Gag Reflex

So it’s a little-known fact that most of the occupants of English Towers will do anything for money, myself included.  This manifests itself generally in all sorts of silly bets and dares; Friday evening being a typical example.  #1 had a friend staying for the weekend, who commented on the fact that #2 managed to extract one single lettuce leaf when encouraged to add salad to his fajita.  ‘Ahhh’, commented Hubby, now tucking in to a tin of prunes ’that’s ‘cos he’s a salad dodger’.

 ’No I’m not’, grumbled #2, ‘I’m very healthy.  I like apples and carrots and peas and…er…’

‘See’, says Hubby, satisfied he’s won that battle, ‘told you’.

‘I can eat anything’ says #2 huffily (and somewhat dangerously), ‘I just choose not to’.

Ohhhh dear.  I could see it was going to go downhill, that evil glint in Hubby’s eye temporarily blinding me and making it difficult to see my fajita.

‘Right then’, says Hubby, ‘I’ll give you a tenner if you can eat a prune’ (queue dramatic gagging from #1 and his mate: ‘no waaaay!’)

‘Er… right, then’, says #2, his bravado fast evaporating and ignoring my warning looks, ‘I will’.

Well, more gagging, retching, over-acting and near-vomiting I haven’t seen since Dean Gaffney was on ‘I’m a Celebrity’.  The bloody thing went round and round his mouth, accompanied by much gurning, for so long, I actually felt sorry for the poor, misguided child.  At one stage he was going to swallow it whole, pip and all, rather than risk actually having to chew it.  Anyone would think he was in the jungle forcing down kangaroo testicles, rather than a humble dried fruit.

Finally, it was swallowed, and everyone held their breath to make sure it didn’t come back up.  Now a rather fetching shade of green, triumphant but nauseous #2 held out his hand for the cash. 

‘There’, says Hubby, handing the money over and giving a tenner to #1 too, ‘it’s from your Grandma, she sent it over today.’

‘Whaaaa?’ says #2, ‘I was going to get the tenner anyway?’

‘Yup’, says Hubby, ‘but here ’s an extra two quid for the entertainment’.

Cruel.  Cruel and heartless.  But kind of funny.  Kids, eh?  Who’d have thought they’d be so much fun?

19 Responses

  1. Thriftcriminal Says:

    Tinned prunes, VERY cold ice cream and a dollop of cream. Mmmmmm

    Nice BTW, must remember that for mine when they are older :-)

  2. englishmuminireland Says:

    Thrifty: Hmmm, I’m not a big fan, but I can kind of see their appeal. Ohhh yes. He does the elastic band trick with dogs as well. Doesn’t work with Bertie though as he’s too stupid to hold on to the other end in the first place heh.

  3. Taffy's Mum Says:

    Bleurgh - I shudder at the thought. Prunes and dates are revolting +o(

  4. englishmuminireland Says:

    TM: Ohh yes, #2 is of exactly the same opinion! Handy way to make twelve quid though :0) Any news of the new arrival by the way?? x

  5. Wee Jen Says:

    I had a similar fear when I was a kid but it was cheese not veg that was the dreaded foodstuff. My grandma was trying to make me eat up everything on my plate - as you do - but didn’t reckon with my incredible gag reflex when it came to the dreaded evil that was cheese. It wasn’t a pretty scene…

    These days it’s a bit different - too many of the extra pounds I’m wobbling around with come from my overconsumption of lovely, lovely cheese. Mmmmmm, cheese…

  6. Wee Jen Says:

    Ooooh - but always liked prunes. Kids are a mystery. Go figure :-)

  7. june in florida Says:

    Love prunes but cheese and potato pie we got for school lunch, ooh i hated it. Funny cos i love cheese and i love potato’s just not together.

  8. Moon Says:

    Yes he bloody does, my poor dog Murphy was never the same again after that,…. if ever meet Hubby, ask him about the night of drinking, getting home from Albury (where we both used to play footie), crashed cars, police, a shower, raincoat, and the incredible dissapearing drunk driver ….. another interesting night !

  9. Ali Says:

    I would have given the little sod another tenner if he could throw it back up again now that would have been entertaining !!

  10. Taffy's Mum Says:

    William has been home with us for a week now - I keep meaning to sort out pics and e-mail them to you but don’t seem to have had 5 mins to sit down and do just that! Guess I wil have to change my name too now :) Will try and e-mail later today as I am off out shortly. xx

  11. Coastal Aussie Says:

    A strange fact for you: kangaroo testicles are in front of their other ‘tackle’- as it is sometimes called here.

  12. englishmuminireland Says:

    Jen: Ew. And there’s nothing worse than cheesy vomit. Oops, sorry if anyone’s eating. I was the same - never liked cheese much. Still don’t like the stinky blue stuff that Hubby likes. Bleurgh.

    June: Ooh I love cheese and potato pie too. In fact, I used to love school dinners - I was probably the only child that did. We should sort out a prune recipe really - any ideas?

    Moon: Hmmm, I have a vague recollection of you lot coming across a crashed car once. I’ll ask him.

    Alg: That ‘little sod’ is your adorable Godson (what a bad choice on my part, heh). It was touch and go but he kept it down, anyway, there’s nothing in the rules about getting extra money for hurling.

    TM: Look forward to email and pics, thanks! xx

    Aussie! Where’ve you been? Ew how weird… I wonder how they…oh never mind xx

  13. Mum Says:

    Come on now son-in-law, that’s cheating!! The 10 euro was NOT to be used that way…#1 got it for nothing and #2 had to eat a prune!! Give the boy his 8 euro you stingy bloke!

  14. englishmuminireland Says:

    Now Ma, aren’t you secretly glad that your money went towards encouraging your grandson to eat more healthily? Or at least went towards giving us a good laugh. Heh x

  15. englishmuminireland Says:

    Too right Grandma he is stingy! Love you from number two x x x

  16. K8 Says:

    My friend Joe once ate a Wolfspider (those fellas you won’t fit into a pint glass) for ten euros.
    He also ate a slug for a fiver, and a lump of anonymous matter from the beach in Wicklow for 30 euros.

    He wouldn’t touch an onion for love nor money though… some people are straaange.

  17. englishmuminireland Says:

    K8: No waaay! Aren’t they those hairy, stripey yokes? Ew! The ‘lump of anonymous matter’ made me choke on my vino…funnnny! Now you mention it, though, Hubby’s brother once ate a moth for a bet so maybe it runs in the family.

  18. heth Says:

    Come on Hubby, never cross a mother-in-law (especially such a perfect one!). Hand over the money and then you can regain pole position from the Boxwell team!

    Well done #2 on the healthy eating and enjoy your new wealth!

  19. englishmuminireland Says:

    Heth: Don’t encourage him, he’s enjoying his notoriety too much already! And don’t be fooled - me Ma thinks the sun shines out of his…er…nether regions really!! x

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