jeudi 23 avril 2009

He said, she said

Yesterday I was in the UK for the day. Just for the day. Seven hours, in fact.

I managed to fit in three meetings and lunch with my Mother. How's that for productivity?

I'd travelled over with Debbie - as usual - and by the time we came to take the flight home we were mildly hysterical from the travelling as well as the busy-ness and business of the day.

Normally I'm very organised and have something to read in my bag. This time it turned out to be the last 20 pages of a Tom Perrotta novel - 20 pages that lasted ten minutes. Not so good. Debbie, being Debbie, had brought along her 'beginners sudoku' and was frustrated with it being so difficult. Lord.

So we're sat on the plane with nothing to do. I want to sleep. Debbie doesn't.

"Let's play 'he said, she said' - it'll be funny" she suggests.

Now, this isn't something I've done since I was, like, ten years old. But, given the wave of hysteria that was now washing over me, I acquiesced. Out came 2 sheets of paper.

Now for those of you unfamiliar with the game, each person starts by writing a boy's name on a piece of paper, then folding it so that the name is hidden. The paper is passed to the other person who writes 'met...' and then a girl's name. The papers get swapped again and 'at...' is written, followed by a location. The process then goes 'he said...', 'she said...', 'and then they...'. Each time the papers getting swapped between the players.

At the end of the process, you end up with a random tale about random people. It's very funny. Especially if you are a twelve-year-old girl.

I guess that I forgot to mention the libation of which we'd partaken at the airport. This possibly explains why we decided we'd play using the names of our colleagues. This also possibly explains why we found the whole process hilariously funny.

As we sat on the plane, passing papers to and from and laughing like drains, I realised that other passengers had started to stare.

Now, I'm happy for people to stare. I'm more than used it in fact - looking this good, you either live with it or hide away, ha ha. But staring with eyes wide open as me and Debbie found ourselves increasingly hilarious while playing a kids' game? That's kind of uncomfortable.

As we boarded the bus from the aircraft to the terminal at CDG, a very straight-laced looking French businessman turned to me and smiled.

"Looks like you found a way to pass the time on board!" he said.

"Erm, yeah. I hope we didn't distrub you," I replied, trying to act as if this was totally normal.

"It made my day," he said. "I've been stuck in the most miserable meetings and to hear some laughter has done me some good. Shame you didn't ask me to join in."

"Next time maybe" I said, as we got off the bus and headed to the exits.

"Definitely," he said, flashing me a killer smile. "Most definitely".

I said goodbye to Debbie and headed off to get the bus into town.

Our work here was done.

19 commentaires:

Henry North London 2.0 a dit…

I wish I got as many flirts as you.

travelling, but not in love a dit…

Henry, I think it's mostly me who starts the flirting - and then most people don't need much encouragement to respond to a little flirting, he he...especially with me, of course. lol.

Anonyme a dit…

Oohh I actually have been known to play this with friends every now and then (obviosuly after much wine). we can have a go in a few weeks :-)

travelling, but not in love a dit…

Big C, let's do it. Although I do worry that everyone on the paper (i.e. all of your 'occasionalys') will also be in the room with us...he he.

Anonyme a dit…

It reminds me of how we used to pass boring lectures: put a notebook in between two desks and complain of boredom, write little cartoons together, make dinner arrangements, plan to take up a new hobby together and compile shopping lists.

travelling, but not in love a dit…

Marjolein, that sounds like my usual day at work!

Anonyme a dit…

haha thats a normal day for me at school. jokess

Anonyme a dit…

In that case, where do you work? I want in.

travelling, but not in love a dit…

Poser - I hope it's not! You need to be concentrating!

marjolein, now that would be telling, no? Although I am looking to recruit soon...

La Mom-an American Mom in Paris a dit…

Bonjour,

Great to find your blog -- I love your stories about the Parisian (non) dating scene! Ahh, what fond memories they bring back...eeek.

La Mom
An American Mom in Paris

travelling, but not in love a dit…

Hey there La Mom....lovely to see you here. I blame that Poser girl, he he. Looking forward to seeing you again soon!

cb a dit…

Dude- you can pick up a hot French guy by playing a 12 year olds slumber party game?
I hate you

travelling, but not in love a dit…

CB, no pick up was made, just a little mild flirting, ha ha...

Brett a dit…

Just read your last few post (as i'm band from the PC because of my back)and i will have to echo the word of that man "you have made my day"

travelling, but not in love a dit…

Brett, that sounds painful...hope it gets better soon...

aims a dit…

Was sitting here reading this and thinking back to when we first met.

What a difference time makes.

I've never heard of this game. Of course I spent my puberty days in a bathroom stall hiding out during lunch break. You think that could have had anything to do with it?

travelling, but not in love a dit…

Aims, I think the bathroom stall may have something to do with it...he he

And yes, it's been a long time that we've been blog buddies now - way over a year already...crazy. Times have indeed changed - for both of us, I think. xxx

Tony a dit…

Well I suppose a day in Kiddyfiddler would bring anyone to tears .....

Daryl a dit…

WHAT ... wait .. did you not get the nice man's name/#???????