What I say to customers: 01 (London)

The customers at the Wood Green branch of the pub are about 60% to 70% regulars, so every shift of mine feels like attending a party where I know two-thirds of the guests.  

They tend to remember me more than I do them — since they only have me to remember whereas I see hundreds of faces each shift.  How I know they know me is from the way they greet me:  most warmly, like an old friend, with an extra bright smile, with some even actually remembering my name.

I’ve now learned to hide the fact that I may not have remembered having met them before, by adopting a set phrase that applies to both regular customers and newcomers:  “Hello!  Good to see you!”

(London, 2016–19)