DEAR ABBY: I am 60 years old. Somewhere in the past, I acquired the habit of pushing my plate toward the center of the table when I finished eating.
My ladyfriend, who was born and educated in England, says this really gets on her nerves.
I never noticed it before because I have always thought it was proper -- that it signals to the server that you are finished with that course. Please advise. -- SERIOUS IN BOSTON
DEAR SERIOUS: Pushing one's plate toward the center of the table is not proper. To signal the server that you have finished eating and are ready to have your plate removed, place your knife and fork together diagonally across the upper right corner of the rim of your plate. The knife blade should face inward and the fork should be on the inside.