Call me madam, perhaps.

Fairly recent - Mademoiselle is considered to mean something like 'spinster' these days. I got caught out when I returned here 6 years ago too.

WilmaKF- yes, yu got it, spot on. Sir sounds exactly like the French 'soeur' = sister. Bravo;)

Yay!

Today I ended up in stitches, I went out for tea and cake with a friend to a lovely farm shop nearby and the woman at the till called me 'Dear' every other word! As she was roughly my age, I really don't think she meant it in a condescending way, I think maybe for many 'Madam', especially in a farm shop, is a formal step too far. I did laugh, though, after having read this yesterday. She must have squeezed at least 20 'Dear' s into the transaction.

I was serious about people not calling me "Sir". I've been having facial electrolysis recently, which involves getting the bus into town with two days worth of stubble on my chin. My beard is quite grey so it doesn't show badly but it is there. People were just as polite as at other times, which may be more about lack of discrimination that just politeness.

I don`t mind as long as they are pleasant with it. Sweetheart is nice if it`s a nice young man saying it.

It's ma'am where I live. I didn't appreciate it as a young woman it made me feel old. Now when I here miss especially from a younger person it bothers me.

The school I worked in insisted the children called male staff sir and female staff madam. It was a bit strange when I first worked there but you soon get used to it. Much better than those progressive schools where they call the staff by their first name.

What you are called in a shop is not a problem as long as the staff are polite.
I did think I had arrived when a parent at parent's evening called me ' Bab ' which is what they say in Birmingham!!!! Not appropriate I suppose but very well meant, so no problem.

Gosh I haven't heard [Bab] since I lived in Birmingham 58 years ago. What a lovely trip down memory lane.

Have just changed my mind, did think I don't mind as long as they are polite. I just telephoned a local shop and the young assistant called me - sweetie!

I call my friends sweetie, sweetpea, gorgeous, poppet - and one likes to be called Princess! My SiL loves when I meet her and greet her with one of these because she says it just puts an instant smile on her face.

Reading this thread I am now firmly of the opinion if I get called Madam, I'm not sure I won't burst out laughing!

Life is too short to stand on ceremony. I'm happy with assistants being nice.

MaryXyX apologies if I made light with the 'Sir' remark.

Wilma, I do the same, but would you call a person you didn't know - sweetie , hold the line sweetie

Honestly, I think it would depend on the tone of the conversation. If I was annoyed about something, then no, I wouldn't and would probably say something, but if I thought the person was just trying to be nice, then it wouldn't be a problem for me. That said, I'm sure my Mum would think differently because she often comments on this kind of thing when we are out and about together.

Ambulance attendant to my daughter What do you want to be when you grow up Chick? She replied A mother hen!

It seems that most of us don't really mind what we are called as long as we are not ignored. I honestly can't recall anyone serving me in a shop being rude or offensive. On the contrary I tend to find out lots about them and also chat about what I have bought and why. It makes shopping much more interesting.

I also find that my life has moved through stages - from being referred to as 'that girl' and then 'that lady' by other shoppers (usually to their children) and, when I worked in schools, children asked if I was 'somebody's mum' and then (shock horror!) 'somebody's grandma'! I'm not sure if I'll ever be ready for 'that old lady'!!