Quote Originally Posted by splott parker View Post
Using mental arithmetic was the norm for all walks of life until the tap, beep, beep revolution. The old barmaids were a prime example, Christ, they’d be able to serve about four punters at once, with the four pints in different stages of ‘fullness’, whilst taking the money and working out four different amounts of change, remarkable skill really. Also, off point, they knew who was next to be served, solving the argument their side of the bar. It’s shite knowing your turn and some ignorant bugger muscles in before you and the bar person serves them through not having a clue how to ‘work the bar.
I have to smile inwardly when I give the "odd" change in addition to a £5 or £10 note, e.g. for say £5.30 I give a £10 note (if that's all I have) plus 30p so the assistant simply has to give me a £5 note back. The look on his/her face as if to say..."how did you know that" when the till display tells them to give me a fiver change!