paddington's - watching the generals - friday, page-22

Hi Biggsy,

This isn't related to the XJO but to your comments on teeth, the National Health Service and the wonderful Banff Springs Hotel.

A long time ago, I lived for many years in Alberta. Unfortunately, back in those days, I was never quite in the class living it up in the Banff Springs Hotel. Although I did wander through it. The excellent camping ground in Banff was more within my price range at the time.

On my first visit to a dentist in Edmonton, the dentist looked inside my mouth and asked:

Are you English?

Me: No. (and proudly said): I'm Australian. (Sounding suspiciously like Bazza McKenzie.)

Dentist: Oh, I often see teeth like yours in people from England. Do you have a National Health Service in Australia?

Me: NO. Why?

Dentist: You mean, you paid for that work with your own money?

Me: (starting to cringe) Yerrs.

Dentist: Hmmmm. Oh well, I'll see what I can do for you. Open Wide.

I must admit - until my current dentist - I think he was the best dentist I've ever been to.

Apparently, dental work done in Australia in the 50s and 60s was not much different from the work provided by the NHS - even though we did pay for it ourselves.

That was just one of the many encounters while living abroad which made be drop any Bazza pretentions.

Redbacka