Sweet & Sour

Perhaps it was the decision to go out in the vicinity of Old Compton Street but the Flea's drinking antics last night with old uni pals Robbierto, Philippe, Aaronovitch and JLo plus b/f Danski, yielded a new experience. And no, it wasn't anything sexually related (unless you're some kind of fruit and baked products pervert).

The evening started off in the old Molly Moggs pub which would surely win the 'highest density of glitter balls per square metre of ceiling in a pub' award if it existed. This glittery experience was brought to a premature end as most of the beers on offer for sale weren't actually for sale...as they had none left. The embarrassed barman told the Flea upon enquiry as to why 80% of the beers were off, that the delivery hadn't arrived, leaving thirsty punters the grand choice of 2 beers on tap which included the mightily expensive Kronenbourg Blanc at almost £4 a pint (and the Guinness was about to finish as well). After enduring a round or so of the expensive stuff, the Flea scratched a cynical chin as they departed this so-called drinking establishment for one which actually had a choice of drinks.

The chosen venue was The Coach And Horses only a few street corners away, being not so crowded and propping up the bar, our thirst quenchers settled for the evening. The Flea, in usual fashion, got talking to some random character - in this case an antiquated guy wearing the incongruous combination of shirt with bow-tie, winter coat and a manically coloured woollen tea cosy hat (which spawned the initial conversation), at the end of the bar.

It turned out he was an ex-pat Austrian who seemed slightly eccentric but friendly enough. Somehow, at some point in their dialogue the Flea's contempt for sweet things was mentioned as was his equally passionate liking for things sour. Upon hearing this the colourfully-hatted Austrian solemnly raised his palm and told The Flea to wait a moment as he disappeared out through the pub doors, leaving him to exchange quizzical looks with his friends standing a few feet away around the bar.

An unfeasibly short time later he returned and produced two napkins, one of which contained a mince pie and the other, a lemon. The Flea can add no further to convey the strangeness of this odd episode and leaves the readers to draw their own conclusions.

PS - The mince pie was donated to Danski who dispatched it swiftly whilst the lemon was shared between the Flea and JLo. Our benevolent Austrian left shortly after the consumption of said items with words of puzzled gratitude ringing in his ears.