I live in the UK and this will be taken with the tongue in cheek it was delivered with. Most here in the UK will probably appreciate the humor. Now, how to counter?
I have never been to Germany or the UK, so my thoughts are probably uneducated a touch, I really love this response. Instead of somehow becoming offended, find the humor and plan a counter-prank. Make some fun headlines, get a smile out of people reading the news, this is the way.
But the swiss get rid of the rubbish, cleaned the train, put flowers and food in it and sent it back to Germany with a giant banner saying something along the lines of "Each one gives the best of themselves"
Though it is not quite flashy enough, hmmm...
>Speedbird 206: Frankfurt, Speedbird 206 clear of active runway.
>ATC: Speedbird 206. Taxi to gate Alpha One-Seven.
>BA 747 pulled onto the main taxiway and slowed to a stop.
>ATC: Speedbird, do you not know where you are going?
>Speedbird 206: Stand by, Ground, I’m looking up our gate location now.
>ATC (annoyed): Speedbird 206, have you not been to Frankfurt before?
>Speedbird 206 (nonchalantly): “Yes, twice in 1944, but it was dark ... and I didn't land.”.
https://www.airliners.net/forum/viewtopic.php?t=391043
Or perhaps this is more apt:
>Lufthansa (in German): "Ground, what is our start clearance time?"
>Ground (in English): "If you want an answer you must speak in English."
>Lufthansa (in English): "I am a German, flying a German airplane, in Germany. Why must I speak English?"
>Unknown voice from another plane (in a beautiful British accent): "Because you lost the bloody war."
He joked over the radio, "the last time the Germans shot at me it was during the war".
The reply came back "And zis time I vill not miss".
I, sadly, did not partake in either option. I shall return.
[1]: https://fawltytowerswestend.com/
[2]: https://www.westendtheatre.com/56131/shows/faulty-towers-the...
I read John Cleese’s autobiography long ago and he mentioned the very different economics of TV in the UK vs the US.
I think it was either the lack of money going into UK TV shows or the lack of a profit motive that led to ridiculously short runs like that.
Fawlty Towers and Yes Minister are top quality shows that should’ve run for 10 seasons.
Luckily their system did better with this when Jeremy Clarkson’s Top Gear came around and we got a lot of that.
Many years ago I met someone that related his travels to Germany. When visiting anything left over from WWII (e.g. old bunkers), or referencing anything that happened back then, they took to mentioning "Smurfs" and "Papa Smurf" to get around angering the locals. This was, of course, after nearly causing an international incident during casual conversation.
I realized I don't know why they would do that, but regardless of why, my first thought was hotheaded stereotype: how quickly an 'escort' could arrive, of boats/aircraft capable of sinking them.
My second thought was that the escort boats could play Queen's "We Are the Champions" [1] over loudspeakers. If it can be many sailors impromptu singing it, all the better.