Amusing

[Phage]

I'm a finance contractor so I'm always chasing the next role. I recently got an interview at a large institution of the kind where you shouldn't ask about Nazi gold.

I wasn't successful, becuase I'm apparently too laid-back ! No question that I can do the job, but they require someone less..... cheerful ?

I'll take that as a compliment ! (I'm not so worried, my current contract looks like it will run at least till July.)

[MaddAussie]

I'd take that as a massive compliment!

[kalniel]

at a large institution of the kind where you shouldn't ask about Nazi gold.

That's the clue

[Phage]

20 years in Australia, makes me sort of Trans-pacific in my outlook I guess.

[pollaxe]

It instantly made me think of Bill Bailey and his Tinselworm tour that I went to see in Cardiff a few years ago. He mentioned that he was preparing for a gig for a well known (possibly the same place that you interviewed at) Swiss bank and the young PA who was briefing him:

"She told me not to mention Nazi Gold, and of course if you tell a comedian not to do something, they'll immediately go and do it. So I went out on stage on a giant, neon Swastika, and sang "Gold, gold/always believe in your soul/you're indestructible-like the Third Reich!""

[Phage]

I swear I didn't do a Basil Fawlty. Although sorely tempted.

[MaddAussie]

20 years in Australia, makes me sort of Trans-pacific in my outlook I guess.

Really? Where in Oz where you? I grew up in the Adelaide suburbs, been backwards and forwards between there and here a few times. Now nicely settled in Dorset

[Phage]

Sydney and Canberra. All the family is there, spent half my life in either country. I go back at least once a year to see them. Will be going in October this year hopefully.

I still get tripped up with language like thongs, car-yards, servo and stuff. I don't miss 40C in a suit however !

[CAT-THE-FIFTH]

[Phage]

????
I get an 'A' grade and a pint ?

[MaddAussie]

God anything over 30 and I'm wilting.

Dad tells the story of stepping off the boat in Adelaide from the UK and going to live with a host family who had a 6 year old son. He was out in the backyard with him one day messing about with a balsa wood glider when it hit something and broke. Cue little boy pipping up saying 'its OK I'll go get my Dads Durex, he lets me use it all the time, that will fix it!' Dad stood there horrified as the kid disappeared into the house for 5 minutes. He comes back with the old aussie brand of selotape called Durex in his hand. Dad was a tad relieved!'

[Phage]

Billy Connolly does an excellent riff on that in a UK Chemists.
"I'm sorry, sir. Did you ask for a <i>roll</i> of Durex ?"

[pollaxe]

I've been in 45c which was deeply unpleasant. A mate, who works in Saudi, once texted me to say it was currently 50c in the shade at Riyadh.

[Phage]

Once you get over 35C the humidity becomes very important in order to evaporate sweat. In the bush it doesn't seem so bad, but when you get nearer the coast and humidity goes up.... (esp Brisbane)

EDIT: I seem to have lost all my HTML tags in IE8. What about the other broswers ?

[CAT-THE-FIFTH]

????
I get an 'A' grade and a pint ?

Look at the urls.

[Phage]

A Caracas King Henry VIII ? Am I being more dim than usual ?