I was invited to go to an Indian meal last night with the cast of 100 years of solitude. I went, naturally, but since I had taken the opportunity to eat in the canteen earlier (one never knows for sure how an evening will pan out) I only had something light. However, since the bar seemed well stocked, I decided to try something.

One of the advantages of using a voca is you can store messages. Ordinarily, you store common phrases like ‘yes please’ or ‘Hi, I’m matt’. You can also store small recipes, and this is how I ordered something called a Martini, or a slight variation thereof: three measures gin, one vodka, and half a vermouth, served cool with a thin slice of lemon. I had wanted a vesper (”Three measures of Gordon’s, one of vodka, half a measure of Kina Lillet. Shake it very well until it’s ice-cold, then add a large thin slice of lemon peel.”) but suspected the bar didn’t extend to kina Lillet. As it was, they didn’t’ have vermouth so I just substituted bottle martini. It was, of course, shaken, not stirred.

Nice though it was, it cost £8.50! Zarks! That’s the last time I follow James’ advice, at least for a while.