"well darling, and how was Amsterdam for you?"
"Not great - a bit flat, no great shakes."
"No - so I thought. It never really got going did it? No great umph, a bit of a yawn really."
"Yes, same for me I must say, and they say Europe is still so young. Oh well. Let's hope it's better next time . . ."
Drapier's friend was about to elaborate - even the smouldering Alan Dukes and the dishy Tom Kitt, not to mention all the charms of Liz O'Donnell or the understated passion of Gay Mitchell can raise the blood and get up a sweat on Amsterdam. Drapier was about to embellish this theme when his editor reminded him that this was still a family paper and stick to politics.
OK then. Amsterdam is a bore and no amount of huffing or puffing can make it otherwise. It is complex and incremental and most people Drapier has spoken to don't actually know what they are voting about. Drapier remembers the flack Kenneth Clarke aroused when he told the House of Commons he had never even read the Maastricht Treaty. Drapier wonders just how many of us, either in here or outside, have actually read Amsterdam from start to finish.
Drapier suspects few enough and he puts no blame on those who haven't. Its language is legalistic and at times impenetrable and it presupposes a knowledge of all the treaties that have gone before. Even the popularised version put out by Mr Tom Finlay's commission didn't do much to enlighten us.
And yet, Drapier and his colleagues in all parties are being berated by our political leaders for not doing enough to switch on the electorate. We've been given leaflets, told to hold meetings, asked to canvass and get involved in any and every talk show. Most of us have done our bit, but it has to be said, largely to an indifferent and preoccupied electorate.
Don't worry, people will vote Yes on Northern Ireland. They will vote Yes and do so overwhelmingly and with enthusiasm because they understand the peace settlement, they want to do their bit, they know their vote makes a difference and they see it as a civic duty. It will be overwhelmingly endorsed and thank heavens for that.
But back to Amsterdam. Apart from the usual and predictable opponents, basically people who see it as a duty to say No to any proposal any government ever makes - and every democracy needs them - Drapier sees no real opposition to Amsterdam.
But neither does he see any enthusiasm. Nor does he think there is anything to be ashamed of in this lack of enthusiasm or lack of engagement. Most people reserve their enthusiasm these days for sport or for family achievements or for something close to themselves, something they understand. And again, Drapier sees nothing wrong with this set of priorities.
Europe to most of us is still remote. For most it is seen as "a good thing" and we know there is no turning back, but the detail is something most people leave to the political parties and the interest groups to handle, while they get on with the things they themselves can control.
Drapier is not against "Europe". He knows why it happened and in its own way he knows that to be where we are today is in itself a bit of a miracle. He knows our membership has worked wonders, helping to give us a sense of self-esteem, has broken our dependence on Britain, transformed our economy and given us scope for an international role we would never otherwise have. He knows that Europe has forced us to face up to social and moral issues we would otherwise have fudged or delayed. He knows Ireland is a better place because we are in the European Union and he has no desire to return to an era of narrow nationalism, hair-shirt protectionism and the dominance of bigoted zealots.
These are the reasons Drapier will be voting Yes. And they are good reasons. So why then the lack of enthusiasm?
Drapier sees the answer to that easily enough. Europe, both concept and reality is fine; it's the Eurocrats who get under our skin.
As a people we hate being lectured to, we dislike moral admonishments about our duty and we hate it all the more when the hectoring comes from well upholstered, well insulated Eurocrats who tell us we will lose our duty free while they will continue to have their tax free goods supplied at basement prices deep in the bowels of the Berlaymont.
And much more besides.
So will the amendment pass? Drapier thinks yes. But even he has been astonished at some of the people who tell him they will vote No.
One good friend, who in Drapier's experience has been wrong on every major issue of our time, tells Drapier he is voting No - not for any reason of principle, but because he feels the Government is pulling a fast one by having the two votes on the same day.
Others will vote No on the basis of "when in doubt leave them out".
All of this to Drapier's mind raises the bigger question. The McKenna judgement, important as it is, is really a smoke screen as to whether or not the referendum is an appropriate instrument for something so complex and varied as the Amsterdam Treaty.
The referendum is fine for simple Yes/No answers on questions of fundamental principle, such as the Belfast Agreement, but on a detailed document such as Amsterdam it really is a blunt instrument and people resent the "take it or leave it" philosophy involved. And that, in Drapier's view, is another reason why, no matter how glossy the literature, how jazzy the advertisements, or how earnest the exhortations of our political betters, the public is switched off and will stay switched off.
Also this week there was a great deal of talk in here about local government reform again a "switch off" for the public. Drapier has a simple view - we either have real local government, with real powers and proper funding or we have none. But we should abandon once and for all the present charade which locates virtually all power in the Custom House and in the county managers. Recent events in Wicklow are just one example of how powerless most of our councillors are - and how badly the present system is working. Noel Dempsey is about to produce a package of reforms, but from what Drapier can hear he is not holding his breath. There has been much talk of what one TD called the "scrappage scheme" - financial inducement to long-serving councillors to make way for younger candidates and Noel Dempsey was under strong pressure at this week's Fianna Fail parliamentary party to make it worthwhile. Drapier fully agrees.
Drapier looks forward to Noel Dempsey's proposals. It's worth taking time to get our local government system right. In Drapier's view it's almost more important than getting Amsterdam right. This time the public should be interested because good local democracy is in all our interests.