Mercat Bar chat.

Saturday at the Mercat Bar, and no - despite the apparent advert for Kettle Chips, it is a sealed empty bag - possibly Kettle's attempt at encouraging folk not to eat junk food - invisible diet crisps perhaps being targeted for those on the Weight Watchers regime. BUT the full bags are the best especially the Steak ones.

During our breakfast session we had sixteen ladies on board all the way from sunny Sunderland on a hen weekend, tonight they will dress up with their tiaras and sashes - imaginative, but without my bidding there would have been no team photo.

For lunch in popped a family trio from near Galveston, Texas, USA - James Munk with his daughters Becky and Linda enjoying Bonnie Scotland and seeking out the Monkeys Shoulder whisky.

Friday, the birthday boy, Sir Christopher had a bit of an adventure when a lady thief entered the Bar and on her way to the toilet stole a handbag and then left the premises. Sir Chris went on walkabout and spotted her in a nearby cafe, called the Police and then followed her. In the course of forty minutes she entered every cafe in the Haymarket Tce area, obviously looking for other unsuspecting victims AND MORE PLUNDER.

When the Police eventually arrived she was arrested and later charged with the theft.

SO LADIES - NO MATTER HOW RESPECTABLE A PREMISES MAY BE, OR RESPECTABLE A CUSTOMER MAY APPEAR - TAKE CARE OF YOUR POSSESSIONS.