Another memorable one was last year - i took Mr crumpet to the eiffel tower for his birthday dinner which was delicious. Very romantic- the best table with a view straight down the champs elysees. Credit card disappeared after the meal for rather longer than anticipated, but we didn't take much notice. Afterwards we went to find a late bar and got directed by a friendly Parisian to the Celtic bar down the road.
It was only when everyone stopped drinking and stared at us did we get a clue that the French really dont like the Brits much. Anyway I had a thirst on and needed the loo so I asked someone by means of gesticulations where the loos were and went down. I had not been pre-warned about uni sex toilets and blushed and turned to leave as I thought I'd walked into the mens by accident. The guy who was peeing in front of me zipped up and explained it was "Unisex" - took me a moment or two to realise he was not propositioning me - well not yet anyway! I locked myself in the only cubicle feeling a little unnerved and hoped Mr crumpet was faring better upstairs.Next thing I knew half a dozen fists were hammering on my door and girls screaming and yelling things at me. I was a bit scared but had had enough wine not to be all cowardy so I swung open the door and told them in the only French I had acquired at school to eff off and surprisingly they did.
I had been thinking maybe we shoudl have a swift half and leave quietly but that incident settled me - I would be the last person to leave and would make friends with every damn man in the place. Up stairs Paul was receiving kisses on both cheeks from a large matronly blonde who turned out to be the landlady and not a long lost girlfriend. I whispered to him what had he doen to get that treatment but he ignored me and introduced me as his wife from Wales and I got a warm handshake. The air visibly relaxed and we had a great night - playing darts with the locals, discussing politics - many were related or knew people who had been injured or Killed in the basque bombing of a train in Spain - so there was much discussion on that. Barely had to buy anymore drinks after the first round as everyone clamoured to buy them. As we finally being ushered out around 3.30 in the morning I felt obliged to correct Paul's earlier statement about my Welsh heritage and confessed that I was actually English and on the whole it was decided that English birds weren't bad.
So it started badly but ended very well I thought, but you'll know not to go to Celtic bar where they embrace Scots, Irish and Welsh but are united in loathing of the English.