COLOMBO : The Sri Lankan capital of Colombo has more than a double dozen cozy nooks that serve desserts and coffee and a dozen more splendid coffee shops where we all enjoy a cuppa, a convo and a quiet moment while taking a whiff of the aromatic beans as they are ground and brewed.
Just thinking about it is heavenly, so we need to put a stop to the pesky intruders to our coffee haven by getting them to be full of etiquette. Here are half a dozen things to be mindful of and need rectification.
01. The sweet orchestra
While adding a touch of sweetness to their cup, some add more than a tad of noise to the atmosphere. Clanging of cutlery against crockery is to be avoided at all times. One must not think of creating the same sounds that are heard from a roadside tea shop.
02.Daydreaming
Not paying attention to your order number or name and irritating both the staff and other patrons as the same name or number is repeated is not funny. Focus and hang around near the counter until you get everything that you ordered.
03. The metal ramble
Having conversations with your mic on and subjecting others to the slightest crackle is an invasion of their peace.
04. Kid watching
Kids running to other tables needs to be managed more than it is at a restaurant. Kids could easily run around and sit on a couch with some strangers or maybe even treat themselves to a yummy food item that is within reach on a fellow diner’s coffee table.
05. The mobs
Choose a space that is suitable, in terms of both the place and the seat. Don’t choose a tiny coffee shop for ten to gather; it would only be a nuisance for everyone else and an embarrassment for you. If you seem to have a crowd with you, call ahead and reserve a spot that will cause less chaos.
06. Cookies and all those that crumble
Lounge seating is not the most comfortable for dining, coffee shops have these kinds of seating for those who want to kickback and relax. Pick your plate up as you bite in to cookies or fork out pieces of cake that crumble so that you don’t create a general mess of things and make it unsightly for others.
Till I return with ‘Full of Etiquette’ next week, stay safe!
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Praveeni Jayasekera is the Founder and Editor of fullofetiquette.com; she is a regular advocate on the subject. She is an ACMA, CGMA; holds a BSc. Economics and Management; PG in IT and Diploma in Social Sciences. She is employed full time in the capacity of Chief Operating Officer at CL Synergy (Private) Limited; a Sri Lankan freight forwarding company. She is an ardent fan of the written word and has compiled content for numerous websites for search engine optimization (SEO) purposes, corporate profiles and blogs. She has experience in training corporate professionals on customer service and business etiquette. She conducts coaching sessions on etiquette for school children every now and then.
