...not a shop, so much as a pub, but behind those tiny windows, odd and prominent "NO MOBILE PHONES PERMITTED" signs and (poorly) written exterior notices (even the pub name is just scrawled in chalk on the front of the building, click the picture for a bigger version), lurk I know not what...well, apart from three bits of collected evidence presented here for your consideration...
a) Last summer, on a golden sunny day, in the very early evening witnessing (on my dash to the station to catch my train) three men in hard hats and HVJs totally abandon their cement lorry amid much cheering, whooping and wolf-whistling, in the middle of the Caledonian road (thereby completely blocking the left hand lane by the bus stop) when they caught sight of *something* in the darkened interior that evaded my more distant gaze, being, as I was, on the other side of the road (and in a hurry)...
b) Talking about event (a) with "B" shortly after it had occured in "The Driver" (local nice pub/resturant) and one of the Aussie barmen overhearing a portion of our conversation, mistakenly thinking we frequented said establishent and saying "Oh, you guys go to the Scottie eh?" and giving us a meaningful wink. When we confessed that in fact we didn't go there, he went all quiet and made excuses to leave our company, which he had seemed so keen to be in beforehand...indirect evidence, I admit, but still suspicious...meritous, in fact, of an exchange of Spock-like raised eyebrows in response...
c) Most damningly, a snatched glance (again on my way to catch my train home) of a lady, in what appeared to be a swimming costume, holding a pint glass in her hand, filled not with beverage, but glittering coin...before the door slammed shut behind the besuited gentleman entering the premesis...in fairness, it was quite a hot day, and it is possible they just have an unusually relaxed dress code...but that doesn't explain her unusual cash storage arrangement...
Will the Jury need time to consider their verdict? ;)
Further evidence can be found here...but consider that link NSFW if URLs are routinely monitored at your place of work...you don't want it in the proxy log under your name... ;)
How many more "interesting" shops will I stumble upon within a 5 minute walk of my place of work?!
