Butler | ABCtales

Thu, 2006-05-18 12:20

#2

I am in total agreement on this one. I used to stay in 4/5* hotels when I used to go to the states for business and the scraping, servile manner of the staf could be so unappealing. jude "Cacoethes scribendi" http://www.judesworld.net

Thu, 2006-05-18 13:01

#3

archergirl

When I grow up and/or win the lottery I plan on having a housecleaner AND a cook. I promise to pay them handsomely for services I'd rather not do myself, and allow them to look me in the eye whilst speaking. Not sure about a butler, however, although on Sunday mornings when I can't be arsed to get out of bed it would be nice to have someone bring me breakfast...if I could have a butler like John Gielgud in 'Arthur', that'd be brill! How on earth does one get a job reviewing spa services, and are there any extra jobs like it floating around out there? It would sure beat civil service...

Thu, 2006-05-18 13:09

#4

maddan

I've spent some time in the thrid world, where labour is cheap and servants are plentiful, and you can get used to it pretty quickly. I'm not sure about butlers though, butlers are just kinda creepy.

Thu, 2006-05-18 14:04

#5

mississippi

Hey, that makes two of us, Tim. Butlering ain't always a subservient, poorly paid job. A certain 'rock' has done very nicely out of it thank you very much. I sometimes think he got to screw the boss occasionally as well! AG, don't hold your breath.

Thu, 2006-05-18 14:05

#6

mississippi

On second thoughts, please do.

Thu, 2006-05-18 14:21

#7

Radio Denver

Anyone that can't take care of their own shit, needs a hambone shoved up their ass, as far as can be pushed with a broomstick (very rough broomstick, splinters and all) Visit me http://www.radiodenver.org/

Share your state secrets at...
http://www.amerileaks.org

Thu, 2006-05-18 14:46

#8

fergal

I suppose people can get used to having people do stuff for them - but I just couldn't (fast forward a few years when I'm rich and famous and swanning about with people to put on my socks). It's not just about putting yourself above another human being, it's about not doing your own things that need doing. I am a bit of a slob. But I'd rather live in slobitude than have someone hide the evidence. AG - anytime you read a magazine review of a spa/hotel/holiday you can rest assured that most of the time the journalist reviewing it has been put up for free and given special treatment. I was allowed to take my boyfriend of the time, and we were given a Â£250 dinner in the restaurant including an Â£80 bottle of wine. This was a good 5 years ago now. It was weird to think people actually live like that. We went home feeling grateful for our tiny ill-kitted out flat and non-matching crockery. Terrible really.

Thu, 2006-05-18 14:57

#9

Radio Denver

Slobitude? Visit me http://www.radiodenver.org/

Share your state secrets at...
http://www.amerileaks.org

Thu, 2006-05-18 15:08

#10

fergal

Surely it's okay to make up words? If it isn't I'm out of business.

Thu, 2006-05-18 15:16

#11

Radio Denver

It's a fine word Ferg...just never heard that one before. Sounds like something from Croatia. Slobitude Butlervitch was arrested today for disorderly conduct in a mens restroom. Visit me http://www.radiodenver.org/

Share your state secrets at...
http://www.amerileaks.org

Thu, 2006-05-18 15:20

#12

archergirl

Slobitude is a great word! Your take on the whole 'spa life' thing reminds me keenly of Bubbles in Little Britain. How vehry dangereuse! RD, I'm quite capable of taking care of my own shit, thanks, so I won't be needing the hambone, but in the average household the female does many times the amount of domestic duty as does the male, 'liberated' males included. Adding a full-time job and two children under the age of ten to the picture as in my case, equals an unrelenting exercise in 'trying to stay on top of' assorted messes/disasters: dishes, clothing for four, muddy floors, etc. So give me paid servants, any old time. I'll kiss their feet in gratitude.

Thu, 2006-05-18 15:31

#13

fergal

My step mum hired a cleaner once. We only lived in a Wimpy semi with an open planned downstairs, so it was a bit unnecessary. One morning I decided to skive off school and sleep in. I awoke at 11.30 to hear 'Burn Baby Burn' blasting downstairs and to find the cleaner swigging from the Tia Maria bottle while dancing in a pair of my dad's shoes whilst vacuuming.

Thu, 2006-05-18 15:33

#14

tom_saunders

I couldn't get on without my butler, Sluice. He irons a lovely crease in an underpant. His sense of achievement when he carried me up Everest is not to underestimated. There was an aura of quiet pride about him as he unpacked the hamper for my picnic. If you want to buy my book, visit my blog: http://whatisthisstrangeplace.blogspot.com/

Thu, 2006-05-18 15:42

#15

Radio Denver

AG, "The average household?" Women do the bulk of the domestic work... Maybe. I consider my household to be "average". I don't allow women near it. Wouldn't want it all organized and smelling nice. I have a circle of underwear in my hallway, where I sit with a cave-man like aura and chant. Once a year, I do my own laundry even if everything isn't that dirty. Visit me http://www.radiodenver.org/

Share your state secrets at...
http://www.amerileaks.org

Thu, 2006-05-18 16:37

#16

tcook

I love slobitude. Great word, great lifestyle. What I really want to know is what was your review of the 4* hotel/spa like? Did you say how uncomfortable it made you feel? I got to do one, years ago, but expressed all these feelings - which, I thought, my listeners would appreciate. The holiday company didn't - and I didn't get any more 4/5* freebies, which suited me fine. I got to take the whole family on a wonderful camping holiday for two weeks in Brittany for free - and it was great, so I was able to say so!

Thu, 2006-05-18 17:02

#17

fergal

I talked to my editor and told her those things, and that if you were the sort of person who liked that sort of lifestyle then you would enjoy it. In the end the magazine just did one paragraph descriptions of the each of the visited places and didn't give them a rating. It all came down to advertising in the end. There was the magazine in house style, in house opinion, and that was it. Sad really because I really enjoyed the work there.

Sat, 2006-05-20 13:23

#18

justyn_thyme

RD, It would be Slobitude Butlerovitch. Dont' forget the 'o.' Without it, there aren't enough syllables. In a good hotel the serivce is unobtrusive. In a bad hotel the service is non-existent, which can be much the same thing, provided nothing goes wrong. I like staying in hotels and inns, but I prefer them to be simple. All I need is for the front desk to be able to take a message or accept a letter/package/fax and give it to me. I generally find that the smaller bed and breakfast places are better able to accomplish those tasks than the large 4/5* places. "You don't need the light of the Lord to read the handwriting on the wall." Copies of Warsaw Tales available through www.new-ink.org

Sat, 2006-05-20 13:45

#19

archergirl

I guess I'm a lady of the manor without the manor or the money. I love big, posh hotels with obsequious service; in the States, at least, the 'extras' that come with the room are fantastic and quietly efficient. Need your laundry done? No prob. Need an extra salad at 1:00am? No prob. Alas that I've only had the luck to stay in a few. Having grown up in a single-wide trailer with avocado green carpet in a dusty trailer park with shit-kicking gospel-listening paedophiles as next-door neighbours, I can't help but enjoy luxurious living, spas, facials, pedicures, the works. It may not fit in with the 'egalite', fraternite', liberte'' ideals of the liberal left, but my god the beds in those hotels are comfortable. I definitely wouldn't take the opportunity to enjoy another one for granted!