I was out with my youngest brother last week and we had a lunchtime meal in a Harvester. When the bill came up he said it was on him, though I tried to give him at least my half, he wouldn't have it.
Anyway, we'd been talking about the AA as we are both members and I told him we get a 20% discount in many restaurants including Harvester which he didn't know, so he redeemed it and I thought at least I'd contributed something, if not in actual cash.
I shouldn't have worried, in the car afterwards I asked him if the saving was worthwhile and he said yes, adding "shame I didn't get one the other night when we had a meal out"
He then tells me, he and his wife and another couple had a meal at a restaurant on the 'Embankment' the previous Sunday evening, the bill came to just over £700, he added that it was all really nice but he thought it was 'a bit steep.'
Once I'd put my eyes back in my head and regained my power of speech, all that came out was an expletive. He went on that 'in hindsight' they should have ordered one of the 'set meals' at £115 per head because that included a bottle of wine with each course. I'd already guessed that the lions share of the bill would have been booze but nevertheless a £700 bill for four is not only way out of my league, I just couldn't justify it.
I think this brother of mine and his family have lost all touch with reality, on the Friday of this weekend I'm talking about, he'd already paid for a venue based 21st birthday party for one of his daughter's, bouncers extra.
Not only that, he'd taken delivery of a brand new £30,000 car a week earlier and on the Sunday of the meal, he'd driven up town and left it overnight in a suspended parking bay about 100 yards up the road from a big building site.
Am I the only one to think they've lost their marbles, his family think it's normal behaviour which everyone does too? - maybe it is in the circles they move in now
I suppose there might be a glimmer of hope for him, even what is left of the person he was still registered that a £700 meal for four was 'a bit steep'
PS. When I told my 89 year old Mum (in confidence of course) once it sunk in, the only thing she could say was "Well I think that is nothing short of obscene" ...... I have to agree.