Just had lunch with my bestest buddy, Gandolf, at The White Swan on London's Fetter Lane. Excitement soon turned to abject disappointment upon discovering that this week, there is no Pie of the Week on the menu. Strongly suggest to management that they rename it Occasional Pie of the Week.
Not being a believer in prolonged disappointment however, I soon found something on the menu that appealed almost as much; suckling pig sandwich. "That sounds like a challenge" thought I, "how will they fit a suckling pig between two slices of bread?" Alas the chef had wimped out and only carved off a couple of slices of pig, but nicely warmed, and with apple compote, it filled me up perfectly.
Gandolf's pint of prawns and bread looked ok, but he was hoping the prawns would come peeled. I think this is symptomatic of the iPod generation, if he was more used to rifling through dusty shelves for a sleeved LP, lifting the lid to his gramophone, placing the record on the turntable followed by the stylus and pressing play, then shelling prawns wouldn't seem so arduous.
But I can't complain, walking back up Fetter Lane he showed me how his iPod works by letting me listen to a bit from his new Mika album / download thingy, and it was really good! I'm going to get a copy (on CD though obviously).
Anyway I'm very excited because straight after work I'm meeting Mozz at Kings Cross to hop on a train to the North to see my ma and pa, which is exciting enough in itself, but they've just got a new labrador puppy for us get really childishly happy over. And nothing creates childish happiness like a labrador puppy.
We'll be visiting the John Bull as well no doubt, more on that to follow...
Gandolf, have a great time in NY!