Antisocial Distancing

 

Despite the Covid rules for keeping one’s distance I expect life in the average Royal Air Force Officers’ Mess has continued as usual.  In my sheltered time as a bachelor inmate, one found that the Dining Room was fully furnished with large rectangular oak tables set for breakfast – perhaps 6 or 8 place settings at each.  Whilst the staff would have preferred to serve and clear one table at a time, the usual preference of the Officers on entering the room at the start of the day was to choose an unoccupied table.  Here, in silent isolation, there would be room to spread the morning newspaper and tiresome early-morning conversation could be avoided.  I understand that in some Army Regiments, diners at breakfast might wear their hat to indicate to brother Officers that they did not wish to be disturbed.  And who could imagine a gentleman inconveniencing another Officer in the Ante Room by deliberately taking an adjacent armchair?