“You want to be careful, ” said Eve. “You’ve got to do it properly.”

“Oh I am, I am, darling, now would I do otherwise ? You know me,” he replied, limping his wrist like a seasoned old queen and waggling his head so that we couldn’t help noticing the single ear-ring. “Half a million, no less. I’m going to tell them that I can’t come back to work – I’m much too busy.”

“You’ll never get that much. Never,” said Eve.

“You just watch me, sweetheart,” he said. “Anyway, my loves, I can’t sit around and bore you sweet old ladies all day. Must go an take my lithium.”

“Oh, I thought your assessment wasn’t until next week…… ?”

“Well, of course not,” he replied. “Just getting into the habit. They’re bound to put me on it aren’t they?”

“Perhaps,” replied Eve. She shrugged.

Tobias obviously didn’t know that Amanda, Eve’ best friend and sitting next to her not saying a word while all this was going on, is actually a psychiatric nurse.

“Well, farewell, my lovelies,” said Tobais, getting up out of his seat and flourishing a bow. “You’ll settle my account won’t you? “ He picked up his bill an let it flutter down on to Eve’s plate. “Maisie will settle up with you later.”

He walked towards the entrance waving enthusiastically almost knocking a Full English and a cafetière of coffee put of the waitress’ hand.

“I warned you,” whispered Eve, as soon as he was out of earshot. “He’s outrageous.”

“I know,” I replied. “Did you see that man on the table behind?”

“No, was he annoyed?” asked Eve.

“Well… more shocked. Looked as if he just couldn’t believe what he was seeing an hearing.”

“I know,” said Eve. “He’s going to get us chucked out of here one of these days.”

That would not do. We met up every first Saturday in the month here at Chez Carole for a hearty breakfast and a good old gossip. It was such a loivley place. The food was great and in the winter it was so cosy here with the wood-burning crackiling away in the background