2009/12/25 Dublin
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Cognac

Trick

Last night I had dinner at one of my favorite restaurants in Dublin, Pearl Brasserie. (Tonight I was forced to stay home. All restaurants were closed and the few hotel bars that served food refused to serve nonresidents, so I dined on mandarin oranges.)

Last night after dinner the manager of Pearl Brasserie came over to the bar where I was sitting and he asked me: “Do you want a Christmas trick?”

At least that’s what I heard. The manager speaks English with a beautiful French accent.
How nice, I thought, the manager happens to be a magician as well and he has a special Christmas trick for the regulars.

“Yes, please show it to me,” I answered.

The manager looked flabbergasted. He repeated the same question: “Do you want a Christmas trick?”

And again I assured him that I would love to see his trick.

“No,” he said. “Cognac, grappa, calvados, do you want a treat, a Christmas treat?”

“A cognac,” I answered. "Please."

I felt deeply ashamed.


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11 comments Last_comment
trick or treat
A barman in London once told me he hadn't been able to understand some American who ordered an egg (a boiled one I suppose).
He kept understanding something like 'ik' and couldn't make out what the hell he meant.
I guess the American must have felt embarrassed like you were.
But rest assured: the barman or manager will tell this story to some other guest, because he felt ashamed as well.

Mutual misunderstandings, based on sounds, ah..., there's an interesting subject for some philosophical booklet.

Surely you will have some proper Christmas dinner today?
Besides these mandarin oranges ?!
Merry Christmas!
said bert hesper 25/12/2009 02:36 (Updated 02:40) • x
No food for non-residents, thats what christmas is all about. And dont forget to buy breakfast or you end up eating christmas pudding and rendeer rests in the morning, that is if youre lucky. And if you dont have breakfast or leftovers youre too late now. I advise you to have huge hangovers all over christmas so you can skip br-unch. Happy christmas to you all!
said Careca . 25/12/2009 10:24 • x
Arnon
You are always welcome to spend christmas with me and my family. One more guest will hardly being noticed in the chaotic , boisterous household of my mother.
said Mieke Dutoit 25/12/2009 10:41 • x
Xmas brunch/dinner
rendeer = reindeer...
will hardly being = will hardly be noticed...

Where's the turkey with cranberry sauce?
And what's going to happen to these poor innocent Brussels sprouts?
Happy Christmas to you all!
And a Happy New Year!
Hugs and kisses for all.
said bert hesper 25/12/2009 11:54 (Updated 11:55) • x
Why shame?
said Teresa I 25/12/2009 14:00 • x
Teresa
Shame comes from not understanding someone else, feeling you are not up to what is expected of you.
In this case: understanding someone else's language/sounds.
It's complicated, as they say these days...
said bert hesper 25/12/2009 14:09 • x
All
Merry Christmas !
said Coen van Dam 25/12/2009 14:56 • x
bert
If I had been the bartender I would have felt inadequate.
said Teresa I 25/12/2009 15:56 • x
Dublin is an abonded place on Christmas day, after roaming around in this desolated town one year, I've just decided to stay in, make some nice food and watch tv. Unfortunately getting a drink outside your own house is impossible as well
said Lies Beekhuis 26/12/2009 01:01 • x
Lies
- Abandoned
said bert hesper 26/12/2009 07:05 • x
Teresa
That's what I said / implied.
said bert hesper 26/12/2009 07:07 • x
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