No one is begrudging a worker a decent wage, and I maintain that they should not need to rely on tips. Its obviously up to you when you tip, but for me the whole point of it is to reward someone going beyond the call of duty, often significantly.

Agreed waiters and waitresses have to put up with a lot, but it goes with the turf.

I usually tip even in bars by a small amount and significantly where it was a particularly good meal, or more importantly service. To pay the same and every time somewhat defeats the object.

A friend of mine relates the story where a waitress spilt hot soup into his lap, and when he joked "there goes your tip" she was really upset, and honestly expected to still get one. As it turned out she did by getting the sympathy vote from the rest of the group, but its still bizarre...

Tipping is an emotional response and its often no good to try and analyse it scientifically. How much to tip ranks right up there with the most popular questions from US visitors to Ewe-rope.

A surly barman who looks right through you and serves the next swiss-talking people through the door, is going to get a different response from an entertaining cheeky-chappy that bothers to ask how things are going... (Bohemia and Kerala , you can work out which is which)

Waiting an eternity to get served is unforgiveable in my opinion when the place is not busy. Having worked in a bar you learn to read the "I-want-to-order" signals. Short of waving a napkin as recommended by Michael Winner what can one to deal with it other than reflect your feelings in what you give ?

dave