SAT 1st MAY : PIZZA THE ACTION

Whilst the Lady and her mother bonded in the King of Prussia shopping mall, her father and brother took me to show me his businesses.

One of the Lady's father's jobs is proud part-owner of a number of Pizza joints near Philadelphia - some in Pennsylvania, some in New Jersey. We traveled by car and at every place he was greeted by respect - not only by the staff, but also by the customers. A peculiar eerie silence fell across the room as he ambled in.

At each place I was asked to try the food. Well, it would have been rude not to (despite the Lady's protests later in the day). I've never eaten so much in an afternoon: pizza and of course, one has to try the Philly Cheesesteak with extra mushroom in a hoagie.

At each place the chefs and managers waited in silence until I finished. 'And?' they prompted. The food was fabulous. As I nodded, the Lady's father burst into a big laugh and then the rest of the restaurant followed with laughter too.

At the last restaurant, after the laughter had died down, he turned to me and said, ‘you are going to look after my daughter, Guy, aren’t you?’

How friendly I thought.