Just a Little Niggle...
I'm a fairly placid, easygoing person. I like peace and hate arguments. Just occasionally, though, some things really get my goat like, for example, the inability to admit to mistakes and to apologise. Some people are incapable of either....
This morning I went out and left my mobile phone at home.
I came home to discover I had 4 missed calls all from the same number which I didn't recognise so thinking it must be important I called the number.
The conversation went something like this but in French:
Me: Hello. this is Angela. I believe you tried to call me....
French lady: (Straightaway without a moment's reflection) No, I didn't call you. (She has a voice like a Jack Russell's bark)
Me: (mildly)Well, I have 4 missed calls from your number on my screen.
F.L. No. I didn't call you. I don't know you, Madam. You've made a mistake.
Me: (At this point I should have given up, of course.) Perhaps someone else called from your phone.
F.L: No. Absolutely not. It's you who's made a mistake...
And all the time I'm looking at the screen which has her number on it 4 times....
Then it occurred to me that I'm starting English lessons for Adults tonight under the umbrella of the local sports and cultural association and my mobile number's plastered over the village...possibly French Lady was ringing for details...
PS I'm calling her French Lady as description not as a comment.
4 comments:
Haven't you learned yet you can never directly accuse a French person of something? They automatically get all defensive and will never admit to doing something that both of you know they did! *S*
I just experienced this same thing this morning - I received a phone call from one of the hatcheries I translate for, saying that their treatments settings had been changed, and that no one had touched it. It's a computer program, so it can't change by itself, but when I asked, no one would admit that they'd touched the computer, even though someone obviously did!! Too funny.
I used to get that with my ex-h the whole time. I'd tell him something, he'd forget then deny hotly I'd ever told him as though he had an infallible memory. Even when presented with evidence that he must have heard. No climbing down, oh no!
Greatt reading your blog
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