Well, I’ve just spent a couple of days in our National Capital… the home of the bureaucrats who interpret and implement, in their own mysterious fashion, the policies of the government.
And it seems that the bureaucratic approach and pervades all levels of local society.
For example, a colleague and I had lunch at a cafe in Civic, the heart of downtown Canberra (and original shopping centre before Canberra spread).
It was nothing pretentious… not that it had anything to be pretentious about!
A glass of wine and a plate of calamari was the order of the day.
When the bill came we decided to split it and each handed the waiter our credit cards.
And they didn’t want our money! Yep, that’s right!
Forgetting rule #1… take the money, we were blithely informed that “We don’t split bills”!
“Why?” we asked.
The cash register won’t take it was the reason given.
Well we want this bill split down the middle and paid on our cards, despite the bureaucratic rules of the cash register, we repeated.
“You can’t have that, it’s the manager’s rule” they said.
Obviously a moonlighting bureaucrat.
“Tough” we said “Just do it” not even adding our colorful thoughts about the management.
“We can’t coz of this sign* that says it’s policy” they trumpeted victoriously, looking smug and comfortable.
(* The sign was tiny, written in an eye straining, small font stuck to the cash register behind a vase of flowers in an area you don’t see on entry.)
The discussion continued with me outlining their obligations under trade practice and consumer protection legislation.
All to no avail.
We used my credit card and settled the bill.
My colleague grinned, “My turn next time” he said with a ‘just saved my money smile’ knowing there wouldn’t be a next time.
And so it ended… with the wrong result for the wrong people.
But the bureaucrats were happy… their work was done.
And a benign peace reigns in Canberra.
Ah, but I’ve seen similar tiny signs in many places, not just Canberra 🙂 Although remember a surprising number of places in Canberra don’t offer credit – we’d sit down to eat, realise there was no credit and dive through wallets to find cash, hoping to avoid wandering the streets looking for an ATM…
Perhaps it is clear signage that Canberra really lacks (try finding petrol stations up there…)
Yeah, Tash, Canberra is really an artificial world coz its so dependent on Government which just keeps rolling along regardless of what real people are doing or experiencing… and it rubs off on everyone there.
Great story Winno. Wife and I were in Canberra few years back. Stopped at a shopping centre. Dashed inside grabbed a couple of things from the supermarket. Got back to find a parking ticket for parking in a shopping centre carpark! Whne we got home to Adelaide, wrote to the Dept and asked for some mercy seeing we hadn’t seen the sign. No such luck. Got a letter back effectively saying that there was no allowance for any mercy in the ACT! Sent back a letter with my cheque and offered the parking inspector a job if he/she ever came ot Adelaide. Anyone that quick has to be efficient! Never heard a word back. No humour or mercy in Canberra it seems! By the way, lunch on me if you re ever in Adelaide with a spare hour or two!
I think that just confirms our feeling about cold Canberra and the unfeeling citizens who dwell therein.
However, I do have to say that, when we had to rush one of our party into hospital, the team at Calvary couldn’t have been more concerned, compassionate or caring. So, even in the depths of darkness there’s always some redeeming light.
Perhaps Kevin we ought a get the hospital people to work on the bureaucrats and their teams!
How sad that one bad experience has tainted your opinion of our Nations Capital! Perhaps a return visit should be on your agenda?
Oh, please be reassured Vicki I won’t let that experience stop me… I reckon Canberra is a great place to visit. I’ll be back!