Failing to keep up the standards

摘要

When my wife and i recently completed the thames ring cruise, we were disappointed to find that the lock-keepers were no longer as smartly turned out as they used to be, often dressed in overalls or casual clothes, and even when in uniform, it no longer consists of the brass-buttoned jacket and naval style cap. Also, the politeness used by lock staff, which we remember from previous cruises, seemed to be absent now. Several seemed to exhibit a rather off-hand attitude.