Last Friday I was playing live at my friends poker club TC's in Berks, and got talking to an old service man 'Charley', who asked me how my friend 'ships' was these days living in Newmarket ?
"Oh he's fine, still with the horses, which some might find strange with his background in the merchant Navy, and yourself, how about you", I said ?
Now at this stage we were playing next to each other on the same table, and the 'young guns' were busy giving it the large with the poker verbal while we just smiled ~
Now some of you'll appreciate where this is going as some, but NOT all young people forget that older people had a career before they retired !
So Charley, told me he is a new 'Retiree-greeter' at Asda, however just couldn't seem to get to work on time.
Every day he was 5, 10, 15 minutes late.
But he was a good worker, really tidy, clean-shaven, sharp-minded and a real credit to the company and obviously demonstrating their "Older Person Friendly" policies.
One day the boss called him into the office for a talk.
"Charley, I have to tell you, I like your work ethic, you do a
bang-up job when you finally get here; but your being late so often is quite bothersome."
"Yes, I know boss, and I am working on it."
"Well good, you are a team player. That's what I like to hear."
"Yes sir, I understand your concern and I'll try harder."
Seeming puzzled, the manager went on to comment,
"It's odd though your coming in late. I know you're retired from the Armed Forces. What did they say to you there if you showed up in the morning so late and so often?"
I looked at him and said,
"What did you say then ?"
Old Charley looked down at the floor, then smiled.
He chuckled quietly, then said with a grin,
"They usually saluted and said, 'Good morning, Admiral, can I get your coffee, Sir ?'"
That is now one of my favourite stories, ever!
