Greagoir - have you just used the word broccoli 3 times with a casual approach to its spelling? Who are you - George Bush senior?

Sugar - Oh there was a lot, but unfortunately I can’t remember most of them anymore. When I came over first the plan was to document my thoughts so that my ignorance in later years would be quite funny at least to me, and I was doing that. But after the first 6 months the laptop I was using had its hard drive wiped before I could salvage anything - and the pain I feel upon losing documentation, well anything really (I’m a hoarder), seems to have wiped out most of my ability to recall.

I do remember having preconceived notions about how the 4th of July would be celebrated and being very wrong about that. And yes I was pleasantly surprised.

What bothers me about bangers and the like though isn’t people just being mistaken about something - it’s that businesses are proclaiming things as truth, writing them on menus and posters and websites, and getting their staff to spread the nonsense. Ordinary folk are supposed to make mistakes - it’s what makes us ordinary. Businesses and Organizations on the other hand should really do a little work before they start spreading something they haven’t even checked out as to whether it has any truth.

If I ever remember all my own misconceptions, I’ll be sure to broadcast them. Maybe when Irish people in Ireland spout nonsense about America and Americans to me it’ll spark memories.

So tell me, Mr. gan Fhéile. (in my best TV interviewer voice) What’s been your biggest misconception about America? (We obviously have oodles about Ireland) Was it a disappointing discovery or were you pleasantly surprised?

Safe flying. (although it’s looking pretty dim temperature-wise)

Potatoes, onion, sausage, bacon, salt and pepper, maybe parsley, maybe chicken stock as a base?

No, no brocolli there, methinks.