Today I had (yet another) strange conversation with my good friend Ronelle. In addition to reminding me how dodgy she is, it also made me think about moving her up the Stubborn’OMeter (if you have not seen it yet or voted, then check it out here!)
Some background to this tale (albeit a true tale):
The day I met Ronny was about a year ago somewhere near Jame’s work at Liverpool Street. It was the beginning of summer cos we were dressed casually, and Ronelle and James had been playing squash. Anyway – I decided to cruise out and meet them for a pint after work (I had heard good things about Ronny, so it was about time I met her). When I arrived I met Amma (Please note, I have changed ALL names in this transcript except mine, James , Ronelles), and the fictional characters mentioned with regard to sleuthing). So if you google “Amma and Ronny and Roddy” you most likely not going to find out who Amma really is. I digress… so I met Amma and Ronny (and James, who insisted I buy the next round as I recall).
Turns out Amma is a nice Aussie young laaady (not strictly relevant to story). Nothing wrong with that (well – lets not split hairs – this is my story!). We had some beers and chatted about times past and all the general trivialities one discusses when they meet for the first time at a pub near Liverpool Street. On nearing 11 o clock (kickout time in those days) – James and Ronny decided to head on to a club with some friends and I naturally decided to head home to iron or program or something equally boring I am sure. Amma lived near B*ickl*** (area name obscured in case Amma reads this and takes a gate, or at the worst, offence), so I said I would walk her home (being a Joyce and a true gentleman – my intentions were, as always, honourable)…
And that was that… Or so I thought…
One day (today as it were) I was pondering my navel at work and reminiscing times past and wondering what ever became of that young aussie Laadee that Ronny had with her that day. It dawned on me that in the last year I had not seen her again (I recall that the day after we had played doubles tennis, but that was it). I wonder if it was something I said or if I had forgot my lynx or something, but it was definitely weird that we never saw her again…. When questioned, Ronny was strangely coy (as coy as a Ronny can be!)… “Why do you ask?”, “Who cares” etc. with no real answer as to the Mystery of the Missing Aussie Friend. I asked her this morning on email as to what her name was (conversationally, you understand) – and was met with the resistance that I’ve come to know in these parts as Ronny Resistance.
Here is the conversation in it’s entirety (names and emails blocked out for my safety). I should state that I am not romantically curious in this young lady in question, but you know when you think of something and you can’t remember a name? It drives me mad…. Anyway – excuse the trivialites and observe the stubbornness that is Ronny (And hence my proposal of why you should VOTE FOR RONNY here…
From: Rodney Joyce [mailto:------.------@b-----.com]
Sent: 10 May 2006 09:39
To: Ferguson, Ronelle
Subject: Chain mail
Hey – there was a good article in the metro today – made me think of you!
All about forwarding chain mail….
Check it out now!
Hey – what ever happened to that girl we met once (Tracy?) – the day I met you? Did they ever find her body?
From: Ferguson, Ronelle [mailto:-------.--------@u-.--.com]
Sent: 10 May 2006 10:21
To: Rodney Joyce
Subject: RE: Chain mail
The day you met me? I don’t remember! Tracy has been in SA – we’ve been out with glenn and james but you’re never around! :)
--Editor (Rod): Sorry Tracy – was not you – my mistake!
From: Rodney Joyce [mailto:------.------@b-----.com]
Sent: 10 May 2006 10:23
To: Ferguson, Ronelle
Subject: RE: Chain mail
Hmmm – not sure we talking about same girl… we met you and a girl at Canary Wharf… I walked her home through bricklane – james had played squash and I took his bag, you guys went clubbing…. Wow – how could you forget the night you met ME????
Yeah I know – I don’t come out on the Guy’s-only nights….
--Editor (Rod): Showing maturity by withholding response to snotty comments
From: Ferguson, Ronelle [mailto:-------.--------@u-.--.com]
Sent: 10 May 2006 10:26
To: Rodney Joyce
Subject: RE: Chain mail
Ah I seee, no, different girl. We went out on sat night. Must go chat later!!
--Editor (Rod): Note her sly way of not telling me and virtually dashing off!
From: Rodney Joyce [mailto:------.------@b-----.com]
Sent: 10 May 2006 10:26
To: Ferguson, Ronelle
Subject: RE: Chain mail
Flipping heck….
My email was not to establish if that girl was different to Tracy or not…
It was to find out what her name was…
*sigh*
From: Ferguson, Ronelle [mailto:-------.--------@u-.--.com]
Sent: 10 May 2006 11:26
To: Rodney Joyce
Subject: RE: Chain mail
What a strange young man! Focus on your chick! Went to nando’s for cousin-dinner last night, girl there called agatha only this one blonde… think you’d like her…. ;)
--Editor (Rod): Very clever – tries to throw me off the scent by mentioning girls – one of my weaknesses (I am a male)
From: Rodney Joyce [mailto:------.------@b-----.com]
Sent: 10 May 2006 11:27
To: Ferguson, Ronelle
Subject: RE: Chain mail
Hmmm – I like blondes (and brunettes) (and redheads)
I love summer – saw so many girls I like! Feel like a p*rvert sometimes (a nice blonde one!)
--Editor (Rod): Almost worked… I get distracted…
From: Ferguson, Ronelle [mailto:Ronelle.Ferguson@uk.bp.com]
Sent: 10 May 2006 11:30
To: Rodney Joyce
Subject: RE: Chain mail
Only sometimes?
*sigh*
--Editor (Rod): Back on the scent, I come back with the question (you’ll notice her blatant plaguerisation of my *sigh*)
From: Rodney Joyce [mailto:------.------@b-----.com]
Sent: 10 May 2006 11:30
To: Ferguson, Ronelle
Subject: RE: Chain mail
What was that chickies name? Kerri?
From: Ferguson, Ronelle [mailto:-------.--------@u-.--.com]
Sent: 10 May 2006 11:44
To: Rodney Joyce
Subject: RE: Chain mail
*sigh*
From: Rodney Joyce [mailto:------.------@b-----.com]
Sent: 10 May 2006 11:46
To: Ferguson, Ronelle
Subject: RE: Chain mail
Nevermind – will ask James…
From: Ferguson, Ronelle [mailto:-------.--------@u-.--.com]
Sent: 10 May 2006 11:48
To: Rodney Joyce
Subject: RE: Chain mail
*sigh*
--Editor (Rod): At this point I am well annoyed (Ronny has reverted to mass *sighing*, but can’t let Ronny know. So I try my brother James
From: Rodney Joyce [mailto:------.------@b-----.com]
Sent: 10 May 2006 11:47
To: James Joyce
Subject: Name of bird
James – what was that bird’s name that we never saw again the day I met ronny and her (you guys went clubbing and I walked her home?)
Cheers
From: James Joyce [mailto:-----.-----@i---.com]
Sent: 10 May 2006 11:57
To: Rodney Joyce
Subject: RE: Name of bird
How long ago?
From: Rodney Joyce [mailto:------.------@b-----.com]
Sent: 10 May 2006 12:01
To: James Joyce
Subject: RE: Name of bird
About a year – we met at your work…
You met up with Tam to go clubbing with Ronny – I took your squash bag home and walked this aussie girl passed bricklane…
We never saw her again…
I often wonder if they found the body..
But trying to think of her name
From: James Joyce [mailto:-----.-----@i---.com]
Sent: 10 May 2006 11:57
To: Rodney Joyce
Subject: RE: Name of bird
Aaahh - the lovely Amma-bee I think? The one we played tennis with the day after???
No - strange things happen to Ronnie's friends who become "toooo" friendly...
--Editor (Rod): Aha! A match! Nice one James! I was worried that Ronny had got to James first and told him not to tell me (definitely capable of it)… so... back to Ronny to gloat…
From: Rodney Joyce [mailto:------.------@b-----.com]
Sent: 10 May 2006 12:09
To: Ferguson, Ronelle
Subject: FW: Name of bird
Name was Amma….
How quick we forget those that have gone before us…
--Editor (Rod): Nochalant-like… throw the line out – see what’s biting
From: Ferguson, Ronelle [mailto:-------.--------@u-.--.com]
Sent: 10 May 2006 12:12
To: Rodney Joyce
Subject: RE: Name of bird
Hehe, not sure why you want to know but am amused anyhoo! :)
Good work clusoe…
--Editor (Rod): Between you and me Ronny is annoyed that I found it out… tries to go on the attack
From: Rodney Joyce [mailto:------.------@b-----.com]
Sent: 10 May 2006 12:13
To: Ferguson, Ronelle
Subject: RE: Name of bird
No sh11 Sherlock!
It’s amazing how difficult you can be sometimes… that’s one more vote on the stubborn meter (might transpose this onto dumbTV.com)
From: Ferguson, Ronelle [mailto:-------.--------@u-.--.com]
Sent: 10 May 2006 12:12
To: Rodney Joyce
Subject: RE: Name of bird
Not being difficult, you not gonna tell me why u wanna know why should I tell you? Benefits me none…
We still work together btw, not in a body bag just yet, just part of my other group of friends which I like to keep separate… :)
From: Rodney Joyce [mailto:------.------@b-----.com]
Sent: 10 May 2006 13:53
To: Ferguson, Ronelle
Subject: RE: Name of bird
BTW Ronny – I am putting this on dumbTV as an example of your stubbornness ;)
Wish you had told me her name now hey!
From: Ferguson, Ronelle [mailto:-------.--------@u-.--.com]
Sent: 10 May 2006 12:12
To: Rodney Joyce
Subject: RE: Name of bird
Remind me not to email you.
And that’s that! Now vote on the Stubborn O’Meter!