Making a hash of customer relations

From Hugh Muir's diary column in Tuesday's edition of The Guardian: "Finally, while the Act of Union holds fast, each day it is characterised by its controversies and tested by its tensions. Many important figures have been called upon to address these sensitivities. Tim Martin, the ebullient, outspoken boss of the JD Wetherspoon pub chain is just the latest. Asked by a customer to address the issue of why a standard side order produces two tasty, golden hash browns in his English establishments but just one in Wetherspoons outlets in Rhyl, North Wales, Martin said: 'My wife comes from the Rhyl area, where they are notoriously parsimonious (like the Scots, without the generosity).' But then, this mutual understanding is what makes the union what it is. Destinies entwined by love and hate."