The invisibility of the pub barman
Might as well put the lead story into the mixer:

Back in the early 90s, I needed the money, so worked weekend evenings behind the bar of my regular pub. It was great, because I was now getting paid to go there, and there was an endless stream of free drinks.

Apart from the glorious charms of Carrie the barmaid, there was one other thing I never realised about bar work: The fact that unless they are ordering drinks from you, you are completely invisible to the customer.

This means that you can be standing behind the bar, pulling a pint or washing the glasses while you hear all sorts of conversations going on not more that a couple of feet away.

That is how I got to know about one couple, who'd come in every Friday night, sit on the two stools at the far end of the bar by the glass-washer, and discuss their private life in the most intimate detail.

She told him she was pregnant.

He was shocked as he swore he had taken precautions.

She asked him what he was going to do about it.

He said he would leave his wife.

Several weeks later, he had still not left his wife, but was waiting "for the right time to tell her".

And then, on Fridays, he started coming in on his own.
( Scaryduck LIKES EGG, Thu 25 Aug 2011, 14:31, 1 reply)

Not a conversation
But reminded me of a similar issue. We used to have a couple come in the pub where i worked every friday night. She was a right mutton dressed as lamb and he wasn't a lot better but clearly fancied himself a bit.

They'd book a room, no luggage, one drink at the bar then vanish for an hour and then drop the key back off.

They were affectionately known as 'the shaggers' and even went into the guestbook under that name.

We only saw him once outside that and it was a saturday morning, he'd left his wedding ring....
(fivetide, Thu 25 Aug 2011, 14:38, closed)