Bless!

I couldn't remember my card number at the supermarket and had to ask my husband to pay, the cashier said aarh bless, I felt like punching ? her on the nose.

10% of the brake pads that I had 90% left.
Teetime: Well bless my soul!
Good job he was talking about your brake pads and not your bank balance.

He was a very nice man but he made me feel stupid.

I don’t really mind being “blessed” - it’s better than being cursed any day of the week. It does make me smile though.

Of course there are lots of things he could have said. There always are but sometimes a 'wrong', awkward thing comes. It's easy to be dismissive and scornful when someone gets a simple social interaction wrong. But some people do get social things wrong.

There are lots of things he could say 'Thank you', That's fine', 'OK - and that is just for starters. I am sure other GNers can think of many more that are in daily use.

"Nice man" could be seen as a bit patronising.

I'd say awkward rather than patronising. That awkward feeling when you feel you have to say something but nothing right seems to come to mind so you just say the first awkward, stupid, meaningless thing that pops into your mouth.

Remember, the "nice man" has to deal with loads of people every day to whom he perhaps feels he can't really talk to about car stuff, so what the hell does he say?! ?

Ah bless. When I picked the car up he helpfully explained that as I had used 10% of the brake pads that I had 90% left.

I agree too Monica - I was going to say patronising.

Exactly MOnica

I hate that word 'Bless'. Mainly applied to pets, children and the elderly and always said in a patronising voice.

Maggiemaybe
I don't remember my mobile number Mobiles make us so lazy, I used to know several land line numbers by heart but I couldn't tell you anyone's mobile number.

I have mine listed in my phone under my name so it looks like another contact.

?

and "Cool"........

Oh I hadn't thought of that. I am a geriatric phenomena. Perhaps he'll call me awesome when I pick it up and its bound to be 'no problem'.

Ah, bless, he’s probably just amused that someone of your advanced age has a mobile. Or impressed that you knew your number without having to root about in your bag for a diary (perhaps that’s just me ).

Odd, do you have a particularly endearing phone number?