Thursday, May 24, 2007
Here's a top tip for all you cyclists who like a beer.
Don't go to the pub after work, lock your bike to a lampost opposite the pub and leave the keys in the lock.
Yep, you've guessed it. I did this.
From within the Wig & Pen I couldn't see my bike. What I did see out the window whilst enjoying an Amstel with Mark and Ryan was a trio of what the Arctic Monkeys would call 'dirty little herberts'. One of them (he appeared to be the alpha male as his Adidas baseball cap was newer than the others) appeared to be communicating with someone out of my field of vision and then pointing at the pub.
Like a coiled spring I leapt from my seat and ran outside the pub. And there he was. An apparent scoundrel fiddling with my bike lock (that at this point I believed was secured as normal). Clearly surprised at my commando-like frame hurtling towards him, he proffered up the excuse that I'd left the keys in the lock and he was going to bring them into pub and find me. He then handed me the keys and scurried off.
On re-entering the pub, all eyes were on me. Apparently, everyone had heard me utter "Whoa!" quite loud and then seen me sprint out the pub.
The benefit of the doubt says I should believe the man I confronted. But I'm dubious. Frankly, he looked like the kind of bloke who would have flogged it for his next hit. And I'm also curious as to why, if he was just going to hand the keys in, did his three mates not wait for him. Was he going to meet them up later after trading my bike? And many other people had walked past and felt no need to fiddle with the lock... I may be cynical, and it would ultimately have been my fault, but I am suspicious of his intentions.
Still, all's well that ends well. I've got my bike, my keys, had a bit of a fright and was able to finish my pint. But I'm still undecided as to this individual's intentions. Maybe I shouldn't judge a book by the cover?
The lying little toe-rag. I've seen car keys left in someone's boot in Wickes car park before now. I left them there and felt no urge to fiddle with them. If someone looks like a dirty little herbert, they're probably a dirty little herbert.
BTW, you seem to be a bit forgetful recently... is your memory OK? ;-)
You're quite right to judge a book by its cover. Go judge some covers now ;o)
Tony is right, you are forgetful recently. :-)
I would not trust the little chav. Your bike would have been long gone if you had not left the pub.
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