Always an exception to the rule...

I was on way home from the Midlands last night, rushing to get back to Manchester for an evening meeting. I stopped at a garage on the dual carriageway to get some petrol. Normally, I throw my cash card into my bag, so when I couldn't find it at first I knew I'd eventually see it tucked into a dark corner of my 'abyss' bag...

So, I put a bit of petrol in and ran into the garage.

Scrabble, scrabble... no card. Right, erm 'just a sec!', frantic scrabble... no card, no cheque book, no pin number for my credit card. No way to pay.

Called the bank, told them that I had lost my card, the pin number for my other card hadn't arrived (thanks, Royal Mail), I had petrol in my car and no way to pay, "we can order you a new pin number, it will take 4 working days"... it was all I could do to not swear at the man when I calmly told him that waiting in the garage for 4 days was NOT an option.

"There's nothing we can do", he said. "Thanks for being utterly useless" I spluttered.

Now, when I get annoyed, I go very calm. It's an odd thing, I kind of slow down, lower my voice and silently smoulder. Where was my card? Why now? What about the meeting? What do I do?!?

"I'll pay, just send me a cheque", the man behind the counter said.

God bless that man. He paid cash out of his pocket, refused my contact details, said to send him a cheque and "drive safely, and don't rush, you want to get to your meeting in one piece".

A couple of weeks ago I blogged about Britain's rudeness - I've just had a very worthwhile lesson - there's Always an exception to the rule...

Eva xx

The Busy Girls Guide http://www.busygirlsguide.co.uk/ - Manchester & Cheshire