Minding our Q`s & Q`s (From Watford Observer)

Minding our Q`s & Q`s

5:58pm Wednesday 4th March 2009

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Now we Brits understand the art of queuing whether it be in a shop, waiting to order a pint or entering Vicarage Road on a match day we know how to behave and understand the unwritten rules

From my side of the bar I`ve learnt that the best way to manage a sea of expectant faces waiting to be served is not to choose who to serve first myself but to ask “ Now who`s first ?"

The former method is guaranteed to turn the sea of expectant faces into sworn enemies whilst the latter will encourage a little bit of group discussion usually followed by a democratic decision

There are also more subtle queuing situations to be managed eg. when I hear is “Will our main courses be long ? “ what I am really hearing is “ Why have the table over there been served before us, we ordered before they did”

So we Brits understand how to queue and, with experience how to manage queues and all whilst remaining upright citizens and law abiding members of the community

That is until we get behind the wheel of a car

I regularly travel along the A41 heading toward the M25,on approaching The Dome Roundabout I stay in the left hand lane as the one on the right is clearly marked A412 and is for those citizens who wish to turn right at the roundabout and head off toward Garston and maybe even St Albans and beyond

Seems fairly straightforward doesn`t it ? Except what actually happens is on average 30% of the vehicles in the right hand lane suddenly remember they`ve got urgent business in Leavesden and cut in front of the left hand queue, if you`re lucky they signal but most often not

On average I would estimate they save themselves about 30 seconds of time in their rush to reach the back of the next queue…… wonder what would happen if the same q jumpers did it in the half time pie and Bovril q at a Saracens match ?

Which sort of leads us nicely into our own sporting update

I`m still waiting for the Guinness 6 nations kit I ordered 6 weeks ago, according to the friendly marketing folk at Guinness they never actually promised that it would be delivered before the 6 nations kicked off ( silly me for assuming otherwise ), I wonder how many orders are still outstanding for their “ Make the Most of the Millennium “ kit

Our 6 foot 4 cardboard cut out Lawrence is still on duty and as a reward for his devotion to duty Colin and I have planned a day out for him on March 21st, watch this space

Coach Dave was pleased on Sunday as youngests team scored 2 tries to 1 though youngest had to taken off with 10 minutes to go as the referee told him off for throwing the ball straight to his team mates at the lineouts, the team are playing Saracens this Sunday so all Saturday night sleep overs have been curtailed

And finally a less energetic but very rewarding sport will see our Tuesday Night Quizzers at The Three Crowns hand over a substantial cheque to Great Ormond Street Hospital this coming Tuesday, why don`t you come along yourself always room for more.