OFF THE RECORD
FOR you social demographers out there we have discovered a hot new trend, which we’re calling the Barnaby Factor and it has nothing to do with a surprise pregnancy or questionable paternity. It started recently at social functions which have a fair smattering of bizoids. When male and female workmates are approached to be photographed together for the social pages, more and more of the men are declining on the spot. Not for a minute do we think there is anything going on but the actions of the beetroot faced, former deputy Prime Minister have meant that any and all harmless interactions are now deemed highly suspicious.
SOMETIMES the truth takes a little while to bubble to the surface. This falling out between two people who were once very good friends and business associates never quite made sense – until now. It seems that one was acting as an agent for the other’s goods with an agreed commission to be paid to the producer. All went well, business was good until one day when the maker of the goods saw something of his in a friend’s house. He asked how much it cost and was dismayed to discover that the price paid was different from his receipts. It seems he was only being paid 80 per cent of what was due. Further investigation revealed that he had been short-changed over the years by a six-figure amount. And so ended a beautiful friendship.
NEGOTIATIONS for the sale of real estate are always a slippery slope. This one could have been a lot simpler except for the ego of one of the parties who approached the owner of a mega-millions house with an offer to buy. “Make me an offer?” said the owner. “How much do you want?” said the other. Finally a figure was offered to which the owner said, “Sorry, I’m not interested. You’re about $300,000 out.” Then the ego replied with what has become our favourite sentence. “Don’t you know who I am?” Cue wry smile from the owner and the cruellest answer of all. “Actually no.”
PEOPLE will always talk and currently the chatter is at fever pitch about the state of play between these two. Officially they are just good friends but others are prepared to swear that they are an item of the hottest kind. If they are linked at the lip and hip good luck to them but it is the constant denials in the face of a mountain of evidence that is causing this to be a never ending story.