Latest news with #birthdayCelebration
Daily Mail
15-07-2025
- Entertainment
- Daily Mail
Confused American expat's awkward misinterpretation of common Aussie phrase leaves hundreds in hysterics: 'I had no idea this was a local thing'
'First in, best dressed' is a commonly used expression in Australia - but it recently left one American expat totally stumped. US traveller Maura Sheahan recently shared a TikTok video recounting one of the hilarious culture shocks she'd experienced since moving to Australia where she grossly misunderstood the colloquial saying. The expression is used often by Australians and simply means, in a dining context, that walk-in guests will be accepted into a venue based on the order they arrive. In a two minute video, the young woman recalled how she was organising a celebratory birthday drinks and dinner and wanted to make a reservation for a patio table at a certain restaurant. 'So I call up the restaurant trying to make this reservation,' she recounted. Maura said the restaurant staffer informed her that they unfortunately don't take bookings. Instead, she was told: 'We don't actually do reservations - we just do first in, best dressed.' She promptly hung up the phone and pondered over what she'd just been told. 'I'm like, what do you mean first in, best dressed?' Maura said. 'Like, am I going to show up in there and [the restaurant staff will] be like, "Oh, that is an ugly outfit. You're in the back by the kitchen. Send this girl to sit by the trash cans where no one else can see her." That's what I'm thinking.' Maura consequently decided that even though it was a 'weird rule', she remained determined to secure a patio table. Accordingly, she and her friends would 'dress really cute' in anticipation of the moment when restaurant staff would be 'judging our outfits' and determining where they would be seated. A few days later, Maura said she started a new job and decided to break the ice by telling her co-workers about her upcoming restaurant plans. Maura recalled telling her colleagues about the restaurant, saying: 'It looks cute, but pretty weird, because where you get to sit is actually based on what you're wearing.' '[My boss] was like, "What I've never heard of this in my life. That's insane".' Maura then proceeded to explain to her new employer: 'I called to make a reservation. They don't even do reservations. They just do "first in, and best dressed".' 'The entire office goes silent. Everybody's like, "Maura, no. That just means first come, first served",' a horrified Maura recalled. 'I thought that they were going to make me do an "outfit of the day",' she sheepishly laughed at the conclusion of the video. The TikTok video quickly drew over 280,000 views and hundreds of comments – many laughing at the hilarious misinterpretation of the common expression. But many Aussies replied saying they were stunned to hear that 'first in, best dressed' was a uniquely Australian turn of phrase. 'I never knew that saying was only heard in Australia,' read the most liked comment, which had received over 2200 likes. Another Australian added that they 'genuinely thought this was a common saying'. One Aussie even conceded that Maura's response made sense if you'd never heard the saying before. '[W]hen you think about the expression you made a very logical conclusion,' they wrote. Officially, according to an online dictionary, the Australian saying means 'people will be dealt with in the order they arrive'. Another noted that it was a derivative of the old English saying 'First up, best dressed', which was coined in reference to children from large families who would share clothes - meaning the first child awake would have first pick from the wardrobe. Others likened it to another common saying in 'the early bird catches the worm'. The comments section of the video confirmed that the definition of the saying is: 'If you're first, you get the best choice'. Many commenters noted that Maura's colleagues would have probably had a good chuckle at her story. '"Office went silent"...I'm sure a few sly grins happened,' read one reply. 'Can't believe nobody thought to run with it and tell her she needs to be in fancy dress or something,' added another. Others chimed in with their own mishaps involving the same expression. 'Had [a] similar experience, I spent days looking for the best outfit,' read one reply. An Australian teacher wrote that they had made the 'mistake' of telling their international students "first in, best dressed" before taking them out on an excursion. 'To their credit, everyone looked great on the excursion,' the teacher added. Some people even jokingly responded that that it would be 'a fun restaurant theme'. 'Wait, actually that would be kinda cool though,' read one reply.
South China Morning Post
29-06-2025
- Business
- South China Morning Post
Foreign ice cream is no longer cool in China. Here's why that matters
For years, Feng Hui, an operations manager living in Guangzhou, made a tradition of taking her daughter Claire to celebrate her birthday at a Haagen-Dazs store near her home. But this month, the 14-year-old had other ideas: she told her mother she wanted to spend her birthday at a popular local tea bar with her friends. 'Chinese teenagers now prefer domestic brands – they look great, and new products are coming out every month that tempt them to take selfies and post on social media,' Feng said. The birthday cake also got a makeover. Instead of a Haagen-Dazs ice cream cake – which used to be a byword in China for luxury and sophistication – Claire chose a custom-made cake from a local bakery featuring her favourite video game character. In her eyes, Haagen-Dazs is simply 'not cool' – a sentiment that is becoming common among young Chinese, reflecting broader shifts in the country's consumer landscape.
CBS News
27-05-2025
- General
- CBS News
5-year-old girl killed in Franklin, Massachusetts crash was heading to brother's birthday celebration
Accused drunk driver on wrong side of road before crash that killed girl, police say Accused drunk driver on wrong side of road before crash that killed girl, police say Accused drunk driver on wrong side of road before crash that killed girl, police say The 5-year-old girl who died in a tragic crash in Franklin, Massachusetts last weekend was on her way to her brother's birthday celebration, investigators said. James Blanchard, the driver charged with causing the tragic crash on Saturday, was ordered held on $250,000 bail Tuesday. Blanchard, 21, of Franklin, pleaded not guilty to motor vehicle homicide, drunk driving and several other charges at his arraignment in Wrentham District Court. James Blanchard stood behind his attorney in Wrentham District Court on Tuesday, May 27, 2025. CBS Boston Police said Blanchard was driving in the opposite lane of traffic when his pickup truck collided with a Honda Accord on Grove Street just before 6:30 p.m. Saturday. The girl, who has not been identified, was in the car with her brother and their parents. According to the criminal complaint released Tuesday, the family was headed out to celebrate the son's birthday at the time of the crash. The 5-year-old was rushed to the hospital where she died. Her brother and mother are still in the hospital in critical condition. Her father was driving the car. He was treated and released. A young girl was killed in a crash on involving an alleged drunk driver on Grove Street in Franklin, Massachusetts. CBS Boston Prosecutor Christopher Meade said Blanchard had two bottles of vodka in the truck and was drinking from one of them before the crash. He was arrested and, according to police, had a blood alcohol level of 0.189. The legal limit in Massachusetts is 0.08. Investigators are looking at surveillance video from businesses in the area to get a better idea of what happened before, during, and after the crash. Blanchard is due back in court on June 24 for a pre-trial hearing.
BBC News
15-05-2025
- General
- BBC News
Surprise party for veteran, 90, hosted by Evesham army cadets
A group of cadets in Worcestershire have surprised a 90-year-old veteran with a special birthday Evesham troop organised the celebration for Korean War veteran Ken Ricketts, who has been a dedicated and loyal participant in Remembrance parades, but ill health meant he has struggled recently to play as active a role as he would like son Andy contacted Hereford & Worcester Army Cadet Force (ACF) earlier this year to ask if they would help him mark the milestone birthday."The ACF always encourages cadets to engage with their local communities," said Evesham Troop's detachment commander, Mike Fryer. "When I saw Andy's letter about his father I knew the cadets would want to be involved."He added: "When Ken arrived he thought he was just getting a standard look round the detachment building and maybe a handshake or two."The look on his face when our plans were revealed was truly special." The cadets honoured Mr Rickett's military service with a presentation earlier this week, and delivered warm wishes from the Royal Anglian also celebrated his birthday, with a letter from King Charles III read out by one of the Ricketts, who was himself a cadet in the 1940s, was presented with a specially-engraved glass tankard by the local troop."The veteran community is a special family, and so too is the ACF, we will always do our best to bring the two together," said Gheluvelt battery commander Capt Jamie Edwards."My congratulations to Ken on his birthday milestone, and to the cadets and adult volunteers at Evesham for their hard work in preparing for this event." Follow BBC Hereford & Worcester on BBC Sounds, Facebook, X and Instagram.
