Sorry!

If you’re anything like me (and I sincerely hope you’re not), I spend half of my life saying sorry and much of the other half wondering if I should.  It’s a national trait in the U.K. and I think it is one that I like. Possibly the only way to make me dislike someone is if they are rude and not saying ‘sorry’ counts as one such violation in my book.

The hot weather tends to bring out the worst in people and makes the usually unbearable commute on public transport become ever so much worse.  And so it was a bit of delight when on Thursday morning, I had the opportunity to play a pivotal role in a   complex social interaction which involved the utterance of only a single word, albeit it several times by several people.

red bus on road near big ben in london
A London Bus

The lady sat next to me on the bus wanted to get up and so said “sorry” to me. I got up and said ‘sorry’ to the man standing next to me who looked over to the woman behind him. He said ‘sorry’ to her, she said ‘sorry’ to him as she moved back.

The alighting lady then said ‘sorry’ to me as she squeezed past me and to the man next to me as we still couldn’t probably give her plenty of room.

We both said ‘sorry’ back to her.

I sat back down on my seat and the standing lady then said ‘sorry’ as she took the vacant seat and the standing man said ‘sorry’ as he moved out of her way again.

She put her bag down near her feet and brushed against my legs and so said ‘sorry’. I replied I was ‘sorry’ for my stationary legs getting in the way of her bag.

All in all it was the epitome of apologeticness!

 

people sitting bus seats

I’m really sorry for sharing this.

If you can sympathise and I’m sorry if you can and indeed if you can’t then you might like to check out two older posts from years gone by.  First of all I’m Sorry I’m British

and the always popular Speaking Up For Introverts

 

 

By Stephen Liddell

I am a writer and traveller with a penchant for history and getting off the beaten track. With several books to my name including several #1 sellers. I also write environmental, travel and history articles for magazines as well as freelance work. I run my private tours company with one tour stated by the leading travel website as being with the #1 authentic London Experience. Recently I've appeared on BBC Radio and Bloomberg TV and am waiting on the filming of a ghost story on British TV. I run my own private UK tours company (Ye Olde England Tours) with small, private and totally customisable guided tours run by myself!

9 comments

  1. I do hope that the utterances of ‘sorry’ were said with sincerity, not the ‘sō ree’ uttered by a recalcitrant child! ‘Please’ is another word, the absence of which bugs me! Sorry if this reply is too long, please forgive me, thank you

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    1. Don’t be sorry. Yes these utterances were heartfelt and genuine. I feel the same about ‘please’ and when possible if someone requests something of me without using the ‘P’ word then I will ignore them. I’m sorry!

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  2. I’m sorry, Steven, but this nonsense happens a hundred times a day in London!

    I’m Welsh, and we tend to say something like “All right?” to indicate a non-threatening action infringing on personal space. I have been told we’re a little bit more like Klingons. The closest they have to “Excuse me” is “You’re in my way!”

    >:8o

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  4. I’m sorry that I have to write this…but I liked this writing enough to do so! “Sorry” is much better than other things someone could say or does say. A little respect goes a long way!

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