Manners

[Bewlay Bros.]

There is a tea shop openned up in Brighton where the patrons will be asked to leave if they dunk their biscuit in their tea.

As a purveyor of fine manners myself, I aware that this is a no-go. Likewise I am aware that dunking bread in soup is a social faux pas.

Yes we all do it, and who really cares???

However, although having attended finishing school for BOYS, my question revolves around the humble boiled egg.

If you were having breakfast with the Queen would it be acceptable to dunk toasted soldiers in your boiled egg?

Or is this yet another no-go?

Just to say I am an avid dunker.

[Pippa68]

How else would you eat a dunky egg? I suppose if it was a hard boiled egg you would have to refrain from dunking anyway...

I say go ahead and dunk. I bet the Queen dunks her Rich Tea in her brew.

[VillageVicar]

Well, in that instance, I would certainly follow Her Majesty�s lead. In fact, I wouldn�t dare touch her Tupperware at all, unless she invited me.

I too, having come from a background where manners rule, it�s often a situation where we�re we are often left to be gracious so as not to cause embarrassment for others. Many years ago I remember opening a car door for a date I had. I politely extended my hand to assist her from the car � she shook it.

I�ve sat at tables where people daintily dipped their spoons into the finger bowls and I�ve sat across from Americans who approach a slice of beef with their cutlery positioned is if they were sawing a piece of wood. (actually, not even that graciously!)

And I�ve held a door open for an elderly woman in New York City, only for to verbally attack me, poking me with her spindly finger, telling me she was capable of holding a door open on her own.

So what do we do? Grin and bear it!

Be well

Fr Bill

[VillageVicar]

But privately......

I'm a dunker!

:-)

Fr Bill

[redcrx]

Im sure itd be fine as long as they werent the queen's soldiers. Mind you I doubt they'd fit and their hats would leave fluff in the yolk, bleurgh!

[redcrx]

oh and I dunk, I play dunk chicken and end up fishing rich tea out of the bottom of my mug (teacups just dont have enough tea in them to dunk)

[Bewlay Bros.]

Its called The Teapot Tea Rooms.

You will also be asked to leave if your mobile rings, you excede the stirring quotas, you touch the sugar cubes without the tongs, drink with the tea spoon in the cup (note not mug!!!), etc etc etc.

[tiggerblue10]

I'm surprised it hasn't been closed down by the Brighton Normal People Council!

[unrulyjulie]

I'd rather go somewhere a little more relaxed to enjoy my cuppa the way i want, not that im a dunker anyway, dont much care for biccys!

Can't see me ever being in a position to have dippy eggs and soldiers with her maj so im not gonna worry about it!!

[netibiza]

Dunking isdisgusting - are the tearooms in North Laine?

[cazzz1975]

I normally eat out of a trough so I dont feel the need to dunk anything other than my head

[mrs_overall]

I can't dunk in case my strumpets lippy smudges.

[VillageVicar]

I vaguely recall the article being on one of the southeast news shows. As I recall, the shop owner had done a wobbly over some American tourists showing up and violating his sense of decorum. At first I thought it was a wind-up of some sort, but this chappy was serious.

Clearly, living in Brighton (well, Hove actually) must be getting to him. I can�t imagine what happened when one of our esteemed tourists asked him for a glass of iced tea!

Oh my! Whatever happened to d�tente-cordiale?

Fr Bill

[Bewlay Bros.]

Not far from the North Laine. Just over the main road in the Hanover area.

[bigmamma]

Could you tell me if we point our little pinky finger in the air when drinking tea ?

[stewey]

Wot, pray tell, happens if you squeeze your bag dry and pop it into your pocket in order to take home?

[netibiza]

I love the North Laine, oh and I think I know whereof you speak. Only go there once a year, but love it. Was Hanningtons ('?) on the corner once. Next August I shall go and sit there daintily and scowl at the dunkers!!

[Bewlay Bros.]

Hanningtons is no longer there sadly. I mean the main road to the east of North Laine (A27, Lewes Rd). Just away from the shops.

And tea bags do not exist there. Only proper pots with strainers, dear boy.

[jiggy-gb]

Would one be thrown out for drinking the tea slops out of ones saucer?