These are the food and cookery stories that many people have asked me to write down. Please enjoy them as much as I did in being part of them.

Toxic Pimms

One Sunday, in late summer, we were invited to a friend’s house across the road for a late lunch. This is not our normal time for dining as we usually eat in the evening, however the weather forecast was good and many others of the sheep street crowd were going, so it seemed like a civilised way to pass a Sunday afternoon.

“Mine Host” for the day is an ex-restaurateur who has owned and run various dining establishments as well as also running a wine import company. Needless to say he is a larger than life character and enjoys nothing more than entertaining friends with good food and wine.

All set then for a convivial afternoon of gossip and good humour.

The day turned out to be hot and sunny, so, after the usual welcome, we were all shown through to the garden for pre-lunch drinks.” Mine Host” set to work preparing the drinks and as we, the guests, were busy greeting each other none of us took any notice of what he was up to. Drinks arrived looking truly appetising, large glasses full of fruit salad and ice covered with a reddish liquid that could be nothing other than PIMMS. These first glasses were handed out to the ladies and “Mine Host” disappears for the men’s, on return he has the same concoction but this time in pint glasses to hand out to the men.

With it being such a hot day, and the pimms tasting so good, the first drink didn’t last very long and with “Mine Host” being the generous type, our glasses were duly refilled. About half way down the second pint I started to feel a little light headed and was having trouble putting sentences together, the other guy in the party was having similar symptoms. Only at this stage did any of us take notice of how the pimms were being mixed, not with the usual lemonade but with cava wine, a truly toxic combination.

When called in for lunch, both of us had to make our way very carefully to the table and only managed to make passing conversation as our mouths seemed to have forgotten how to pronounce words.

Lunch, I believe, was lovely although I have no recollection of the delights that entered my mouth.

We have never let “Mine Host” forget that day, and always pay great attention to the pre-dinner drinks that he prepares whenever we are there.

Be warned, TOXIC PIMMS.