In a pub with candles on the tables and sherry decanters on the bar, the girl behind the bar is tired. 'Only half an hour to go', she says as I pay my bill. She has red hair and wears an apron. As I ask my question the barman listens in. I ask how it is spelt. 'With a 'k'', she says, 'I am from Poland'.
'As in rock and a hard place?', asks the barman. He has curly hair and a spring in his step. She says she will write it down for me. While waiting the barman asks what is the most unusual middle name I have come across. I can't think off the top of my head but tell him that Ann(e) seems to be the most common. 'In my family, we always give family names', he tells me. I get the feeling he wants to be included so I ask him too. One is after his grandfather and the other a Scottish tribe. 'It's got a great tartan', he tells me, 'you'll recognise it'.
The girl with red hair comes back with hers written on a till receipt. 'I like my name', she tells me.
'I'll show you some', says the barman running off in search of some tartan. Meanwhile the girl writes another name on a different receipt. 'This is my sister's', she says, demonstrating the pronunciation - a rasping sound in place of the 'j'. The barman returns with a tartan rug. It is nice. 'Very nice', I say.
'You should see what it looks like as a suit', he says. 'Me and my brother have got it in trousers, jacket and waistcoat'. I am impressed. 'It looks pukka', he tells me. I am sure it does.
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