Those false smiles belie a truly authentic pie and mash experience at Goddard's of Deptford on the last outing of 31st January. The service was thoroughly courteous, despite our audible disappointment at the absence of eels from the chalk board.

The rugged, unspoilt decor and austere ambience were truly inspirational, and the crowning glory was in fact the dessert of spotted dick, which to everyone's amazement contained fragrant hints of zesty lemon peel! It elicited a gasp from your correspondent, and a second helping for the champ (pictured, left). Lloyd Grossman must not be told. Frothy coffee is a beverage option, and the cups and saucers evoke a certain 70's insouciance.

The next meeting of the order will be Friday, 21st February 2003 at Manze's of Chapel Market; rendez-vous 12.45 Wellington House or 13.15 at the shop. 'How timely,' I hear the amateur astrologers among you say, 'why the sun doth transit into the signe of the fishes on this verie daye!'

Recommended buses are the 38 if you're coming from Bloomsbury / Holborn, and the 341 if you're coming from Waterloo / Strand. As Big Al is wont to remind us, 'the eels are particularly good'. Therefore I recommend the inclusion of tabasco holsters in everyone's outing kit.

Be seeing you there then.

Stattus