I'm having second thoughts now... What about if people picked up a "reserved" thingy as they came into the cafe that they could put down on a table before they went to get their grub? Or maybe we'll just have to take orders at the table. Hmm...

OP posts:
Swipe left for the next trending thread