Quite an interesting afternoon tea

Loving this thread. I like to think I've got a sophisticated sense of humour but I also love a bit of slapstick/farce. This thread has had me tittering helplessly to myself.

Many years ago out having lunch with a friend, I had been to the bar and was carrying two glasses of wine back to our table when I tripped down some steps. I managed to save one glass without spilling a drop but the other fell to the floor, all went quiet until I straightened myself up raised my glass and called out to my friend ‘Sorry, I’ve spilled your wine Janet’. Took a sip from the full glass and the restaurant exploded in a laugh and a round of applause.
The staff were lovely and replaced Janet’s wine at no extra charge.

Fernhillnana

In the Cotswolds this week I watched a young, male Japanese tourist eating a cream tea by lying the uncut scone on its edge and half heartedly dabbing on smears of cream. Maybe a little diagram should be handed out to non natives. He did look bemused.

Yes! We were in the orangery at Kensington palace and there was a Chinese mother and I assumed her daughter who were tackling afternoon tea.

Mum put some jam on a sandwich. I spent all my time trying not to keep watching what they were doing. You could see that they were talking to each other trying to work out how it should be eaten.

This thread reminds me of something that happened to a friend. She was on a first date and was taken to an expensive restaurant. She was studying the menu when she held it too close to a lit candle and the menu went up in flames. Her date quickly grabbed it, threw it in the floor and stamped on it. There wasn’t a second date but the story has made us laugh for years!

Pretty flimsy table!

Oh dear, a day you won't forget in a hurry.....Oh but please keep these coming cos this thread has cheered me up no end. Sorry though for laughing at your mishaps

I was having dinner in a hotel with my DD and SiL. It was a celebration so we had champagne. I got up to go to go to the ladies. The table cloth was very long and I trod on it bringing everything off with it.
The staff were amazing and cleared it up and took us to another table. My face was very red.

Shouldn’t laugh really, but this thread is the funniest I have read in ages. Thanks everyone ??

Think the venue will be looking into how robust their tables are, could have had horrible outcome if collapsed before hot drinks were consumed. Still, you had a lovely afternoon and that's what counts. All's well that ends well!

Thank you for the laughs - I have so enjoyed them! We were on holiday at a country hotel once and were sitting in the garden when a very posh looking couple - she in pleated dress and dainty sandals, clutching a G and T, he in tweed jacket, cravat and 'slacks' carrying a pint of something. arrived in the garden. Both chose to sit on the same side of a table and bench combination. In slow motion, the entire contraption went over. There was a great display of knickers, and posh couple were left laying flat out on the lawn with empty glasses. They got up silently and walked back into the hotel - we didn't see themagain.

Charleygirl5

Chewbacca you were very fortunate not to be injured.

indeed. sounds a very unsafe practice.
i would report it to environmental health at local council.

these incidents of over-tipping seats, collapsing tables etc are not really funny.
and where they are part of a business operation may well incur criminal liability.
businesses have a duty to operate safely.
these are all predictable and easily remedied hazards.
report to safety, health, and food team at environmental health, local council.
you may be saving someone else, maybe a child, from severe injury.

ah , it wasnt fun when it happened, but now it will go into family history in the category o f"do you remember that time..." when we look back it is usually the most toe curling embarrasing things that stay with us isnt it? My sister and I met to have a coffee together at a quite posh restaurant, with my niece of about 3 years old at the time , with that clear high voice that small children have. A rather fat lady in probably her 50's passed by and Charlotte announce to all and sundry " and that lady is going to have a baby isnt she?" She of course has been teased about it for many years later as she is asked if she is sure of her facts etc

That happened me when daughter and I were staying in a lovely Italian hotel for a weekend. We decided to order room service and have breakfast in the massive double bed. It arrived and was set at the end of the bed on a little table. I went to lift the heavy tray and the table and everything collapsed on the floor. Of course it was my fault and not the fact the tray was too heavy for the table.

I was having lunch with DD and DGD at a pizza restaurant.DGD wanted tomato ketchup on her food.DD shook the bottle vigorously,unfortunately the lid wasn’t screwed on tightly.A perfect arc of tomato ketchup sailed through the air and onto the meals of the people on the table behind us.They were not amused?

Talking of food going flying, on one of my first waitressing assignments in a posh private club I was serving a pea and mint soup from a terrine on a trolley. I stupidly had the cloth over my serving right arm and unbeknown to me it dipped into the soup. As I placed the bowl in front of the posh lady my cloth went all over her cream dress.

Re the OP, the same happened when we were out at a nice Italian restaurant with friends. Wine was flowing and OH stood to greet new arrivals. He pressed on the table to stand and the table contents flew in all directions, wine and glasses went everywhere. He is now extra careful when getting up from a table when we're out.

Urmstongran

Goodness WWmk2 you did have a smashing time! Oh heck. I’d not have known where to look! It reminds me of that old tv programme ‘Candid Camera’ that I used to love. Bet everyone round you got up very carefully from their tables after you’d left.

Haha, that was funny. Just like 'That's Life' & their shenanigans.
Couldn't do it nowadays, tho, too many snowflakes or it'd be all rehearsed beforehand, not actually real!!

I have every sympathy with you - because of slipped discs I sometimes find it hard to get up from a chair and I lean on/pull on my table at home when I get up. I have discovered that I cannot do that in the Village Hall!!

My late husband decided against my wishes, to go into the supermarket in his newly acquired mobility scooter. We separated whilst in there and a few minutes later I heard an almighty crash and saw people rushing from everywhere. I following them and there was my husband sitting amidst a pile of tins from a stand he had clipped going round the end of the aisle. I walked away, his apologies to the staff ringing in my ears.

Luckygirl3

I have every sympathy with you - because of slipped discs I sometimes find it hard to get up from a chair and I lean on/pull on my table at home when I get up. I have discovered that I cannot do that in the Village Hall!!

Yes it’s the back that’s the issue ?, but old age and lack of spring in the knees.