Thursday 26 February 2009

Sometimes it pays not be completely British...

Okay, so if I'm going to have a blog, I probably should start writing it! I realise I'm not in Brussels yet (and incidentally I won't be in March either - I'll be in Nivelles, which is a little town just outside Brussels in British terms - or miles away if you're Belgi anand have a warped perception of distance!)...

... still, I'm thinking I really ought to have started a blog years ago. "The wonderful weirdness of London", or something. So if I had said blog, I would have written about what happened at the gym today. Am sorely tempted to name and shame them, but one apparently shouldn't be negative online...

I was told there were no towels. After a bit of a Claire-style rant, I asked for a complaints form. They had run out of complaints forms. After ranting and raving a little more, I asked to see the manager - and lo and behold, a towel was produced! They even admitted that they were reserved for the people who complained the most!! Not sure how it fits in with Philippians 2.14, but I did feel quite smug and satisfied...
(less happy later when it turned out they didn't have loo roll either... it took me ages to find a shower that had hot water, and then the one that did didn't have any shower gel. Honestly, what do they think the hefty membership fee is for?)

It reminded me of a recent train journey from Cumbria (delayed, by the way) where they had "no hot water". Two hours in and trying desperately to do some work I was desperate for a cuppa. So off I went to first class and asked them for hot water. Which of course they had.

So, there you have it. There's a lot to be said for not being quite British enough to not put up with lame claims... and kicking up a bit of a fuss from time to time!