This morning, I decided to bring a book to my “happy place” for breakfast. But first, I went for a long walk. So by the time I reached SAFRA Punggol, I was really sweaty. There was a good number of customers already seated within McDonald’s when I entered and I wanted to be seated away from all these folks. And there’s this nice corner by the side, which they may sometimes use for kids’ birthday parties, and that area can be cordoned off simply by shutting those glass doors. Today, as on many days, the doors were wide open, so I waltzed in.
I’d placed my order at the self-serve kiosk, got a number (#47) and waited for staff to serve the food to me. The book I’d brought with me was Ennani Durai’s ‘Regrettable Things That Happened Yesterday’. Before I could finish reading page 3, a tall and slim lady came to serve me my food. Very sweet. She’d even provided chili sauce for me.
So I put the book away.
Today’s Sausage Wrap was as good as always. And only after finishing the wrap did I move on to the hashbrown, which is what I truly love about McDonald’s breakfasts. Yes, I know. It’s not the most healthy thing for breakfast (I’ll walk it off as I get home… maybe?) BUT I LOVE IT!
And as I was enjoying my hashbrown, another of McDonald’s SAFRA Punggol staff came in. This one was wearing a headset. She went to the (empty) table next to mine, and seemed like she wanted to clean what already looks like a very clean table. So I took a quick glance in her direction. BAM! Wrong move.
What happened next left me reeling.
She said to me, in a very firm voice, that I should get a change of tables (i.e. get out of this area), and that this corner should be locked on weekdays and no customers should be seated here. I was too shocked to respond, as she’d caught me while I was focused on eating my hashbrown. She went on to say that it’s hot and stuffy here. And noisy too. Then she turned and left.
WTF?!
IS THIS THE MCDONALD’S I KNOW? HAVE STANDARDS DROPPED SO LOW?
YOU’D INTERRUPT A CUSTOMER IN THE MIDDLE OF HER MEAL? AND TELL HER TO GET A TABLE ELSEWHERE?!
Get this. The area was left open… and so inviting.
I did not touch the doors – check your CCTVs!
AND also get this: staff served me the food right to this table in this corner. IF I was seated somewhere I should not be, she should have let me know to move elsewhere BEFORE I BEGAN MY MEAL!
What type of F-ing annoying staff tells people in the middle of their makan to go elsewhere?!
ARGH!!!! And it’s breakfast too! She wanted to ruin my day?! What a horrible, horrible lady she is.
Looking back, I could have thrown a cup of milo at her or pounded the table with my fist or something. Or shouted at her. I think I should get tattoos some time. Like maybe a fierce dragon, from shoulder to ankle, then perhaps people will show some respect?
This ‘Hello Kitty face’ does nothing for me, I tell ya.
So… I take what’s left of my meal (1 iced milo and 1 apple pie) and headed to the counter to get some plastic carriers for takeaway. *In case you are wondering, I’m not that big of an eater – the additional milo was free via the McDonald’s app and the apple pie is free for SAFRA members.
At the counter, the same RUDE lady was the one who packed my food into the plastic bags. Her nametag says her name is AGNES and get this: she is CREW LEADER of SAFRA Punggol’s McDonald’s! W… T… F.
I don’t usually use the F word on my blog, you know. But FUCK! This Agnes really, well and truly, pissed me off today.
I asked to see her manager. And this young man called Nicholas, who is evidently much younger than Agnes, tries to defuse the situation. I knew he was simply trying to calm me down and once I’d stepped out of the restaurant, NOTHING is going to change. Agnes will still be her Agnes self and CREW LEADER too. Pui!
I’m also terribly upset at myself. When I get emotional (angry or upset), tears start welling up in my eyes. Seems like such a show of weakness. Haiz. But I cannot help it. I’m probably the person with the most active tear ducts in this world.
But I guess I did OK… even though Agnes was horrid.
If I’d shouted at her, someone would probably have filmed me – without my mask and with a half-eaten hashbrown in one hand – and I’d be an Internet sensation for a day. If I’d pushed a table to the ground or flung a tray at her, they’d probably call the police, and now I won’t be typing out this blogpost at home but perhaps, at the police station.
Haiz… what’s a girl to do? Just wanted a quiet spot for brekkie, and spend some time reading a book.
Did not want to sit near the other customers as I was sweaty. AND it was probably great that the area I’d chosen did not get much air-conditioning as I’d probably start shivering after a while, in my tank top and shorts, because I’d been sweating when I stepped in.
You know, while I’m upset at this horrible, HORRIBLE Agnes, I’m probably more upset at myself for my weak response. If I’d shouted at her and told her to mind her own business, the door was fucking wide open, her staff did not tell me I could not sit there when serving me the food…
‘Utterly Regrettable Things That Happened This Morning At McDonald’s.’
The (unofficial) sequel to Ennani Durai’s book.