gloswhite wrote:Where are the Ritz?
Many years ago and a bit after my father had died, I took my mother on a surprise visit to the Ritz for a cup of tea whilst we were on a day trip out in London.
She was absolutely thrilled and just before we left I asked the head waiter if he could find something I could have for my mother as a small memento of her visit.
On leaving he kindly gave me a serviette of the hotel, for which I thanked him gratefully.
However on walking to the door he quickly stopped me and asked for the serviette back!
It seems it wasn't the serviette that was the memento - turns out that it was an expensive pure Irish linen item, but a paper doily he had put inside it!
Trust us classless northern bumkins to show ourselves up!
How were we to know, we never even thought to look inside the napkin - who on earth would? Probably the gentry I suppose?
My mother was mortified at the time, she even had to get it out of her handbag to give back, and only then did he open it up to reveal the doily - but we did have a good laugh about it afterwards!
We never did go back again!
We went on to see The Phantom of the Opera after not getting arrested for unintentionally attempting to steal from the Ritz.
Oh how I wish I could turn the clock back sometimes...
But you can't.
True story.