My brother-in-law Carrot has been known to do some goofy things occasionally. One night, when he’d first moved to Australia from Nottingham, he was coming to play poker with us lads in the garage belonging to Batman (his self-ascribed poker call-sign).

The problem was Carrot being half pissed from a luncheon, had forgotten the street number of the Hornswood (being the dynamic little suburbs between Hornsby and Chatswood) house at which we were playing. The battery was dead on my phone and he didn’t know any of the other blokes’ numbers. So, he got out of his taxi, struggling with a bag of ice and two six-packs and started down the street hoping to hear us, as the poker was already in full swing.

Carrot had a stroke of good fortune. One of the houses had a swing in the front yard in the shape of the Batman symbol. Thinking either that was the place, or it was a hell of a coincidence, he struggled his way up to the door and rang the bell.

The door was answered by a big, broad-shouldered dad, who looked like he’d played plenty of Rugby based on his lumpy, crooked nose.

Carrot (in his Pommie accent) – “Oh, ‘ello.” He suspected this wasn’t host-Batman.

The big guy politely helped the wobbly Carrot by holding one of the six-packs he looked like he was about to drop.

Carrot – “Is this Batman’s house?”

Big guy (looking perplexed) – “What the hell are you talking about? Batman’s house?? How pissed are you mate?”

This was obviously NOT Batman’s place and we were NOT in his garage playing poker.

Carrot – “Oh.”

Big guy – “If you think Batman lives here, I suppose that makes me Robin?”

Carrot – “Oh… I saw the…” Carrot nodded towards the front yard.

The big guy stuck his head out his door, spied his kid’s Batman swing-set and returned his gaze to Carrot, with a look of disdain.

Big guy – “My kid’s swing? It’s not the fucking Bat-Signal buddy. Whose place are you actually looking for?”

Carrot (realising with horror that he didn’t actually know Batman’s real name) – “I’m… not sure.”

Big guy (with a grin) – “Ok, ok. I’ve lived in this street for a while. I think I may know your guy. Is he a muscular fella with brown hair?”

Carrot (thinking it was starting to work out) – “Yes, yes he is!”

Big guy – “Does he wear a mask with pointy ears and have a belt with shark-repellent?” He burst into laughter.

Carrot’s shoulders dropped.

Big guy – “Is he mates with Aquaman?” The big guy bellowed with laughter.

Carrot – “Sorry to waste ya’ time.” Understanding it was hopeless, he turned to leave.

Big guy (calling to Carrot’s back as he was walking off) – “ACTUALLY MATE, I THINK I REALLY DO KNOW THE GENTLEMAN’S NAME… IS IT BRUCE WAYNE?” The big guy broke into hysterics.

Carrot being tipsy, actually recognised the name Bruce Wayne, hesitated and turned back to the big guy. Realising he was just taking the piss, he continued the walk of shame down the drive with the ice and his six-pack of beer. He could hear the big guy calling out that he’d forgotten something, no doubt the Batmobile, Batcopter or some such. Carrot had been humiliated enough so he just kept on going.

Luckily, Carrot in desperate need of cheering up, heard the raucous laughter of us playing only a few houses down the road and eventually made his way to Batman’s.

Me – “Carrot why’d you turn up with just one six-pack?”

He didn’t answer.

Me – “I thought you said you’d bring two si –“

“I DON’T WANT TO TALK ABOUT IT,” Carrot yelled.

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Thanks for reading. I write blogs oftentimes just to be able to claim when meeting a new person at a Hornswood party, that I am in fact… a writer (whereby my wife generally jumps in and proclaims “he’s actually NOT a writer”). If you could Share far and wide via the buttons below, that would be amazing. I write stuff for a few small companies, but I need to one day be a famous contributor to the noble art of blogging. And check out the brilliant new craft-beer home delivery business I have set up with a few North Shore dads (gettincrafty.com.au) Cheers