Wow what a way to start the morning! I woke up to the lovely Karen Patterson (on the radio sadly and, of course). Thereafter it was porridge and a bannana with berries, 30lengths of the Antrim pool, a walk to work through the park with loads of healthy gulps of fresh air, followed by a cup of herbal tea, a tweet and a blog. Is there any better way for a guy to start the day? I suppose the answer is Yes...
Yesterday I went to pick up a parcel from the local royal mail sorting office. As I signed for it on one of their rinky dinky new electronic message pads the receptionist said something that really rankled with me "that'll do".
Before coming to Northern Ireland I'd never heard this phrase before - at least as a communication close. I couldn't get used to it when I first heard it and I still can't now. I hear it as a sign off on the phones. Friends say it me. Senior networking contacts seem to think that it lifts my spirits as they head off from a meeting with me before throwing a "that'll do" at me.
I don't know why I have such a problem with this seemingly innocoous trio of words. It may be because it reminds me of my school days. The school motto was "that'll do wont do". (yes he was a smart arse the Headmaster). It may be that it feels like the oral equivalent of the limp handshake goodbye. Eitherway it sounds to me as though the person using it had just had a communication experience with me that was only just satisfactory or acceptable. May be I just need to get over it.
This blog is becoming long. Time to finish. That's enough for now, or if you prefer "That'll do".
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I've said this in company where they've not heard it before and caused real offence (without meaning to). But, it's hard to drop, when it's become a habit.
ReplyDeleteIt means OK. That's all. There's no judgement of it's not quite good enough.