He has people for that. Dealing with tradesmen, gratuities, that sort of thing.
He reminds me of a story. Most people do, but I digress. I was living in Berzerkly at the time, but lucked into a job waiting tables at a fairly tony restaurant in the city. Mostly they called me when someone was sick, or drunk, or whatever.
A new custom was arising, introducing oneself by one’s first name as the opening gesture of the serving dance. I didn’t give a hoot, it was good money. Anyway, got a table full of swells, stepping down a little in class to dine at what was, to me, a very upscale place. I could tell right off where the power center was, it was this lizard woman, wearing more jewelry than a sensible person would own. She looked a little like Nancy Reagan.
Anyway, I started the ball rolling, Good evening, my name is Lee, and I’ll be serving you tonight…
She had a very pleasant, cultured laugh, sort of a refined chuckle. “How very charming!” she said.
Ouch. When my father first moved to England and worked in a pub, some barrister told him he was a worthless Irish yob and would never amount to anything. The defence really leaped on that one…
