.....happened to Mr Eq this morning. He went to his usual shop for bits and bobs, but they had no eggs. (my chooks aren't laying) So off he went to another shop, the lady went out back and got fresh eggs from the fridge....but wouldn't let him pay.

As you can imagine, after spending all his fifty odd years in the UK this is strange behaviour and makes you feel a little uncomfortable. If it had been a neighbour, fair enough, but someone you have never seen before?

Or are we too British?

Mrs Eq

PS. They were very nice fresh eggs, enjoyed atop beans on toast.

Equinus wrote:

.....happened to Mr Eq this morning. He went to his usual shop for bits and bobs, but they had no eggs. (my chooks aren't laying) So off he went to another shop, the lady went out back and got fresh eggs from the fridge....but wouldn't let him pay.

As you can imagine, after spending all his fifty odd years in the UK this is strange behaviour and makes you feel a little uncomfortable. If it had been a neighbour, fair enough, but someone you have never seen before?

Or are we too British?

Mrs Eq

PS. They were very nice fresh eggs, enjoyed atop beans on toast.

Sounds quite normal to me. If you are liked you are liked. I am often outside the house when people pass that I don't know and they say hello Tony. Nice living here init

Nothing strange about this in Bulgaria although not all are the same, you will find good and bad wherever you live in the world but I don't think you will find this type of kindness in the uk anymore. Your not too British you just haven't lived here long enough to understand how friendly the locals can be. But if you can at some point try and return the kindness in some small way its always appreciated.

The only way we can think of is to try to use this shop more. It's difficult when a relationship has already started to build in the first shop, which has a greater range of goods. We will call there for soft drinks as this seems to be their thing.

As long as they let us pay!!!

I suspect you are getting over welmed by now with all the free food flying your way. The Bulgarians share every thing salads fruit eggs food stuff on plates for breakfast or your lunch on saint days chocolates on birthdays the list goes on it can be over welming but my way of returning the share is baking They love pitsa breads buns cakes biscuits pies and so many can be made from the produce we all have extra of. enjoy their hospitality

Chrissy has it exactly right.. share what you have, even if you go short. A plate of strawberries, a couple of eggs, your first potatoes..everyone will know that you are making the effort.

Lovely neighbours like sweet things, especially cake and chutney. But you have to make sure to give them near the weekend as they are kept for when the family come round. Knowing how Mr neighbour likes his cake (the sicklier the better) that would be difficult if sent too early.

After speaking to Mr Eq again, it seems there were no eggs in the shop, so it looks as if they don't even sell them. He had an egg box with him, so it seems he was given some of their own. bless them.