A couple of repressed memories have just resurfaced...
A friend of a friend (who lives in Germany) asked for some computer advice, which I duly passed on. I offered to email him something (can't remember what - links, files, something - whatever). Anyway, he gave me his email address and then told me "But you won't be able to send anything to me without the international code for Germany". When I explained that his email address was all I needed, he said "But it goes down the phone, doesn't it?".

Also, by day I work for a company selling mechanical spares. My highly trained (and paid) customers phone me often with enquiries for replacement parts, and the conversations often go something like this:

Me: "Can I help?"
Them: "I need a [insert item here]"
Me: "Ok, what size?"
Them: "I just told you, I need a [whatever]"
Me: "Ok, but there's more than one type. What size is it?"
Them: "Don't know"
Me: "Well, how many bolts are there in it?"
Them: "...[pause]...Can't you send someone down to identify it for me?"

Or some variation on that. Anyway, better go - sorry for long (and probably quite boring) post
(Professor Kenny Martin Hmm? What?, Tue 30 Dec 2003, 16:58, Reply)