If I haven't seen my dad in a while...
I usually ask "Has anything happened?" to which he will reply "No, nothing I can think of" and then we enter into what now is a rether well scripted piece that may confuse anyone who doesn't know us...

Dad: No nothing. Oh, but your dog died
Me: My dog died? How did that happen?
D: It wandered into the barn and ate some burnt horse flesh, and that killed it.
M: Why was there burnt horse flesh in the barn?
D: Oh a spark from the house must have landed on it and set it on fire. The dog went in, ate some burnt horse flesh and died. Other than that, nothing happened.
M: How did a spark come to land on the barn?
D: Oh, one of the candles around the coffin set the curtains on fire, a spark landed on the barn then the dog went in and ate some burnt horse flesh and died. Nothing else happened.
M: Why was a coffin in the house?
D: Oh your wife died and was brought into the house. One of the candles set the curtains on fire, burnt the house down and a spark landed on the barn. Then your dog ate some of the burnt horse flesh and died. Apart from all that, nothing else happened.

I used to get that EVERY time I visited while at university (and I was at university for 8 years...)

ps. I've started on with that gag about putting the kettle on now. I'm doomed to be a parent!
( bigdave, Wed 10 Dec 2003, 15:10, Reply)