There is a Farmers Market every last Sunday in the month at the Maltings in Berwick-upon-Tweed. January is not too well patronised but the usual hard core of hard faced farmers wives selling soft cheeses, or vice versa, were there * On this occasion the Maltings throws open its Gents Loo to all comers as the visitors to the market are also their customers and not drop ins from the street in search of relief. So no need to seek the key from reception. I recall about a year ago when the restrictive practice for men (ladies loos always open) was instituted that having got the key after a short inquisition (yes I was having a snack in the restaurant, no I had not been caught short in the car park) I proceeded to business. In mid steam, as it were, another chap came in (I had left the door unlocked being a hospitable soul) . On completion I returned the key to reception and was halfway back to Somerfields when I realised that I had locked the door on my co-defendant. I rushed back and confessed my crime to the ladies behind the desk and dashed down two flights of stairs with the key to let the guy out before he could wrench the door from its hinges or create a horrible hullabaloo. No need for indecent haste it transpired. He was still taking his ease in cubicle No 1, no doubt reading the Berwick Advertiser (It may have been the other
Berwickshire-the News-the door was closed and I did not like to ask in case I spoiled his concentration) Anyhow I flicked the keys under the cubicle door and asked him to lock up when he had finished. I got a grunt in response whether in acknowledgement or for some other reason I could not tell. I left. I can only assume he did the decent thing.
I will write to the management protesting their sexist practices when I have the time
* Huttonian means it ,alternatively, could be soft faced farmers wives selling hard cheese.Blogg-ed
