Outdone in my own attempt to surprise people: 01 (London)

At the Wood Green pub, whenever I see a birthday crowd celebrating during my shift, I'd ask for the birthday girl/boy to be identified, then go up and sing the Happy Birthday song in Mandarin to her/him.  Always goes down a treat, as they recognise the music although they don't know the language.  It usually earns a round of wild applause, with everyone enjoying the surprise as much as the birthday girl/boy.

On two occasions, I was the one to be surprised.

The first one was over a year ago when, after I started singing the first line to the birthday girl (an English girl in her 20s), she then joined in with the Cantonese version.  We finished the song together, me in Mandarin, her in Cantonese.  She'd attended school in Hong Kong in her teens!

The second one was last week when I was helping out at the floating pub Tamesis Dock, moored on the south shore of the Thames.  On the upper deck was a big group of mainly Spanish speakers, celebrating someone's birthday.  When I finished singing the song to the birthday girl (a Spanish speaker), she turned round and said, "谢谢你，阿姨 / xièxie nǐ, Āh Yí / Thank you, Auntie!"  I was so taken aback: "你会说中文！你怎么会说中文?!? / You can speak Chinese?  How is it you can speak Chinese?" She said, "当然啦，我在北京住过三年! / Of course, I'd lived in Beijing for three years!"

(London, 2018 / 2019)

Outdone in my own attempt to surprise people: 02 (London)

Writing the birthday song blog, I’m reminded of what I tried to do to Satoshi Kitamura, a (now very famous) children’s illustrator friend of mine, back in 1981.

I’d come across a trick cigarette lighter in a magic tricks shop.  It squirts out foam when the user depresses the little lighting lever.

When Satoshi came round the next time to my flat and was about to have a cigarette, I handed him the lighter.  For some breath-stopping seconds, he examined it (he must’ve suspected something), turning it round, so that when he depressed the little lever, the foam went all over ME!

I never tried that trick again on anyone after that.

(London, 1981)

Humorous adverts and signs (UK)

One advert from a shop or department store used to say, "Shop Till You Drop."  

A while later, along came a supermarket delivery service advert, saying, "You Shop, We Drop."

Vans that collect/deliver cash from/to banks have a sign on the back door, saying, "No cash is left overnight in this vehicle."  

Some time later, white vans (often used by construction workers such as plumbers and electricians) started carrying a sign on their back door, saying, "No tools are left overnight in this vehicle."  

A few days ago, I saw a supermarket delivery van with a sign on their back door, saying, "No baguettes are left overnight in this vehicle."

(UK, 2000s)