Saturday, May 24, 2014

Tea Room Postcard #21 - Pier Hill Tea Room, Southend-on-Sea (U.K.)

Since I wrote about England all week, I thought it might be fun to share a vintage postcard from there as well. When I found this one online, I was intrigued because of the Pier Hill Tea Room shown slightly left of center. It sure looks like a busy, bustling place, a reminder that the seaside has been attracting visitors for a long, long time. Even though I've never been to Southend-on-Sea, I'd love to go one day. I first heard of Southend-on-Sea two years ago when I was at the beach antiquing and came across this teacup. So now, of course, I'm alert to things related to Southend-on-Sea.

Alas, the back contains no correspondence, but I still enjoyed reading the oh-so-British-sounding wording: "This space may be used for printed or written matter" and "Only the address to be written here." It's a funny thing how the words we use can give us away. I was in Harrod's buying books for a couple of friends on my last night in England, and when the nice young clerk asked if I had a book discount card, I replied, "I do not." He grinned and asked if I was possibly an American. "Yes," I said. "How did you know?" He said that even though the British people usually think of themselves as having the best manners, if he asks them if they have a discount card, they reply, "I don't." He said "I do not" is actually the more polite response, and it usually comes from Americans. Who knew? (Maybe he just made the whole thing up to flatter me, but it worked!)

6 comments:

  1. What fun to have a postcard to go with your teacup! Have a great weekend.

    ReplyDelete
  2. Love your conversation with the sales clerk. When traveling isn't it funny, but as soon as we open our mouths we give ourselves away. Would love visiting this beach also.

    ReplyDelete
  3. You share the most interesting things, Angela. I have never even heard of this place.

    Neat about "I do not." A bit hard to believe him, but there's the rub. ♥

    ReplyDelete
  4. I've learned about another interesting place in England from your Tea Room postcard series.

    ReplyDelete
  5. I love the look of this postcard! Hope you have a great weekend,
    Joanie

    ReplyDelete
  6. Love your convo with the book salesman. I picture him a dashing handsome gent too! I so enjoy your Tea with Friends!

    ReplyDelete

Thanks so much for taking time to leave a comment! It makes my day to hear from readers!