Ruby Murray

Pirbright, 19th September 2006

After all the high culture, now for the low culture. I had arranged to meet Dave and Rich (who surprised us both by showing up with a rather cute German exchange student - good luck there, feller - whose name I never quite grasped) in O'Neill's in Woking. We were mustering for a trip to that Great British gastronomic institution, the curry house. American curries are certainly not bad (at least not in California), but they are rather insipid - I have been craving the visceral thrill of eating something properly hot for quite some time.

Preliminary beverages consumed, and now safely ensconced within 'Bombay Nights', the rituals commenced. First up, far too many poppadoms, and slopping mango chutney all over the tablecloth. Secondly, massive Kingfishers all round. Thirdly, cramming export strength lamb madras w/ onion bhajis, rice and garlic naan down my gullet until I could barely move. Feel the burn. Mmmmmm. Not much conversation at this critical stage. Fourth, feeling a trifle dry-throated now. More Kingfisher please, my good man! Finally, the essential hot towels. A cross between a facial sauna and a jolly good scrub. Even with lemon freshness, the curry scent is rather hard to shift from your fingers.

And onwards to the pub! A wagonload of my old schoolfriends were engaged in mental combat in the Sovs' pub quiz. As I supped on my first proper pint of bitter in aeons, Si, Stu, Sam and James (and their respective other halves) were carrying all before them with their expert knowledge of reality TV and sporting trivia. Prize money duly collected, conversation turned to how none of those guys had come to visit me yet (fools! and me with a spare room, too!), Sam's latest harebrained plan for ascending to superstardom (and just why would you think the BBC would want to employ you, eh?), holidays we went on seven years ago and much, much more. Two more pubs (including a supremely ill-advised pint of wifebeater, which seemingly precipitated a heated debate about the applicability of supposed national/racial character traits to individuals - Sam thought so, I thought it was utter bollocks), an encounter with an enthusiastic spaniel puppy and six hours later, I woke up in Dave's spare room with a rather unpleasant headache and growling stomach. Ah, curry...