So civilised. Now I’m happy.

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I was pleased yesterday when I took a seat in a seaside cafe a few miles along the coast from where we live. My expectations were low of course, and I ordered tea and a slice of coffee and walnut cake with an ominous anxiety churning in the pit of my stomach. Was this outing going to disappoint? The girl who took my order was pleasant, efficient and courteous so we got off to a good start. The few other customers were dignified, respectable and kept their conversation within the bounds of their own tables, only the lowest hum of talk drifting in my direction, and I could not make out the content of their tête-à-têtes. Things were looking up. The young man who delivered my tea and cake to the table by the large window overlooking the sea was friendly, just the right amount of chit chat, didn’t spill anything, and seemed genuinely pleased to have got everything right. The coffee and walnut cake did not disappoint, but what really made the experience just right was that the tea arrived in a silver teapot, was brewed from loose leaves (Assamese) and a tea strainer was provided. I do like it when all these little things come together, a happy concinnity of service, style and silverware. I’ll be back. And they had nice toilets.