Time, Ladies and Gentlemen!

The Oxford Bar or 'The Ox', was made famous by the Scottish writer Ian Rankin as the favoured watering hole of John Rebus, his fictional Edinburgh detective. I was first introduced to it by George, a local cabbie who used to drive me to the airport every Tuesday morning to take the first morning flight to London.

Over time, George and I became friends, sharing each other's stories for the 20-minute ride to the airport. Getting up at 4.45am every Tuesday was tempered only by the thought of seeing George. One day, he suggested we meet for a pint and a roll somewhere close to my office. He knew just the place.

We met at midday. George had us cross the road, walk up North Castle street and turn into Young Street. We entered the pub, at which point the locals turned their heads, a little nerve wracking I might add. We ordered our food and drinks and walked up the stairs to the back room.

Faded cream-coloured walls dressed the back room. The old wooden chairs were simple yet solid, as if they had been hand made. Black and white photos decorated the walls and standing below the main wall was a real coal fire and scuttle.

This was definitely a pub that time forgot, which was just grand because it was quiet and relaxing thus allowing us to have a good blether.

It's been a while since I was last there. How lovely, then, to be meeting up with George next Wednesday afternoon for a hello/farewell drink before my Friday flight to the U.S.

'Barman, I'll have a pint of Strongbow and a cheese roll please'