Xmas in NY

An apparently true christmas story I remember hearing years ago.

The British ambassador in New York received a phone call from a local radio station asking him what he would like for the up-coming christmas. It was around the time of the "Cash for Questions" furore in the UK, or some such regular bribery and corruption scandal, and so, fearful of being caught up in similar shame, he obviously thought, "I'm not going to mention anything that may be misconstrued as a bung", and warily replied, "Oh, a new pipe, or maybe some comfy slippers would be nice."

It was the evening of christmas eve that the ambassador finally heard the radio show, riding home in back of his limo-

"...We asked the representatives of all the major world powers stationed in the city tonight what they would like for christmas." Announced the radio jock. "The Russian ambassador said he would like "World Peace", the Chinese embassy official asked for "An end to world famine and poverty in a more compassionate world" and the British ambassador asked for a new pipe and a nice comfy pair of slippers".