On my way to work, I pass a large carwash at the intersection of Curtain Road and Great Eastern Street. It derives its "All American" name from being a handwash, hand-detail kind of place. Now, when I think "All-American" carwash I think of the scary automated variety of beast, but, let's not quibble. Usually when I walk by there is one car parked there, with one guy half-heartedly hosing the car down while 6 others stand around in gumboots (Wellies, for those in the UK) smoking cigarettes and cat-calling passersby (myself included). Generally, the staff at the All-American carwash do absolutely nothing. [Insert your own ironic quip about American work ethic here.]
This morning, however, was a different story. There was a large Metropolitan Police van parked in the carwash, and about 4 officers in uniform sitting inside, arms crossed, waiting. The All-American staff (other interesting tidbit: most of the All-American staff are visible minorities and almost certainly recent immigrants to the UK, in my humble assessment) were in a frenzy of squee-gee'ing, hosing, shammying and buffing. It was like somewhat had hit "fast-forward." I felt like "Flight of the Bumblebees" should have been playing as a soundtrack.
Moral of the story is if you want better service, slap some fake official-looking decals on your vehicle and you're off to the races.
This morning, however, was a different story. There was a large Metropolitan Police van parked in the carwash, and about 4 officers in uniform sitting inside, arms crossed, waiting. The All-American staff (other interesting tidbit: most of the All-American staff are visible minorities and almost certainly recent immigrants to the UK, in my humble assessment) were in a frenzy of squee-gee'ing, hosing, shammying and buffing. It was like somewhat had hit "fast-forward." I felt like "Flight of the Bumblebees" should have been playing as a soundtrack.
Moral of the story is if you want better service, slap some fake official-looking decals on your vehicle and you're off to the races.