Breda: A lesson in the traps of half truths

G’day. There wouldn’t be a listener or reader who hasn’t been unwittingly or innocently trapped by half-truths whether about skeletons in the closet, Santa, mistakes you made or just everyday things where you get caught out. And I’ll bet everyone of them has made you squirm for years!

I still squirm over this one. Breda was my Irish secretary, and a wonderful one at that – very thoughtful, very organized, very respectful and never seemed to have a bad hair day. But Breda had one glaring fault, she trusted me and thought I knew what I was on about.

My crown came crashing down one Friday when Breda, decided to engage me in a nice, easy social topic that could offend no-one. The conversation went something like this

Breda: “good morning – what are you doing this weekend?”

Me: “Oh taking Heather to Little Athletics tonight and having friends over tomorrow night”

Breda: “Oh, that’s nice. I suppose like most Australian men I know, you’ll be doing the Barbecuing?”

Me: “I think so but actually I’m making a Pavlova for dessert”

Breda: “Oh, that’s interesting. I’ve heard people mention Pavlova but I’ve never made one”

Me: Yes, I gather the pavlova was named after a famous Russian ballerina Anna Pavlova who toured Australia and New Zealand in 1926. Both countries claim ownership of the term.”

Breda: “So how do you make it?” (A logical question but, now I’d set myself up as a know-all, I couldn’t back down -  but the truth noose was tightening)

Me: “Oh mainly with the whites of the eggs and then after it’s cooked you put cream and fruit on top ( An OK answer but I should have said “I gather” or words to that effect to indicate I had never made one before)

Breda: That’s really interesting, sounds yum. If you only use the egg whites, what do you do with the yokes?” (Again a legitimate question but because I knew the background to the Pavlova and the ingredients, she assumed I was a Pavlova expert. I was definitely going to make the Pavlova that weekend but I had never made one before! But being her esteemed boss, I didn’t think this was the time to disillusion her and thought I could bluff my way through and that Breda would let it go at that– big mistake!)

Me: “Oh, I use the yolks too”

Bread” “How?”

Me: “Oh, I put them on afterwards”

Breda: “What do you mean you put them on afterwards – do you just drizzle them on or cook them and where do you put them?”

At this point, I broke down totally, confessed that I had never made one, that this was my first go and I didn’t have a clue or care what people did with the bloody yolks!! Then I stormed out of the office and never ever totally regained my crown again!

So, that’s what can happen my friends when you let a half lie ruin your career. As the saying sort of goes, ”what a dangerous web we weave when we try a lady to deceive!” Lesson learnt.