[Mac1978]

No way! When the hell did we all start hugging each other anyway? I'm a 37 year old Irish man and I don't think I ever hugged anybody in my family, never mind strangers or friends! You Brits seem to be obsessed with it. I met a woman in London on business some time ago, and she tried to hug me - FFS. What the hell happened to your 'stiff upper lip?' I liked that. You even lent it to us, and the Roman Catholic Church built on it, and soon everybody in Ireland pretty much shunned all forms of affection. Even sex was just for 'making babies.' Between 1846 and 1975 nobody over here hugged anybody. There was one recorded incident in Co. Mayo, but his family sent him to America, or drowned him, I can't remember which - and I'm not sure which would be the bigger punishment. Those were the days.

Less of the hugging please. If this keeps up, we'll only end up like the French!