Twenty years in half an hour

Pépé and I were "doing lunch" as gents do on a Friday lunchtime, when he whispered to me that he may know the lovely lady on my left.
After pondering for the whole of 2.5 seconds whether he should introduce himself to the couple at the next table or not (Pépé is not exactly famous for his shyness or his innate reserve), he quickly established that indeed, they knew each other and had not met for... 20 years.
It was great to be introduced to Joan and Paddy and see three people summing up the last twenty years in the space of 30 minutes.
The good and bad news, births and deaths, geographical mobility and odysseys across continents and cultures.
All at the speed of light. But not without delight. The joy of being there to tell the tale, to measure the change, to span the years.

On a side note, Alexis with their 3 course meal lunch menu at EUR15 have to be the best value around at the moment.
My truffle oil risotto starter was just right, the red wine jus with the panfriend lamb liver was excellent and the Ile Flottante was not only huge but very tasty, with added pistachios, blueberries and raspberries.

I'll be meeting Pépé there again and again! (especially as next time is his turn to pick up the bill)