An Englishman Abroad
- Thread starter Ian H
- Start date
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BoldonLad
Old man on a bike. Not a member of a clique.
- Location
- South Tyneside
I had the reverse of that situation, a few years ago. We had parked in a French Aire, to have our lunch, but, planned to move on, after lunch. We got the last space available. A French registered motorhome arrived, but, couldn't get parked in a "bay", because there were none left available.
My schoolboy French is very limited, but, I spent five minutes, working out how I could tell the other driver, in French, that we would be leaving shortly, and, he could then have our space.
When I spoke to the "French" driver, giving my carefully rehearsed speech, he looked baffled. I assumed that I had got it all wrong, which would have been no surprise.
It turned out, he was a Brit, who lived in France, owned a French Registered Motorhome, but, spoke even less French than I did!
My schoolboy French is very limited, but, I spent five minutes, working out how I could tell the other driver, in French, that we would be leaving shortly, and, he could then have our space.
When I spoke to the "French" driver, giving my carefully rehearsed speech, he looked baffled. I assumed that I had got it all wrong, which would have been no surprise.
It turned out, he was a Brit, who lived in France, owned a French Registered Motorhome, but, spoke even less French than I did!
qigong chimp
Settler of gobby hash.
It's the way you tell 'em.
multitool
Guest
OP
OP
Ian H
Legendary Member
I think you can file that story under "did not happen"
Possibly. You can but hope.
Beebo
Veteran
Who asks for directions these days.I think you can file that story under "did not happen"
Everyone has a global sat nav on their phone.
Rusty Nails
Country Member
Winner of the "cool story Bro" award 2023.
OP
OP
Ian H
Legendary Member
Like all the best novels, it contains a larger truth.
newfhouse
pleb
I think you can file that story under "did not happen"
I think it’s more parable than reportage.
Rusty Nails
Country Member
It's nothing like any of the best novels. He's taken it from a well worn cliché, rather than a larger truth, and didn't know when to stop milking it.
Good for a patronising laugh from the more sophisticated among us at those Little Englanders though, who probably voted for Brexit.
OP
OP
Ian H
Legendary Member
Ah well.
OP
OP
Ian H
Legendary Member
I just looked him up. Gosh! What's not to like?
theclaud
Reading around the chip
Rusty Nails
Country Member
Ah, but which side is he making the bigger fools of?
