I had recently retired to the south coast of Spain, near a small rural village. The village consisted of little more than a few dozen scattered house, a small convenience store and a couple of bars one of which I had just arrived at. I sat at an outside table enjoying the warm spring sunshine as the bartender came out to take my order. I ordered a beer and he scurried off to get it. On returning he must have noticed my accent and asked in Spanish “Are you English”
Before arriving in Spain I had studied Spanish at night school, and although I was not perfect I could hold a simple conversation so I replied in Spanish “Yes I am”
He then said “Can you perhaps help me? I have a small problem. There is an English lady sitting inside the bar. She has been drinking heavily for a few hours and is very drunk. She is also upset and crying. I offered to get her a taxi but she doesn’t understand me. Would you talk to her?”
“Sure” I replied “Lead the way” and followed him through a low doorway into the gloom of the small bar