Fifteen or so years ago my phone rang. "Would you do me a favour and pop over to the house. I've something I'd like you to do for me. Just ring me whenever you manage to get over."
"Okay. It'll be early afternoon. Is that okay?"
"Absolutely."
My friends were in the South of England visiting their old stomping ground. Hence they were unable to fulfill a request from their daughter somewhere miles away.
The daughter had been invited (if I recall correctly) to a formal ball somewhere. She had a dress but needed some special accessories. When her daughter asked her to ask me, her Mother had whether it was appropriate, to which she got the reply "It's only Graham."
So once I was at the house I made contact and was duly asked to go up to the spare bedroom and in a particular drawer I would be asked to look for something. The 'something' turned out to be a very exclusive black set of slip, bra and knickers. Apart from having never seen such a massive array of underwear before (and, yes, I was once married!) I'd never seen anything quite so exotic, alluring and obviously expensive.
The underwear (and possibly a pair of high heels) was duly despatched the next day and that was that. Until something was said recently and I realised this was something I was never going to live down. So I decided at least to get a blog post out of it!
I should add that the "It's only Graham" has since turned up a number of times in my life. I'm still trying to work out whether it's a compliment
Yes, it's a compliment. You were trusted and they knew you would take it in your stride.
ReplyDeleteThank you, Rachel.
DeleteWell, I would take it as a compliment that they felt comfortable entrusting you with such a task. A sign of true friendship I would say.
ReplyDeleteCertainly, JayCee, har parents are very close friends indeed.
DeleteOne has to do one’s duty when called upon.
ReplyDeleteThat's what I thought, David!
DeleteA compliment without a doubt. What a nice and reliable friend you showed yourself to be, Graham.
ReplyDeleteJenny, friendship is one of the most important things in life for me.
DeleteI agree you should regard it as a compliment - being trusted like a family member :)
ReplyDeleteCertainly, Monica, it has certainly proved to have been a long, close and lasting friendship.
DeleteYes, you are trusted but it does make you sound ever so boring, and I know what that is like.
ReplyDeleteAndrew, the thing is that in many ways I am rather boring.
DeleteWell done, Graham! You are a dependable friend!
ReplyDeleteoh that's so very cool, they obviously knew you were a good friend to be relied upon.
ReplyDeleteYes, it's a compliment to be trusted to do a favour for a friend and not pass on the details to all and sundry.
ReplyDeleteIn other words you were had. You blundered into a little trap. So you have something funny to remember the remainder of your life.
ReplyDeleteDefinitely a compliment, trusted like a member of the family
ReplyDeleteYep, definitely a compliment, with the ‚only‘ not demeaning in any way.
ReplyDeleteRummaging in a young lady's drawers; you cad sir!
ReplyDeleteDefinitely a compliment. One which is reserved for chosen 'family'. X
ReplyDeleteDid you try the underwear and high heels on before sending them off? Are there pictures?
ReplyDeleteInteresting to note in the responses that all the women agreed it was a complement, while there was a mixed response about how the event was viewed by the men (including a couple of cheeky remarks). :)
ReplyDeleteGraham the gallant! It was indeed a compliment. In this case anyway.
ReplyDelete"It's only Graham" should indeed be a compliment. Dependable,reliable and a brother to all!
ReplyDelete