ROG has a few attributes, well one anyway, but in addition to monumental thirst (on a Friday) he seems to have become psychic.

As I slipped into the pub, on a warm Friday evening, he was at the bar with the regular bunch, Ivan, Micky the Mighty Atom and Dave the Sand – and a grin like a Cheshire cat – and an empty glass.

“About time too, I’ve been waiting,” he declared (no hello here). Quite how long he’d been waiting I didn’t know, although he isn’t renowned for sitting around without beer for long. I duly obliged while Ivan beamed at another good sale.

Micky was also looking quite chuffed. He had taken the rare step of going shopping the other day and he had bought a T-shirt (no point in going crazy).

Not content with this momentous step, he had bought a very large one on the basis that it looks like he’s lost weight – which he hasn’t. But he thought it was pretty funny anyway.

Dave the Sand is still considering painting his house on the outside, but can’t find a way to avoid Rog helping him. As I mentioned recently, Rog, apart from making cups of tea, is as useful as a chocolate teapot when it comes to DIY. Loading a roller is even too challenging for him. Dave decided to contemplate it further over another pint.

Then, as rare as a solar eclipse, Micky suddenly bought a round. Somehow, an extra pint was acquired by mistake (how did that happen?) and as we had to leave, Ivan gleefully told the serving lady to put it to one side and he’d sell it again – but Rog stepped in, as any expert would, and dealt with it. It’s always a pleasure to see such professionals in action.