Patrick Massey

My first day in London (1971). Around 1:00 pm, Pat tells me: "C'mon, Bernie, let's go to lunch."

We knew each other pretty well since he had literally taught me all the basics during a period of several months in 1969 when he temporarily took over the Tel Aviv bureau where I was a locally recruited junior reporter.

We went down to Mrs Moon's where Pat instantly ordered two large pints for each of us (in order to avoid any spilling in the great noonday crush in that dank cellar, he used to hold one close under his chin and protect the other more or less folded down near his armpit).

I then (remember: I'm French and "lunch" is a sacred word) shouted over the din: "Thanks Pat, but where's the food?"

"What food?" he replied, looking puzzled. ■