Chapel Market is famous for its multifarious miscellany of items large and small, and here was much to divert the eye on the afternoon of Friday 24th October 2008. These colourful bicycles caught my attention; mine would be a pie-n-mash roadster in liquor-green livery with pastry paniers. A piecycle, if you will.

These gentlemen were not to be divested of their publishing pennies, though Herr Kraft was taken with the brassy alarm clocks on the 'battery stall'. However his interest proved little more than a wind-up.

We were greeted outside Manze's by a line of dedicated Pie and Mash Leaguers; a rare occasion when I have actually been chuffed to see a big turnout on the pavement.

Manze's Emporium was a-throb with lunchtime noshers, among them Pie and Mash Clubbers old and new. Richard Lucas, once a scoffer-of-note, made a modest showing and is seen in the lead picture with his jacket firmly on, as ever. Reigning chomp Graham Darlow is here shown in merciful soft-focus, making 3 portions of eels seem like a modest appetiser. Somehow or other he managed to procure the eels after the shop had already 'sold out'.

Our correspondent from Feltham was not to be missed in his red wind-cheater with reflective trim. For a brief second it put me in mind of 70s flick 'Don't Look Back' and I suggest he avoids the Regent's Canal on foggy evenings. In this 'still' he's just starting on his second plate — where does he put it all?

We had the pleasure of Alan Terry esq. Here he is in the nearer picture grinning like a Colgate ad, though the fizzy drink may have been responsible for wiping 14 points off his potential score. I hope like me, you find our points system pleasingly draconian.

Far right with Dave and Eddie is 'Number One Len' who took a day off from work and travelled all the way down from Enfield to join us. Len proved his impeccable p-n-m credentials with many an anecdote; e.g. his gran used to send him down the Wandsworth Road of a Saturday afternoon with sixpence to buy a slap-up platter at Harrington's [RIP]. Len was our pie-high scorer of the day.

The Cecils and Andy came too — how they brighten the proceedings. Forks and spoons were put to pastry, but the opinion of the booth was that quality was down from their last visit to Chapel Market. I disagree, but that's what's great about Pie and Mash.

We were also joined by a 'mystery lady' who sat with Mister Leach, but declined the publicity shots. It turned out to be Denise Rouse who has been following the progress of our little society for about 18 months. It was her first opportunity to come along and, guess what, she actually enjoyed it. Are there any more liquorish ladies, any more madames of mash out there, I ask? Please don't be shy — come and have a pie!

Happy scoffers.

St@