Feeling a trifle sketchy this morning.

[Burney]

First Christmas party of the season at the Churchill War Rooms (my main conclusion about which is that the place must have properly pen and inked when it was full).
All good fun, but at dinner I had the misfortune to be sat next to the most extraordinary fellow. He was unable to converse in anything but a full-throated shout (despite the fact that he was no more than two feet away from me) and apparently thought nothing of shouting across me at my other neighbour while I attempted to eat. He also ate like an animal, hunched over his plate with his face no more than six inches from his food.

The man was to all intents and purposes sub-human.

[Sir C]

First Christmas party of the season at the Churchill War Rooms (my main conclusion about which is that the place must have properly pen and inked when it was full).
All good fun, but at dinner I had the misfortune to be sat next to the most extraordinary fellow. He was unable to converse in anything but a full-throated shout (despite the fact that he was no more than two feet away from me) and apparently thought nothing of shouting across me at my other neighbour while I attempted to eat. He also ate like an animal, hunched over his plate with his face no more than six inches from his food.

The man was to all intents and purposes sub-human.

I encountered such a bellowing sort of chap at a function recently, coincidentally. He turned out to be a Westminster lobbyist for the chauffeur-drive industry, which struck me as an odd profession. Anyway, he was very much of the bawling Hooray Henry school. (His table manners were impeccable.)

Was your chap posh or common?

[Burney]

I encountered such a bellowing sort of chap at a function recently, coincidentally. He turned out to be a Westminster lobbyist for the chauffeur-drive industry, which struck me as an odd profession. Anyway, he was very much of the bawling Hooray Henry school. (His table manners were impeccable.)

Was your chap posh or common?

Oh, he was common. Some sort of northerner, in fact. He was so ill-mannered as to almost redefine the term. He appeared simply to have no concept of how to behave at all. Him bellowing at me was bad enough, but I kept having to suppress a reflexive urge to stab him in the eye with a fork every time he stuck his head between me and my lunch in order to bellow at my other neighbour.

[Sir C]

Oh, he was common. Some sort of northerner, in fact. He was so ill-mannered as to almost redefine the term. He appeared simply to have no concept of how to behave at all. Him bellowing at me was bad enough, but I kept having to suppress a reflexive urge to stab him in the eye with a fork every time he stuck his head between me and my lunch in order to bellow at my other neighbour.

Grim business. We must hope that you don't suffer PTSD as a result of this experience.

[Burney]

Grim business. We must hope that you don't suffer PTSD as a result of this experience.

I am feeling a bit triggered just thinking about it. Although that could just be the unfortunate combination of Champagne, red wine, brandy and ale coursing through my veins.

[Sir C]

I am feeling a bit triggered just thinking about it. Although that could just be the unfortunate combination of Champagne, red wine, brandy and ale coursing through my veins.

*BRANDYKLAXON*

Self-inflicted, I'm afraid. Champagne, red wine and ale I'll allow. The addition of brandy, I'm afraid, causes me to withdraw my sympathy.

Soory, b. I don't make the rules.

[eastgermanautos]

First Christmas party of the season at the Churchill War Rooms (my main conclusion about which is that the place must have properly pen and inked when it was full).
All good fun, but at dinner I had the misfortune to be sat next to the most extraordinary fellow. He was unable to converse in anything but a full-throated shout (despite the fact that he was no more than two feet away from me) and apparently thought nothing of shouting across me at my other neighbour while I attempted to eat. He also ate like an animal, hunched over his plate with his face no more than six inches from his food.

The man was to all intents and purposes sub-human.

Come on, man, I'm not that bad! Had you chuckling a couple times.

Also, it's not all intents and purposes. It's all intensive purposes. And it's not admirable, it's admiral. Admiral party we had.

[Burney]

Come on, man, I'm not that bad! Had you chuckling a couple times.

Also, it's not all intents and purposes. It's all intensive purposes. And it's not admirable, it's admiral. Admiral party we had.

Oh I can forgive Americans. They are crass and loud, but they are simple creatures and know no better - like large, over-friendly dogs.

This chap had no such excuse.

[Pat Vegas]

Oh I can forgive Americans. They are crass and loud, but they are simple creatures and know no better - like large, over-friendly dogs.

This chap had no such excuse.

I like that.
I am curious to see how this American party I am going to will be.

they are so optimistic. I've been talking to my colleagues over there and me being my sarcastic grumpy Jack Deeesque type character, they are just so positive about everything. Everything is awesome or will be amazing. Though my old boss though I am still with the company somehow gave me the most amazing over the top reference.

[Burney]

I like that.
I am curious to see how this American party I am going to will be.

they are so optimistic. I've been talking to my colleagues over there and me being my sarcastic grumpy Jack Deeesque type character, they are just so positive about everything. Everything is awesome or will be amazing. Though my old boss though I am still with the company somehow gave me the most amazing over the top reference.

The constant use of the term 'awesome' to mean 'Fine' in the US is extremely irritating. I lost track of the number of waiters who would interrupt one's meal in order to enquire if everything was 'good'. When one mumbled 'Fine, thanks' through a mouthful of food they would invariably respond 'Awesome!' as though you had paid them the greatest possible compliment.