Waiter, there's some birdshot in my pigeon!

After a punishing day in Manchester, we reconvened in The Eagle And Child in leafy Bispham Green for a spot of fine dining.

It's a marvellous, old-fashioned, dimly lit place (apparently I look better in that light!) with good beer and an inviting menu. Catherine went for the mushroom pasta, which had a selection of weird and potentially lethal varieties, Tony went for the crayfish and I plumped for the pigeon. I've been accused of showing off by going for the unusual choices but it's something that I guess I'll just have to live with; you've got to taste these things, haven't you. Anyway, all three meals were excellent.

My pigeon was served with a brandy sauce, noodles and mushrooms, along with chips and veg. Never having had pigeon before, it looked a little red and underdone but it tasted just fine to me. However, the real highlight was the small metal pellet that they'd thoughtfully included to give it a real touch of the countryside! It gave the meal an authenticity that just cannot be found in the smart eateries in the city. Fortunately I didn't bite too hard on it or, worse, swallow it; in fact I brought it home with me as a trophy.

Curry Night at Wetherspoons will never seem the same again.