Last week Francesca met Alex at the London office, having already been told by Aunty Dorothy that Paul’s wife had disappeared, she was very surprised to find out from Alex that she had actually died two years ago!!!

Who should she believe ? Not only that she also found out that Paul’s wife’s name was also Francesca. Paul is taking her to lunch on her first day at the office  - will she have the courage and the opportunity to ask him any questions???

PAUL: OK Francesca, here we are – it’s a nice pub called “The Old Bear”

FRANCESCA: The Old Bear??    Er Paul why do English pubs have such strange names?

PAUL: (laughing) I don’t know, I guess it’s just they always have done I mean some pub names  come from their position for example, The Tyne because it’s on the banks of the River Tyne, The most popular pub name is The Red Lion, because the red lion is the symbol of England, although I’ve never seen a red lion! Then there are ones like  The Crown, or King or Queen something!! Mostly it’s just tradition!!

FRANCESCA: Oh I see

PAUL:  Anyway are you looking forward to your first experience of English pub food?

FRANCESCA: Yes, I’m really excited!

PAUL: Ok, now where would you like to sit?  Over there by the window, or over here by the door?

FRANCESCA:  Oh, by the window I think!

PAUL: Sure!  Well then, I’ll go and ask for the menus!

FRANCESCA: Oh this lovely, Paul!

PAUL:  Hmm?  Oh yes it’s a lovely old pub!  I wouldn’t want to sit outside though as there’s too much traffic around here!

FRANCESCA:  Yes…

PAUL: Now let’s see, what shall we have?  I’m starving!

FRANCESCA:  I mean, what did you say?

PAUL:  I’m starving?  Oh that means that I’m really really hungry… I’m not really starving, literally I mean , but you know …

FRANCESCA: Ok!  Em, Paul, can you help with the menu?  There may be some things that I don’t know in English there.

PAUL:  Of course! 

FRANCESCA: Ok Starters? Sorry, Paul but what is Prawn cocktail?

PAUL: Well let’s see prawns are .. I think I know this in Italian . “gambe” I think?

FRANCESCA: (laughing) no! no! That’s gamberetti!

PAUL: ( laughing too) Oh that’s right! what an idiot !  What does gambe mean then?

FRANCESCA: LEGS!

PAUL: OH! Well I guess it’s definitely not a leg cocktail! That’s totally different so well, prawn cocktail is prawns (gamberetti or even scampi) in a Marie Rose sauce

FRANCESCA: I’ll have the vegetable….  How do you pronounce vegetable sup soup or soap?

PAUL: Soup.  Is that what you would like?

FRANCESCA: Yes I think so!

PAUL: Ok let’s see what there is for the main course….

FRANCESCA: Paul, what’s haddock?

PAUL: Haddock is a type of fish, white fish … Ok and then there’s vegetarian lasagne, I don’t think it’s the same as it is in Italy! That’s what Alex would have if she was here! She doesn’t eat meat or fish!

FRANCESCA: Alex? She’s vegetarian!  Oh do you cook together?

PAUL: Sorry?

FRANCESCA:  Erm because you two live together isn’t that true?

SILENCE………

PAUL: Er yes we do but not like boyfriend/ girlfriend, we just share a flat together that’s all!

FRANCESCA: Er, ok   …..Er I’m sorry I didn’t mean to offend you…

PAUL: No, not at all I just didn’t expect the question!

FRANCESCA: I mean Aunty Dorothy told me, so …

PAUL: That’s ok (hurriedly) So how is everything with Aunty Dorothy?

FRANCESCA: Oh great! She really is lovely! She drinks a lot of tea and bakes the most beautiful cakes!!

PAUL: Oh tea drinking yes Aunty Dorothy does drink a lot but that’s because she’s Irish and they drink a lot of tea!!

FRANCESCA: And she goes to bed really early!!! At nine thirty

PAUL: (surprised) Really? That’s unusual, maybe that was just because you were late, she probably thought that you would be tire. Normally she …er… goes out very late!!

FRANCESCA: What do you mean?

PAUL: (laughing) OK well you’ll find out I’m sure!!

PAUL: Have you met her cats?

FRANCESCA: Yes I have! Paul came and got into bed with me in the night!

PAUL: I’m sorry!!!!

FRANCESCA: Oh! I’m sorry I made a mistake! I mean Boris, yes Boris!!

PAUL: Oh OK! Anyway I’m going to have the Chicken Kiev, what about you?

FRANCESCA: Chicken Kiev?  I’m sorry but what is Chicken Kiev?

PAUL: Well it’s chicken with garlic butter inside.

FRANCESCA: Well, that sounds very nice but I think I’ll have salmon

PAUL: Oh ok I’ll go & order .. and what would you like to drink?

FRANCESCA: I’ll have mineral water … with gas please

PAUL: (laughing) oh sorry we don’t say with gas we say “sparkling” water. Or if it is without gas then we say, “still” water

FRANCESCA: Oh I see!

PAUL: Ok well I’ll go & order, I’m going to have a pint!

FRANCESCA: Ah ecco la famosa pinta chiarramente di birra, come tutti gli inglesi!! Oh mio dio che figuracce hai fatto oggi, Francesca!! Ma fa niente, almeno ho scoperto che lui e lei non sono fidanzati, ma cos’è questa storia con la zia Dorothy, che esce la sera tardi? Oddio  è tutto cosi strano!!!e io che pensavo che il lavoro fosse la cosa più difficile …… invece……… che gente strano! Vedremo……

TO BE CONTINUED!!!!!!