The Wiggles were keeping the girls entertained, as they often do, while I was cooking dinner last night. Greg was serenading us with “Get Ready to Wiggle”, and in spite of myself, I was singing along while chopping the carrots. “… Wiggle and Wiggle, Wiggle at Breakfast, Lunch or Tea …”, and all the sudden a light bulb went off in my mind and I was transported back several years to when The Aussie and I were first dating…
Before arriving in Australia, I had been working briefly in London and immersed myself in the practice of afternoon tea. It was heaven. And, the scones with clotted cream … I am salivating just thinking about it. Sadly, my waistline remembers that trip all too well, but that’s another story. So, when The Aussie asked me out to tea, I was delighted. I love tea! And, truthfully, I thought that he was rather sophisticated for asking me to tea. (Those of you that know The Aussie can stop laughing now and pick yourself up off the floor.)
On our way to tea, The Aussie suggested that we stop in at the local pub. Never one to pass up a trip to the pub, I was only too happy to go along. After a few drinks, the afternoon seemed to slip into evening. So, as I thought at the time, we missed tea and headed out to dinner instead.
Sadly I’m a bit slow, and this pattern, although quite enjoyable, continued several times before I realized that we never, ever went to afternoon tea. I was missing out on all those lovely scones and cakes. So, next time The Aussie picked me up and suggested we stop in at the pub, I said no that I really just wanted to go to tea. So, he took me to wonderful restaurant that Did-Not-Serve-Tea.
I asked him, “Why don’t we ever go to tea?”
He said, “What do you mean?”
So, I explained my love of English afternoon tea with scones, cakes, and cucumber sandwiches. He just stared at me and while very graciously swallowing his laughter explained that in Australia they refer to dinner as “tea”. Unbeknownst to me, he had been taking me to “tea” every time.
As I came back from my walk down memory lane last night, The Wiggles had moved on to another song, but I found myself singing along again while cooking “tea” for my family.
{ 20 comments… read them below or add one }
This is the perfect story to tell the girls!
Now, if they date someone from England and forget this story, they will complain to you that the guys are cheap and just took them for dessert!
Isabel, I probably would have thought the same thing of The Aussie if it hadn’t been for all the very nice restaurants we went to instead of afternoon tea.
I was drawn to this post because of the afternoon tea element, but I have to say I was totally entertained by your stort telling ability – kept me reading all the way to the end. Great stuff!
Welcome HighTeaMan. So glad you enjoyed it! Thanks
A lovely story about two people ostensibly speaking the same language and yet… not. Beautifully told.
The other day my husband (British-born but mostly Aussie-bred) and I (Aussie all the way) had a misunderstanding when I told him the school toilets were near the bubblers. He had no idea what a bubbler was. I was appalled. How could the man I married not know what a bubbler was – was he too good to drink from a public drinking fountain?
“Ah, a drinking fountain!” he said, finally understanding.
English… what a language!
Too right, NDM. Even after nearly 9 years of marriage, I’m still asking The Aussie to translate for me. Thanks for the “Bubbler” education. At least that’s one I won’t stuff up…
Great story!
I was reminded of the Wiggles this AM while teaching Vacation Bible School. During the missions story, I was showing the 4.5 y/o’s the world map…the US…Sudan (our mission country)…and I said “Australia, where the kangaroos live”. Quickly a little guy jumped up and said, “that’s where the Wiggles live!” Clearly the kangaroos have been upstaged by the Wiggles!
What a wonderful story (and wonderfully told)! I lived in Sydney for a while in the late 80′s and received the same introduction to the language as you. I still hear things all the time from my Aussie friends that make me scratch my head!
Thanks for participating in the blog carnival.
Kristin, you’d think 9 years after moving to Oz, I’d have the Aussie English down pat. But, no. I’m still left wondering on a regular basis. At least it’s never dull!
My DH and I have had language difficulties too — I grew up speaking American, and he’s Aussie. The funniest thing was when I was adamant I wanted tulips for the wedding — he couldn’t understand, he thought I was talking about “two lips”. (Aussie say “chew-lips”.) Now I know…
Love it, Lauren! I remember The Aussie taking me to the “Chewlip” festival in Canberra when we were dating. It took me a while to figure our we were going to look at flowers.
Oh tea with scones, jam and cream. My favourite!
It is one of life’s pleasures.
Hehehe. I got into the habit of calling tea dinner when I was working, because it was always ‘dinner service’ we were working, not tea. Although, being brought up where we had tea (dinner) I still call it tea often enough to confuse everyone who reads my blog from other countries!
Too funny, Veronica. 1 word, so many different meanings.
hehehe. I am originally from the Philippines. There are still some Aussie words that I don’t and won’t probably ever get.; )
Brenda, I’ve told The Aussie that if the words “Fair Dinkum” ever come out of my mouth, that I will officially have been here too long and it will be time to head back to Cajun country.
I hear you! I grew up in Zimbabwe where tea was what you had at about 10am and about 3:30pm, with cake or biscuits or scones or sandwiches. We’ve had a few “tea” misunderstandings in Australia too! Thank-you for making me smile, and for making me crave scones!
And even more strangely, it’s not called ‘tea’ with the same meaning throughout Australia. Your Aussie must be from Victoria or Queensland, because in NSW (where I now live), ‘tea’ is never dinner. And then there’s the various names for school backpacks, swimsuits, etc, etc, that vary from state to state… Don’t get me started. I was born in Vic, grew up in Qld and moved to NSW as an adult. I should be able to call myself an Aussie dialect translator!