There I was sitting in the dining room of another hotel the days business finished and over the top of my book I indulge in one of my favourite pastimes - trying to work out peoples back stories.
At one table a group of women ranging from early teens to 70's, a distinct lack of the male at that table. What, who, why. Is It The Shetland Daughters of Vikings Society? The Shetland Fish Wives Club? Now a purely social society after recent legislation culled the fishing industry. But despite the imagination running without check at the end of their meal they stand up and move away leaving one of the younger ones to carry their birthday presents. Its a birthday dinner. Where are the men dads/brothers/grandads perhaps left at home with their remote and beer?
Whilst I think on that one the eyes observe another interesting grouping the men ( always a difficult group anyway ) who work with each other. They engage in manly work conversation without difficulty because it only lasts for moments at a time but when put together on an overnight business trip one of the essential ingredients of higher life - expressive communication leaves them. To such an extent that they don't sit opposite each other choosing the less challenging opposite seating plan gambit. Munching in silence they finish their meal and move away into the bar as opposed to the lounge for some more stimulating communication and social bonding time "Ug, beer......" .
Finally we come to the odd couple combo cleverly side stepping the "I'm an airline pilot and I'm going to tell everyone my pilot flying story whether you like pilot flying stories or not". I'm bored with this group having witnessed them in this hotel before. They function a bit above the " ug beer" tribe but nonetheless are a bit dull when tribal. The female cabin crew (still a very gender based route to here) always look bored but put up with it or they don't get home tomorrow.
Anyway the odd couple combo, they are always interesting to speculate upon, tonight is no different. Tonight's exhibit being a couple of men different ages and racial mix. One reads the menu, one looks at his games consul. One a carnivore one a vegetarian. Credit to them though they have evolved beyond "ug beer" so that is a bonus but even though it's a bit hit and miss.
I wonder what I look like to my fellow diners and how I engage with my fellow males when on that business trip (we do alright actually) and in the end decide that the Viking Daughters of the Fishing Fleet leave the men behind because they are probably just boring trogs.
"Ug beer!"
-- Post From My iPhone
