know its petty but

Everyone around here thanks the driver - it's just normal; my girls used the train/bus to school and spent their day giving thanks! They also held doors open for people - still do, but on occasion I would have to remind them that they weren't door-people and to let go as people just kept on coming - most without any acknowledgement. I had to reverse down the road yesterday to let my obnoxious neighbour pass (the one I don't speak to - see brotherinlaw thread!) and he glided past with his nose in the air so I'm afraid I did a very unladylike thing which involved waving a few fingers up in the air...... It had no effect but it made me feel better.

When using local bus, or getting off coach, after day out, we always thank them. It is just good manners really and drivers I'm sure appreciate it, and we live in the south by the way!

Hate it when shop assistants say "all right?" when I am waiting to be served. I am very tempted to say "No I'm not all right as I need you to serve me". Why can't they say "Can I help you?". And while I am ranting, it annoys me when the checkout people start asking how my day is, or what am I doing today. Again I want to say " It's none of your *** business, or even better start crying and tell them a sad story. They really don't want to know how I am so why can't they just be pleasant, and helpful?!!

Oddly, at my local Waitrose where the carpark is accessed by lift, most people say thank you when they get out with their trolley, including me. Are we wierd or what?

Agree LOLA we have good and bad drivers in London from downright surly, to the lovely man on the NO. 11 who still says "Hold very tight please", and does a running commentary on places of interest. " Alight here for Peter Jones, the Saachi Gallery" etc. He's a one off!

"You all right there?" is probably my most hated phrase. Seems to be used in all sitations, shops, restaurants, everywhere.

plus, "Yes OF COURSE you can" or "No problem" when you've asked a shop assistant, or some other server to do something which is part of their job description anyway and they respond as if you are asking for something exceptional.

Oh, and by the way. I and lots of others in the South do thank bus drivers as they get off the bus. I find the drivers of London buses are just as variable as in other areas. Some are horrid and miserable and others are friendly.

The best bus driver in the world drives a Park and Ride bus in Bath! He always asks if you've had a nice day, enjoyed your shopping etc. etc. When thanked he responds with 'enjoy the rest of your day' or 'have a good evening'. He makes me smile! Lovely man!

I often travel by bus and occasionally get a miserable, grumpy, bad driver. No thanks for him or her. However, in general I always thank the driver if she or he has delivered me to my destination without me having to pray for safety.

I thank the bus driver (not that I travel by bus very often) locally in Sussex but no-one does in Central London as far as I have noticed. Too wrapped up in their own world there and anyway the exit door for London buses is nowhere near the driver

Our local bus has a notice telling people to take their tickets because nobody does, none of the locals anyway, so the driver has a supermarket bag attached somewhere within reach and when the untaken ticket roll has reached the floor or is otherwise noticeable, he tears it off and shoves it in the bag. Ticket inspector? What's that?

Glass half full interpretation: fewer small pieces of paper going everywhere.
Glass half empty: bloody passengers!

Everybody thanks the driver.

We have a bus driver that gives a running commentary on the history of the town as we pass each interesting building and boy is he good. He always says "good morning" and to the ladies " may I say how smart/pretty you are today" It would be churlish not to thank him when leaving the bus, in fact I have been known to go extra stops for a liitle more entertainment.

I have been using the bus to get the Grandchildren back and forward to school for the last few days as the car is off the road, it is years since I was last on a bus but yes everyone on the bus thanked the driver as they left the bus (maybe a Northern trait), and my Grandchildren also thanked him!

Most of the people around here say thank you to the bus driver, too. The driver usually responds with an 'OK!', even though he must sometimes weary of doing so! He or she should be thanked, just like anyone else who provides a service, don't you think?

Jangly, most people hereabouts thank the bus driver, we are in rural Essex, but I would always thank the driver wherever I am. Not travelled on a bus in London for 40 years. We will have to travel on the DLR when we go to the Olympics, I will make sure I thank the driver

Talking about northern things. Was in Skipton over the weekend, and in one of the shops when one of the shop assistants shouted across to the other (across a crowded shop) without any worries whatsoever "I'm just going for a wee Sue, I'll be back soon" .. Must be a northern thing and never happens on Oxford Street. I found it lovely though!

I reckon that must be a Northern (friendly) thing. I have never heard anyone down here in the South thank the bus driver. Mind you, I don't go on buses often as I use my bike, but still.

I have found this really interesting for a while now, I catch the bus into the town centre quite a lot, and I can honestly say that almost if not everyone says thank you when they get off the bus. I think this is lovely but it amazes me because they are young, old, male, female, scruffy, smart, and I would imagine that some of these people would not have the same manners in other situations... what is it about buses? They all just walk off one by one and say thank you as they step off the bus. Perhaps I am wrong, and everyone in Lancashire has impeccable manners? Now wouldn't that be nice?

Interesting comment GillieB the 'automatic reaction when I was young' I got the thanking the bus driver habit from my grandfather. He would also stand still in the street and take his cap from his head if a hearse passed as the traffic would slow or stop.I haven't seen that for years.Not that people generally wear caps these days!

Regarding saying "thank you" when getting off the bus - it was an automatic reaction for everyone I knew when I was young. I realised a little while ago that in fact when I go anywhere by car I always thank the driver when we arrive - and that includes my husband. It just seems polite, somehow.

Thank you glamanana - I was just on the point of going to Sainsbury and gave Waitrose one more chance and it worked OK and i have to say over the last few months I have had £50 in vouchers from Waitrose beacuse of their website problems so I should shut up really. Am coming on the van though - can we got out somewhere this afternoon that includes a big pub lunch?

We all have grumpy days susiecb,move back to Sainsburys it's much easier,and
if you get too brassed off,pack up your stuff and come on the virtual camper van
with the rest of us.

Sayings I hate usually in restaurants-

'Its not a problem' of course its not its your job.
'Enjoy your meals' thats up to you really
'Hi Guys' I am a girl not a guy.
'You alright there' dont enquire about my health as how you can help me.

In reponse to asking someone if they would like a drink ' I'm alright' as above I am not enquiring after your health but would you like a drink.

Worst of all when complaining about something ' I can only apologise'. No you can take some action!!!

Grumpy this morning see my thread about Waitrose website.

I teach English as a second language and one of the things my students find very strange is the English habit of saying 'please' and 'thank you' for anything and everything.
I live in a place where life is lived at quite a leisurely pace and many, if not most people, old and young, have good manners.

I'm happy with Thank you if it's genuinely meant. Sometimes people say things without thinking and it's hardly worth the breath. I like to look people in the eyes and say 'thank you' to show I do appreciate what they've done for me. As for the bus thingy, greenmossgiel, when I moved up here the bus drivers would shout at you for not saying 'thank you' when you got off so I soon learned to remember my manners. In London, where I came from, no one said thank you to the bus driver...

I was on a bus yesterday, and when 2 little boys got off the bus with their dad, both of the wee lads said 'thank you' to the driver. Well brought-up wee souls, eh!