THE quip of the week must belong to Paddie O'Neil, comedienne wife of actor Alfred Marks (who is starring in the Hilton Playhouse production of Lend Me A Tenor, which opened last night).
Dining with Keeping Posted at the Hilton Grill, where a Scottish promotion is currently on, Paddie patiently took in the seriously Scottish atmosphere - kilts, thistles, bagpipes, haggis . . . the works - before being moved to pass comment.
''Do you know something, dearie,'' she said, edging towards us somewhat conspiratorially, ''I am Welsh and it was we who invented the bagpipes.
''We then passed them on to the Scots but somehow or other they have never been able to see the joke.'' Ooops . . . let's hope this remark never gets anywhere near the sensitive ears of the Hilton's resident gillie, James Smith. For hell knows no fury like a Scotsman scorned.