Saturday, February 09, 2008

Eating out

Our friend celebrated her birthday today with a meal with lots of people in town (ie central London). Which is all very fine and good until you have to start explaining to everyone there that you can't actually contribute a 16th of the bill and will only pay for your own food... It sounds very antisocial, and it feels it too! But there is only so far we can stretch the £13 handed to us from our communal pot at the beginning of the evening. It is a bit embarrasing though, although I guess it did provide a conversation starter with other people on the table. However, once that bit was over with the meal and company were very nice.

Being awkward in a social situation is quite difficult to do.

2 comments:

Liz Hinds said...

I'm trying to work out how to suggest to the in-laws that they buy us Christmas presents (yes, I know it's early but I need to ponder this for a long time!) from a goodgifts catalogue - the sort that gives sheep or books or whatever to third world countries. It would make sense if we reciprocated similarly but that will probably be a step too far! So I understand your difficulty!

fools' cap said...

Our fridge is full of Oxfam fridge magnets...It's brilliant! I think it helps if the people you're swapping gifts with are a) aware of the concept of the joys of giving goats on other people's behalf and b) agree with it themselves. You've probably got the right idea of starting now. Slowly does it...