For me, it was probably turning up to a party, stone cold sober, not one drip of alcohol had passed my lips for days before (so I can't use being tit-faced as an excuse.)
Arriving a little late, I was keen to get started with the frivolities. To this end, after saying hello to the host, I wasted no time heading off to the kitchen area. I had to find a bottle opener to get at my 3for£10 ASDA plonk.
I located one of unfamiliar design, it would not have been too difficult to work it out (it's a corkscrew afterall, not a friggin puzzle) but for the sake of introducing myself more than anything else, I asked some random lady if she knew how to operate it.
I was assured it was dead easy, given a few mechanical pointers, and I moved to begin the cork popping process.
It was rather annoying when I couldn't get it to work straight away, and as two long minutes passed, my frustration level grew. Despite of all the information I'd gathered on this appliances machinations, I was having still having difficulty. In asking for help in the first place I had violated the man code, doing so again would be unthinkable.
In a room full of strangers, I was kinda keen to get it open before my fumblings were noticed and remarked upon. They say first impressions count, and an inability to operate a 99 pence bit of cutlery would surely not cast a favourable one.
Was not to be though, the lady, of whom I had originally asked for help, turned to me during a lull in her conversation and asked how I was getting on. All man pride may have been vanquished at this point, and if not, then a moment later when she took it off me to see if she could manage any better.......
It was a screwcap.
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