When you talked about "taking the piss", I knew we would get along, that it was very unlikely that you would see banter as insult. Working men talk like this around the world all day long, whether it is in a refinery or on the deck of a fishing boat, and the ones that don't get it don't last, as you well know.
Few things are more fun than taking shots at each other when both sides clearly understand that it is being done for fun and both respect their "opponent".
But then you have to drop the big insult by talking about Canada and that piss water Budweiser in the same breath. Man, I don't know if we can recover from that.
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Edit: and I'm serious, if you ever make it over, I would proudly show you around my corner of the country. The weed and fishing gear will be supplied.