Hofftons or Hortons
By Judy Evans
@JudyEv (382240)
Rockingham, Australia
March 14, 2026 2:40am CST
I wrote about ‘inside’ jokes between couples or good friends. I had an example I wanted to share in the comments but couldn’t remember what it was. I’ve just now remembered so I might as well make a post of it as explain it several times over in the comments.
It doesn’t shine a very good light on us or our friends but it was pretty funny. We were all from West Australia but were dining out in South Australia. We asked for a bottle of Houghton’s White Burgundy. The correct pronunciation is Horton’s but as a joke, we asked for Hoffton’s. The lovely waitress corrected us very politely but we said ‘no, no. Hoffton’s is in the Swan Valley near where we live. People keep saying Horton’s but it’s actually Hoffton’s’.
We managed to convince her that it's Hofftons, and she thanked us very much for giving her the correct pronunciation. It wasn’t a very kind thing to do but it was funny at the time and pretty harmless.
I wonder how long it was before someone corrected her.
19 people like this
19 responses
@thedevilinme (5216)
• Northampton, England
15 Mar
The big debate in Aus when I was there was Ford or Holden .lol
2 people like this
@JudyEv (382240)
• Rockingham, Australia
16 Mar
@thedevilinme There are dozens of 4WD here although their popularity might wane a bit if fuel supplies dwindel too much. There are a lot of Toyota Prados but other brands as well.
@thedevilinme (5216)
• Northampton, England
15 Mar
@JudyEv We did a bit of Red Center driving north of SA but would not recommend Holden estates.lol.Our water and food supply alone bottomed it out , and there was Brown snoozing in the suspension!
2 people like this
@DaddyEvil (174535)
• United States
14 Mar
You're terrible people!
That poor waitress! 
That poor waitress! 2 people like this
@DaddyEvil (174535)
• United States
15 Mar
@JudyEv I hope the waitress thought it was funny when she figured it out.
I hope the waitress thought it was funny when she figured it out.2 people like this
@celticeagle (189915)
• Boise, Idaho
15 Mar
Yes, and the joke continues.
The grapes in that picture sure look delicious.
1 person likes this
@celticeagle (189915)
• Boise, Idaho
15 Mar
@JudyEv .........yes, it is. I haven't seen grapes that color before. They look almost yellow.
1 person likes this
@JudyEv (382240)
• Rockingham, Australia
16 Mar
@celticeagle The colour is reasonably accurate. They can be like small apples in size.
1 person likes this
@toniganzon (77224)
• Philippines
14 Mar
Pretty harmless indeed. And glad you had a laugh about it.
2 people like this
@Traceyjayne (11407)
• United Kingdom
15 Mar
Well, that was naughty wasn’t it ! ……..and funny too. I love it.
1 person likes this
@JudyEv (382240)
• Rockingham, Australia
16 Mar
I'm sure it wouldn't have been too long before someone else corrected her back again to Horton's. lol
@MarieCoyle (59252)
•
15 Mar
Hopefully, when she finds out you pranked her, she'll get a good laugh out of it. None of us laugh enough, it's all good!
1 person likes this
@MarieCoyle (59252)
•
16 Mar
@JudyEv
You never know, you may have started a chain of jokes!
1 person likes this
@Dreamerby (10111)
• Calcutta, India
15 Mar
Ahhh...with the name corrections...I have had my name mispronounced and mispelled a lot of times too!! There's nothing much that you can do
1 person likes this
@JudyEv (382240)
• Rockingham, Australia
18 Mar
@Dreamerby Is it the one you use here? That seems fairly easy.
@snowy22315 (209014)
• United States
14 Mar
Hee, Hee..sometimes you can't resist a good joke.
1 person likes this
@changjiangzhibin89 (17242)
• China
14 Mar
I guess the waitress was totally confused and even didn't stick to her original point.
1 person likes this
@LindaOHio (222534)
• United States
14 Mar
She probably said that just to be polite.
Have a good weekend.
1 person likes this
