Finding joy in the everyday

When I was growing up I would never have considered calling my friends parents anything but Mr and Mrs X it just wasn't done.  Even now when I meet my friend Kathy’s mum, I still call her Mrs W and wouldn’t dream of calling her by her first name.   I was brought up to call my teachers MR/MRS, likewise any friends of my parents.  However I think this is changing as I have noticed an increase in teenagers calling their teachers by their first name (I had some teachers who I didn’t even know their first name) and calling me by my first name rather than Mrs XYZ — are first names ok these days or does it demonstrate a decline in respect for elders — and the separation between children and adults? When my sons attended pre-school they were asked to call their teachers Miss Mary and Mrs Elizabeth — I do wonder if this (in their minds) gave them permission to continue on through school. My son doesn’t call all his teachers by their first names, only his favour...

I queue all the time and I rarely meet another person who is rude in queues.  However in Britain it appears that new immigrants need to be taught - it isn't a skill that all countries are taught from birth.  The art of queuing is to be made part of the citizenship test for immigrants to Britain, unveiled recently.  Foreigners applying to settle in Britain will have to learn about the practice of forming a line for everything from buses to sandwiches. So in case you don't know the correct queuing etiquette I have listed them below.  They will be useful if you ever immigration to the UK. Be patient. Remember that everyone is in the same boat, so avoid displays of exasperation or aggression. Be aware of other people's personal space and don't stand too close to the person in front of you. Even in the most disorganised of queues, there will still be an unspoken order. Where there is one queue for multiple till points, pay attention; don't hold up the queue by fa...