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Let battle begin

With all the turmoil of Brexit and more mass killings in the US, let alone North Korea missiles, trade wars and typhoons, it is nice sometimes to just meet up with friends and have a cup of coffee, a chat and watch the world go by.  This morning a group of us were sitting in the square in the heart of the bustling market doing just that when suddenly one of our group, who is in his late eighties started to shout very loudly in English at a German (although there is a certain mystery surrounding his nationality.)  The man was going red in the face, while the German kept repeating 'you are wrong, I will prove it to you.'  The French lady sitting next to me leaned back in her chair, aghast as the rest of us fell silent.  On any other day our group  would have attracted attention but the square was noisy and full of people.  The old man picked up his stick as though to strike the German,  thankfully just waving it round as an aid to making his point.  'What are you arguing about?'  someone asked, trying to be heard above the racket.  The old man, by now apoplectic, turned round and shouted 'chocolate!'

Now I have never eaten chocolate, can't even stand the smell, although I know that others crave it, but surely it can't cause such a heated altercation as we were witnessing.  'You're a liar sir, and if I was younger I would see you at dawn.' the old man shouted.  Good heavens.  Swords or pistols I wonder.

Our French friends weren't the only ones who were mystified by this outburst and when finally the situation calmed down  and the dispute explained, it was hardly worth fighting a duel over.  Apparently the old man had said you can't buy Cadbury's chocolate in France because of EU regulations and the German had said he had bought some in the supermarket the day before. 

When I translated the argument to my French neighbour, she asked, 'What is it this Carburys?'  It is what wars are fought over apparently.

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