Last year I pulled up at the gate, got off my bike, happily presses the intercom button and in my best GCSE French, gave it a full on “Bonjour....Ja Ma Pel Jon... Ja Hav’ Un Res-a-vation, C Vu Play....”
A garbled message came back which, I took to be a warm welcome and agreement to let me in...
So, expecting the big grey steel gate to open, I got back on my bike and waited.... and waited....after at least a minute had passed in got off, pushed the button and again, gave it my best...”la porte... C Vu Play” I may have added, after the button was released, an abrupt definition of just how cold it was outside, in my best English....
A similar message came back so I knew, they knew I was there but still no gate....
By now I was starting to get a little frustrated but, keeping a stiff upper lip I waited...
As I was about to push the button for the third time when the gate slid sharply to the left and I was greeted by a not so happy looking French lady who, gave me one of them all knowing Gallic shrugs, looked me square in the eye and said “it’s broken!” “You av to push it”
Ah... “Merci beau coup” I replied...
She strutted off back in to the warm, arms raised. Maybe, her frustration was more than mine...
Three things I learnt here. Don’t pretend to speak in a language you have no chance of understanding the answer too or it will make you (I mean me of course) look a twat...
There are similarities between the French and the British...not every thing works as it should.
And... the phrase “putain d'idiot” should be taught at GCSE level...