黑洞社区

There is a distinctly Celtic feel to our evening in the Bricklayer鈥檚 Arms. It all kicks off with Alasdair鈥檚 boast about his bagpipes. Apparently his mum鈥檚 to blame. 鈥淪he got angry with me for refusing to play the recorder at the Scouts, so I decided to teach her a lesson,鈥� he says. The many, and painful, years of practice paid off and Alisdair was the star act at his cousin鈥檚 wedding last year.

Sinead鈥檚 story has a less happy ending. At a recent party, she decided she would treat her guests to a traditional Irish performance. 鈥淚 got my dad to send a few tin whistles over from Ireland. We practised and practised and practised 鈥� until the next door neighbours tipped a bucket of water over us.鈥�

The journey involved an accident in the Bay of Biscay and a brush with the FBI in miami.

Perhaps she鈥檒l have more luck at the weekend. She鈥檚 going to County Clare for a reunion with her 33 first cousins (her father was one of 10), courtesy of her grandmother, who left money in her will for a big booze-up. It seems death is quite a social affair in Sinead鈥檚 part of the world. Her parents鈥� social calendar revolves around funerals (they have been known to attend those of strangers) and her brother even met his wife at one. 鈥淭he number of times I鈥檝e been told off for speaking during the death announcements on the radio鈥︹�� she laughs.

Even New Zealander Steve is in on the Gaelic act. He tells us about a Highland Games event that takes place every year in Kiwi town Dunedin. 鈥淭here鈥檚 caber tossing, curling, everything. We鈥檝e got no problem with people wearing kilts down there.鈥�

Richard鈥檚 grandfather was a druid and used to swan around in ceremonial dress.

Steve has been in the UK some 20 years, but still remembers his journey here like it was yesterday 鈥� unsurprising, since it involved an aborted boat trip to South America, an accident in the Bay of Biscay and a brush with the FBI in Miami.

I鈥檓 beginning to get the feeling that the international cross-section at the pub tonight is no accident 鈥� could Buro Happold鈥檚 PR team be making a statement about their global vibe? Richard is clear about the benefits that a multinational office can provide. 鈥淭he bonus is people bringing back lots of goodies from abroad. Some of them are godawful though. What was that sweet and salty biscuit thing last week? Disgusting.鈥�

Last, but not least, we turn to the Welsh contingent, which does not disappoint. Richard鈥檚 grandfather was a druid and used to swan around in ceremonial dress. 鈥淗is robes were green, which made him look a bit like an extra in ER,鈥� he says. Alasdair, who is half Welsh, has just finished reading a 鈥渟ingle-volume history of Welsh鈥� and talks us through the language鈥檚 roots. It is the second history lesson of the evening 鈥� the bagpipes, it turns out, date back to the ancient Egyptians, who used them to extract confessions from suspected criminals.