Wednesday, July 29, 2009

Next door confuses me

While in The Big Smoke I made plans to meet some friends for dinner. In fact, it was on the night before I left. It was a Tuesday, and I was staying in a suburb renowned for it's restaurants so the choices, seemingly, were endless (not so easy when you're a tourist, these restaurant-picking duties). I heard via the grapevine that one was especially nice, so in good, organised, me-style I rang Directory Enquiries, got their number and called them up on Tuesday morning to book a table. They were full. On a Tuesday? Good grief.

A couple of SMS's later resulted in second choice - an apparently Brilliant Pizza Spot*. I called Directory Enquiries, got the number, called them. Tuesday, apparently, is Drag Show day. These Big Smoke folks are wierd - it's Tuesday for heaven's sake! The day after Monday. Like in one day into the week. A night on which (surely?) most people stay in, unless there's someone visiting from The City Beneath the Mountain, in which case a quiet, gentle dinner may be in order?

So I SMSed the people I was meeting for further suggestions. Two replied saying Nextdoor, one with a number, which I duly phoned. It was a discontinued number. So I phoned Directory Enquiries again. I was beginning to think we may land up having to find a Macdonalds drive-through and eat in the car - not a spectacularly enticing idea for 6 people, one 5 months pregnant. A nice lady answered:

Nice Lady: Directory Enquiries, Nice Lady speaking, how can I help you?

Shiny: Hello, it's Shiny here, again. I'm looking for a number in The Big Smoke.

Nice Lady: Yes, what number?

Shiny: Nextdoor.

Nice Lady: Next door to what?

Shiny: Just Nextdoor. It's a restaurant.

Nice Lady: Okay, a restaurant. Next door to where? I need a name. I can't look up names of places next door. I don't even know where you are.

Shiny: That is the name.

Nice Lady: Next door?

Shiny: Yes, Nextdoor. It's in Grant Avenue.

Sigh, followed by a deathly hush...

Nice Lady: I'm sorry there's nothing under that listing. I think you need to find it's real name.

Shiny: But that is it's real name (starting to sound a little unsure...)

Nice Lady: I'm sorry.

Shiny: Okay, thanks. Bye.

So we took a drive down Grant Avenue looking for it, up and down, just in case we missed it on one side. But we found no sign of Nextdoor. Instead we discovered a nice little cheap and cheerful Italian trattoria. I booked a table and met up with everyone that night.

Clive: I'm so glad you managed to get us in here. The food is great.

Shiny: This is the place you were talking about?

Clive: Yip, next door to the Brilliant Pizza Spot, that's what I said!

Doh. I wonder if I should call Nice Lady at Directory Enquiries and explain myself?

3 comments:

tam said...

Teeheeehehe. Hilariously Pythonesque. How marvelous that you found it. I'm truly impressed.

Shiny said...

So was I! And they had the most delicious lasagne xxx

Angela said...

I know these embarrassing after-moments. Sometimes it`s good we can remain anonymous on the phone.