Short what?

I sat next to an engaging gentleman from Wales on my flight from London to Bangkok. We chatted for much of our waking time on the 11 hour flight.

As we got off the plane he said, I hadn't appreciated just how tall you are ... 

A bit later, as we walked to passport control, height came up again and I said, Well, it will be a dark day for someone if you get to call them short house! He found that funny. He's 5 feet 7 or thereabouts!

DW