Being an out of work consultant (currently resting), affords me the time to do a number of things.
Yesterday, such is the excitement of life, that I ended up in a Wimpy restuarant in Clapham Junction.
As a kid, I was always mesmerised by the International Grill option on the menu. It was ludicirously expensive but sounded exotic. It was the dish I would choose once I was a grown up, with a coffee as opposed to the obligatory ice cream float.
It's still there on the menu - still over priced - but, to be honest, it didn't strike me as overtly international. And none of it looked grilled. From the picture, I would have described it as a full English.
It wasn't as bad a trade description as the Little Chef Olympic Breakfast, which I didn't believe will get a generation fit for 2012. But still, I did suffer a pang of disillusionment.
I drew three conclusions.
Firstly - like a lot of things in life - don't go back. Things are never as good as you remember.
Secondly - never eat in a restaurant that uses pictures of its food on the menu - it's never a good sign and always raises expectations
And finally - I have far too much time on my hands and perhaps should channel my efforts in gaining paid employment.
NB - Mr Wimpy, the trusty old Beefeater, has disappeared. Copyright infringement of the Tower? Or beaten into submission by Ronald McDonald?