Last Saturday, I went to my friendly bank – a bank I’ve banked with for more years than I know, due to an account being set up when I was quite young. We discussed how they might help my finances, and there was a decent up-sell technique to convince me that I wanted a Platinum bank account (£15 per month to get ‘free’ AA coverage, travel insurance etc), but made with the honest remark of ‘Don’t upgrade if the “free” perks aren’t worth it.’ Nice honest bank manager :) We also scheduled an appointment to review my mortgage for the Saturday coming.

I realised this morning that I had agreed to be at the bank at 9 A.M., and agreed with the plasterer that I’d be at home at 8:30 A.M. so he could get to work. I’m not of the inclination to leave a total stranger in my house while I go spend an hour at the bank, so I rang the bank at lunch to cancel the appointment. The gent at the other end of the phone seemed positively shocked that someone would actually call in a day or so before an appointment to say ‘Sorry, something has come up, I’ll have to reschedule.’ Not shocked in a bad way mind you, shocked that I had bothered to be courteous enough to tell them that I couldn’t make it.

Has society really become so rude that being polite is that much of a shock?

I blame my broughtupsy.