I think we had a “we’ve arrived” moment yesterday but I messed it all up and I’ll probably think about it for the rest of my days. For the first time in recent memory it wasn’t raining so, we took a chance, and drove up to the east coast so we could visit with a colony of grey seals. Even though it wasn’t raining it was windy and the temperature was 10 degrees cooler so were all bundled up with hats, gloves, scarves, and all the things.

After visiting with the grey seals the girls were in good spirits and they agreed to a walk to the pub for a pint and chips (proper British, innit). As we piled in to the tiny pub, wearing our winter coats, hats, gloves, and all the things, I overheard one of the locals say, “Are they Russian?” Honestly, I didn’t pay it much attention because the bar tender was talking to me about Winnie and showing me pictures of his own dog.

I’m guessing what happened is one of the three heard us speaking and said “They’re not from around here” and his friend, observing our bundled state, jokingly quipped “Are they Russian?” As we made ourselves comfortable next to the three locals, one of them, making eye contact with me, asked “Did you get frostbite?” followed by a chuckle. I, in my American naivety, responded with a very sensible “Haha, no, it’s not too bad. At least the sun is shinning!”

It wasn’t until later that I understood we had been the recipients of our first British banter and I’m so sad that I messed it up. What would have been an appropriate response? Something about freezing extremities? “It’s colder than a witches titty in a brass bra?” According to the Internet saying something about the kiss of a frigid woman would be funny. Or something about polar bear toes. Personally, I would have enjoyed the reaction to witches titties but, I guess I’ll have to save that one for my next bought of British banter. Hopefully it’s pertaining to the cold because I’ll be ready for it.