A Sade Pleet With A Side Of Haggis
Australia, Cafeteria, Funny, Hospital, Melbourne, Victoria, Wordplay | Working | April 6, 2021
I’m from England. This was one of a string of temporary jobs I had while travelling a few years back. I’m selling people pies, sandwiches, and tea as normal when a lady in a nurse’s uniform asks me a question.
Nurse: “Can I have a sade pleet, please?”
Me: “A what?”
Nurse: “A sade pleet.”
I’m completely confused.
Me: “I beg your pardon?
Nurse: “A sade pleet!”
Me: “Er…”
I gesture at the array of food, drinks, and other assorted cafeteria-related items on the counter between us.
Me: “Ma’am, if you can see one on here, please grab one!”
The nurse picks up a small plate from a pile in front of me and shakes it.
Nurse: “A sade pleet! A SADE PLEET!”
It’s at this point that I finally twig that I’m listening to someone with a distinct Scottish accent, which I haven’t heard in some months and wasn’t expecting to hear at all while working in a hospital cafeteria in Australia. She’s asking if she can have a side plate. I laugh with some relief.
Me: “Beg pardon, ma’am, I wasn’t at all expecting to hear a Scottish accent here! Yes, of course, please take a plate, and sorry about that!”
Thankfully, she took it in good grace, headed off with her sade pleet, and, I hope, thoroughly enjoyed her break.
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