I am not the most placid of people, but I never lose my temper in public. Ever. However, my patience was sorely tested and here's why.

We have a local fish and chip shop. They are a small chain of no more than a dozen stores. They have an ethical policy, use fish from sustainable resources etc. My kids used to love their fish and chips, so ocassionally I treat them to something from there, since being vegan I won't buy whole fish but I will buy them a home-made fishcake which is made from the bits left over (I know, gross). Anyway, when I first went vegan, I asked if the chips were ****ed in fresh oil and after lengthy chat with two members of staff, I was assured the chips are ****ed separately to everything else.

Stay with me...

Last night, we all went for chips. I ordered four portions of chips, three gravies and a curry sauce. (there are four of us!) Anyway, whilst waiting, I noticed they do pineapple fritters now. I asked of the batter was vegan.

Here's how it went:

"Is the batter vegan friendly", says I, smiling nicely.
"Oh yes" says the chap. "No eggs, no dairy, just flour, water and pepper".
"Oh cool! Can I have a pineapple fritter please?"
"Oh, they're not vegan"
"What? If the batter is vegan, what's not vegan about the pineapple?" I was bemused!
"Well, they're ****ed in the same fryer we **** the fish in. And we also **** the sausages, chicken and stuff in there".
"Oh! Oh well ok, thanks for telling me".

Then I suddenly, and have no idea why I asked, said

"But the chips,they're in clean oil, right?"
"Oh no, we use the OIL FROM THE FISH FRYER IN THE CHIP FRYER THE FOLLOWING DAY"
"What?" He then went on to explain that they do exactly that... use clean oil in the fish fryer every day, then use that oil in the chip fryer the following morning. I was pretty disgusted. This means about half a dozen times since being vegan, I've had those chips. I can deal with that, I don't feel bad, I didn't know.

But this is what pissed me off...

"Can I cancel one portion of chips and a curry sauce please?"
"But the sauce is vegan" he replied.
"WHAT THE F**K DO I PUT IT ON? THE WRAPPING PAPER?" I shouted back!

Now normally, I would have coped better, but yesterday that really annoyed me! I was angry that he thought he should still try and sell me his curry sauce, the only vegan product in the shop. And angry that I had been lied to in the shop before. I don't care about not eating their food anymore, so be it... but I abhor liars. He did ask if I wanted to complain about the person who'd "misinformed" me, but my blood was boiling and I ed air.

This is the first time I have felt absolute anger about something so petty! What do you do? How do you deal with it?