Bay Tree Breakfast

Four us us, including the Dowager, all trooped along to the Bay Tree coffee-house in Holywood, County Down this morning. There was a choice of tables, though they were mostly two-seat ones and we required a table for four.

I fancied a full Bay Tree Fry this morning. I abstained from breakfast at home.

There were two small tables at the wall which were unoccupied, so the Dowager - who cannot stand for lengthy periods - and self sat there and I inquired if they could be joined. This they did not want, because it would have caused a blockage in the aisle. We waited till the others arrived; and waited; and waited, during which time two ladies sat down at a four-seat table at the opposite side before I could make a move.

I went up to the counter and pointed this out and was told that we'd have needed to queue for that! By this time, the restaurant was busy. A waitress approached the large table with the two ladies, and they agreed to do a swap.

I must confess that we were all a little exasperated by now and I demonstrated this by raising my voice, a boorish habit of which I am not proud. A Michael Winner moment. I'm not really like that, believe me: I did have some justification for annoyance. I think they made me pay for this behaviour - "let him wait!" - by bringing the others their scones and coffee, while I waited twenty-five minutes for my cooked breakfast. In the end, I summoned a waitress and told her that, if my breakfast hadn't been started, I'd cancel it. "Two minutes."

When it did arrive, it was probably worth the wait: very good; tasty; decent ingredients; plenty of mushroom; very lean bacon; a fat little sausage under the rest! I think the fry cost £5.95.

Incidentally, there was a Knight Commander (civil division) of the Most Honourable Order of the Bath enjoying the atmosphere there, this morning.