We laughed as we literally tore them up and got to building. Soon there would be the sound and smells of sizzling steaks and onions and we would amaze the women with our cleverness. Things started quite well. But consternation was caused by some strange screws and brackets and a gadget with electrical wires. There was disagreement about what these things were for and where they should go.

Thoughtful friends gave us a barbecue for a wedding present.

So after returning from our honeymoon we invited them for a meal and four of us men got down to unpacking and assembling the machine: me, my best friend, my brother, and my brother-in-law.

Someone found the surprisingly lengthy instruction book which caused much scoffing and amusement: “We know what a barbecue is; we are men! These instructions insult our manhood!”

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