What we did on Jerome's birthday or My idea of a good time.

We met at Witherspoons and had a spot of lunch. Then we moseyed off down to the Highbury. The Highbury, in case you don't know it, is a Proper pub. It sells really good beer, it has unbelievably friendly bar staff and it hasn't turned itself into a theme Irish/French/sophisticated glass monstrosity. It's a pub, a slightly scruffy and normal-looking pub. It also has a very fine juke box.

It has two pool tables at the back. We had a pool competition. Jerome won all the games except one, which Dan won.

"Come on Jerome, you gap-toothed bugger, let's wipe the smile off those fat cheeks." I have never quite understood male bonding.

England were playing Australia at cricket and most of us (even me) got slightly excited by the thought that we might win. Little Rence remained steadfastly of the view that it's only a game and there's no need for excessive competitiveness.

Some of the others had a darts competition. Jerome, darts god, won every game. Lucy hadn't seen him play before and was very impressed.

Then England won the Test and everyone got a bit overexcited. Some of the other people in the pub started doing silly dancing to cheesy music. One old chap did a particularly fine piece of bopping to one of the songs from Grease. Then we were informed that it was our turn. Hendy honour at stake, we did the village proud. Led by the King of the Cheesy Dance, Mr Clarence Clodpole, shoogyformeshoogyforme, we shook our funky thang or somesuch and then sat down and drank some more beer.

We got a taxi back up to Muesli and went into an Irish theme pub. There was a pop quiz and Lucy was in her element. we came 4th.

The others were going off to a club, but I was wearing a cardigan, so I went home.

What a top time was had by all.