The scene: EXT. DAY. Willesden Junction station ticket office 12 noon-ish
today, window open, woman sitting behind window

Mrs. Ian: "Can I have a ticket to Boundary Zone 3 please?"
Ticket office woman: "No, sorry - I'm on my break."

:-))))

Ian

"Ian F." wrote in message
...
The scene: EXT. DAY. Willesden Junction station ticket office 12 noon-ish
today, window open, woman sitting behind window

Mrs. Ian: "Can I have a ticket to Boundary Zone 3 please?"
Ticket office woman: "No, sorry - I'm on my break."

Doesn't surprise me at all. Having lived in that area during the university
years, and having revisited recently, it seems that despite the superb
refurb/rebuild of what was once an awful station, Silverlink & NR can't be
bothered to endure the employment procedure to find "customer-facing" staff
that actually enjoy working with strangers.

I'm not at all surprised that this unfortunate incident happened - a copy of
the OP's message has been sent to SL's Customer Relations department; not
that I expect any reply.

Regards

M

M J Forbes wrote:

"Ian F." wrote in message
...

Mrs. Ian: "Can I have a ticket to Boundary Zone 3 please?"
Ticket office woman: "No, sorry - I'm on my break."

Doesn't surprise me at all. Having lived in that area during the university
years, and having revisited recently, it seems that despite the superb
refurb/rebuild of what was once an awful station, Silverlink & NR can't be
bothered to endure the employment procedure to find "customer-facing" staff
that actually enjoy working with strangers.

At least at my local station they have the politeness to shut the window
and put a notice up to tell you to use the machine.

--
Jonathan Stott

Jonathan Stott wrote:
M J Forbes wrote:

"Ian F." wrote in message
...

Mrs. Ian: "Can I have a ticket to Boundary Zone 3 please?"
Ticket office woman: "No, sorry - I'm on my break."

Doesn't surprise me at all. Having lived in that area during the
university years, and having revisited recently, it seems that
despite the superb refurb/rebuild of what was once an awful station,
Silverlink & NR can't be bothered to endure the employment procedure
to find "customer-facing" staff that actually enjoy working with
strangers.

At least at my local station they have the politeness to shut the
window
and put a notice up to tell you to use the machine.

Or even arrange a relief booking clerk (or insert this week's title) while
the person takes their break.

In message , Piccadilly Pilot
writes
Jonathan Stott wrote:
M J Forbes wrote:

"Ian F." wrote in message
...

Mrs. Ian: "Can I have a ticket to Boundary Zone 3 please?"
Ticket office woman: "No, sorry - I'm on my break."

Doesn't surprise me at all. Having lived in that area during the
university years, and having revisited recently, it seems that
despite the superb refurb/rebuild of what was once an awful station,
Silverlink & NR can't be bothered to endure the employment procedure
to find "customer-facing" staff that actually enjoy working with
strangers.

At least at my local station they have the politeness to shut the
window
and put a notice up to tell you to use the machine.

Or even arrange a relief booking clerk (or insert this week's title) while
the person takes their break.

Er...If they are eating sandwiches and drinking tea, why can't they
serve and eat at the same time?
And be paid a 'work-through lunch hour' of course.

Mike

"M. J. Powell" wrote in message
...
In message , Piccadilly Pilot
writes
Jonathan Stott wrote:
M J Forbes wrote:

"Ian F." wrote in message
...

Mrs. Ian: "Can I have a ticket to Boundary Zone 3 please?"
Ticket office woman: "No, sorry - I'm on my break."

Doesn't surprise me at all. Having lived in that area during the
university years, and having revisited recently, it seems that
despite the superb refurb/rebuild of what was once an awful station,
Silverlink & NR can't be bothered to endure the employment procedure
to find "customer-facing" staff that actually enjoy working with
strangers.

At least at my local station they have the politeness to shut the
window
and put a notice up to tell you to use the machine.

Or even arrange a relief booking clerk (or insert this week's title)
while
the person takes their break.

Er...If they are eating sandwiches and drinking tea, why can't they
serve and eat at the same time?
And be paid a 'work-through lunch hour' of course.


That would be a personal choice, the only time I've done was as a signalman
in a singlemanned box. But then the timetable was such that it was quite
feasible.

As a "customer" I wouldn't want to feel that I had interrupted someone's
meal break. Besides which, we all need a break during and eight hour shift.
So much depends on local variables.

It's possible of course that the staff in this particular booking office had
asked for arrangements to be made for them to have a proper break, even if
that simply meant closing the window for half an hour, which had been
declined and they were making a protest.

"Ian F." wrote

The scene: EXT. DAY. Willesden Junction station ticket office 12 noon-ish
today, window open, woman sitting behind window

Mrs. Ian: "Can I have a ticket to Boundary Zone 3 please?"
Ticket office woman: "No, sorry - I'm on my break."

:-))))

Not restricted to WJ. A well known British manufacturer of model railway
equipment based in Devon once employed a Mrs Turner (no relation) who
revelled in answering the telephone during her lunch break and then
complaining that the caller was interrupting same.

Fortunately she has now retired!

John.

"John Turner" wrote in message
. ..

"Ian F." wrote


Not restricted to WJ. A well known British manufacturer of model railway
equipment based in Devon once employed a Mrs Turner (no relation) who
revelled in answering the telephone during her lunch break and then
complaining that the caller was interrupting same.

On a trip to Southern Ireland I once saw a notice in a cafe window "Closed
for lunch"
--
Paul

In message , STANNOX 30116
writes
On a trip to Southern Ireland I once saw a notice in a cafe window "Closed
for lunch"

That practice is quite common in rural France.......
--
Ian Jelf, MITG, Birmingham, UK
Registered "Blue Badge" Tourist Guide for
London & the Heart of England
http://www.bluebadge.demon.co.uk

In article , Ian Jelf
wrote:

In message , STANNOX 30116
writes
On a trip to Southern Ireland I once saw a notice in a cafe window "Closed
for lunch"

That practice is quite common in rural France.......

I have some friends who bought a cafe in Northumberland. They realised
it might be a going concern when they found the then owner closed for
lunch.

Sam