Now I really don’t want to come across as an impatient person. I’m always polite (unless provoked!) and I’m not rude to people who work in stores (unless they’re particularly rude themselves). I’m even happy to engage in a bit of small talk here and there with the shop assistants. I believe strongly we should all respect each other and it makes for a much nicer day for everyone if you can have a bit of polite conversation as you go about your day. My problem with conversations at the till is when you’ve been standing in a long queue waiting to pay for your shopping and then you’re pleased to know it’s you next, but the person in front of you is having a full blown catch-up with the cashier long after their shopping is packed and paid for and they’re both completely oblivious to you and the queue of shoppers behind you. It’s almost as though, in their minds, they’re settled on the sofa in the front room with a cup of tea and a packet of biccies and they have all the time they want to put the world to rights!