Blackpool Tower needs a new lick of paint.
So the foreman in charge finds three men who could do the job. An English man, an Irishman and a Scotsman.
The Irishman is first to see foreman. The foreman asks, "how much will the job cost in total?"
The Irishman says "3,000 pounds."
"That's great," says the foreman, "could you break that down for me, please?"
"Certainly," says Paddy. "That's 1,000 pounds for materials, 1,000 pounds for the labour and 1,000 pounds for myself."
"That's fantastic, I'll let you know if you've got the job soon," says the foreman.
Next up is the Englishman.
The foreman asks the Englishman, "how much will the job cost in total?"
The English man says, "6,000 pounds."
"That's lovely," says the foreman, "could you break that down for me, please?"
"Of course," says the Englisman. "That's 2,000 pounds for materials, 2,000 pounds for the labour and 2,000 pounds for myself."
"That's reasonable, I'll let you know if you've got the job soon," says the foreman.
Next to come in is the Scotsman.
The foreman asks the Scotsman "How much will the job cost in total?"
The Scot says "9,000 pounds."
"Oh, I see," says the foreman, "could you break that down for me, please?"
"Och aye, laddy,' says the Scot. "That's 3,000 pounds for me, 3,000 pounds for you, and we'll get that Irish git to do the job for £3,000."