Drinking champagne with your enemy
I hear a bagpipe. 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 further on, the song Silent Night, Holy Night can be heard from the German trenches.
Ha, the piper knows that too. He starts playing along.
When the German finishes the song, applause rings out from the Scottish trenches.
There is confusion in the French trenches. They are probably being tricked.
But the Scot starts playing a new Christmas song. Also a familiar song.
The German singer joins in and walks onto the battlefield, despite the warnings of his superior, who follows him. The Scottish commander has also climbed out of his trench.
What? thinks the French lieutenant. Peace talks without me?
He quickly walks over to the German and Scottish commanders.
The Scot says, "Let's call a truce for Christmas. No one will blame us for not fighting for Christmas." The Frenchman runs back to his trench and asks for champagne and a cup. They drink together and wish each other a Merry Christmas.
All the soldiers are now coming out of their trenches. They are crawling over the barbed wire barriers. They are singing and playing football with each other.
You may know this story. It is an image of the trenches in the First World War in 1914. It comes from the 2005 film Joyeux Noël.
Nice message for Christmas: drinking champagne with your enemy.
Who is my enemy? Can I drink champagne with that?
If you've been following me for a while, you know that car dealerships are not my favorite businesses. I've heard stories of renters who bought overpriced cars there, had overpriced repairs done, or got way too little for their old car. And yet all the car salesmen still walk around with their eternal smile and their standard question: cup of coffee?
Especially last year the car dealers were super annoying. Outrageous price increases, enormous delivery times, quotes that suddenly became a few thousand euros more expensive per car when the cars were delivered. It seemed like a war year.
And yet.
Tomorrow is Christmas Eve. Armistice Day.
I'm going to drink champagne with the people we need too.
Without car dealers there would be no rental cars.
Luckily I can go to war again next week. Then I will do my utmost to buy the most beautiful rental cars for the lowest price so that we can offer you good rental cars next year too.
Wishing you a very Merry Christmas!
Frits and Elly Pieper
PS: The video about the champagne drinking soldiers you can view it here.
Related Posts
Until what age do you need a car seat?
By Frits Pieper |
It is extremely important for the safety of your child that you transport him or her in the correct manner…
How many liters of oil does your car use?
By Nina Geuskens |
How many liters of oil does a car hold? This is a question many drivers ask themselves, especially when…
Tips for completing a damage claim form after an accident
By Nina Geuskens |
If you have an accident, you want to be reimbursed for the damage caused by your car insurance, especially if it is your fault…