I hear bagpipes. A Scottish Christmas carol.
Soldiers who know the song begin to sing along softly.
At the end of the song, all the Scottish soldiers sing along at the top of their lungs.
A little way off, the song Silent Night, Holy Night can be heard from the German trenches.
Ha, the bagpiper knows that too. He starts playing along.
When the German finishes the song, applause sounds from the Scottish trenches.
There is confusion in the French trenches. They are being held fast.
But the Scot starts playing a new Christmas carol. Another well-known song.
The German singer sings along and walks onto the battlefield, despite his superior's warnings, who runs after him. The Scottish commander has also climbed out of his trench.
What? thinks the French lieutenant. Peace talks without me?
He quickly walks to the German and Scottish commanders.
The Scotsman says: "Let's agree to a Christmas truce. No one will blame us for not fighting during Christmas." The Frenchman runs back to his trench and asks for champagne and a mug. They drink together and wish each other a Merry Christmas.
All the soldiers are coming out of their trenches now. They are crawling over the barbed wire obstacles. They are singing and playing football with each other.
Perhaps you know this story. It's an imagination of the trenches of World War I in 1914. It comes from the 2005 film Joyeux Noël.
A lovely message for Christmas: drinking champagne with your enemy.
Who is my enemy? Can I drink champagne with them?
If you've been following me for a while, you'll know that car dealerships aren't my favourite kind of business. I've heard stories of tenants who have bought cars there for far too much money, had repairs done for far too much, or received far too little for their old car in return. And yet, all car salespeople are still walking around with their eternal smiles and their standard question: cup of coffee?
Certainly, the past year has been incredibly irritating with car dealerships. Outrageous price increases, enormous delivery times, quotes that suddenly became a few thousand euros more expensive per car when they were delivered. It felt like a year of war.
And yet.
Tomorrow is Christmas Eve. Armistice.
I'm going for champagne with the people we need.
Without car dealerships, there are no rental cars.
Fortunately, I can go to war again next week. Then I will again do my utmost to buy the most beautiful rental cars at the lowest price so that we can offer you good rental cars next year too.
Merry Christmas!
Frits and Elly Pieper
PS: The video about the champagne-drinking soldiers can you check here.
