@Helios  Because here in Europe people are greeted by using the title Sir or Madam depending on the country you are in.  Bonjour Madame, (in France)  etc.   It is polite to use this form of greeting. Â
Unfortunately, (for them) our titles are Mr or Mrs and they do not know to address someone as Sir or Madam. Â Thus the confusion. Â I have to giggle here when someone wants to attract my attention, they say "Please Mrs." Â (meaning Excuse me Madam). Â Takes some getting' used to. Â I'm good to go now after 32 years here.
@tui34 I understand how the mistake in addressing someone in English can be made but itâs a pity, given the job theyâre doing, that nobody has taught them the appropriate form of address when phoning the U.K.
Iâve had a French person phone me for a chat in the evening before now and begin with Goodnight! Fortunately it was a social call and not to try and earn money for an employerđ
@Helios  Because here in Europe people are greeted by using the title Sir or Madam depending on the country you are in.  Bonjour Madame, (in France)  etc.   It is polite to use this form of greeting. Â
Unfortunately, (for them) our titles are Mr or Mrs and they do not know to address someone as Sir or Madam. Â Thus the confusion. Â I have to giggle here when someone wants to attract my attention, they say "Please Mrs." Â (meaning Excuse me Madam). Â Takes some getting' used to. Â I'm good to go now after 32 years here.
Works both ways - I had trouble trying to remember not to offer my hand to shake every time I met my new neighbours in the UK or, even worse, not to attempt to offer a kiss either
My neighbours were sulking the other day they "only" managed 3holidays away last year, because of lockdown.We've been away 2 days in the past 12 years
People have different priorities and different financial situations. There was a time when my wife and I both earned very good money and typically went abroad on holiday 3 times a year. That's no longer practical for us but we don't begrudge those who can.
Not begrudging anything ⊠members of my family have done similarly until recently  ⊠but nowadays Iâm  very irritated and non-plussed by some folksâ failure to understand and resulting  outrage due to the changes in circumstances and possibilities due to CovidâŠÂ
Gardening in Central Norfolk on improved gritty moraine over chalk ... free-draining.
KT53 I don't begrudge them the normal 5 holiday per year. Different priority,yeah you got that right when we forked out over a grand on "their," fence,!
Looking at the wildfires raging around the world, it seems that perhaps a late spring and a wet summer isn't that bad. Let's hope that the southern hemisphere doesn't catch light later in the year. The  instability of the gulf stream that has been detected is another worrying development. Maybe being old at this time could turn out to be a blessing.
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It is polite to use this form of greeting. Â
Unfortunately, (for them) our titles are Mr or Mrs and they do not know to address someone as Sir or Madam. Â Thus the confusion. Â I have to giggle here when someone wants to attract my attention, they say "Please Mrs." Â (meaning Excuse me Madam). Â Takes some getting' used to. Â I'm good to go now after 32 years here.
Iâve had a French person phone me for a chat in the evening before now and begin with Goodnight! Fortunately it was a social call and not to try and earn money for an employerđ
Gardening in Central Norfolk on improved gritty moraine over chalk ... free-draining.
Good evening  Bonsoir. Â
The  instability of the gulf stream that has been detected is another worrying development.Â
Maybe being old at this time could turn out to be a blessing.